Let every breath
"then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." (Genesis 2:7)
God, the Creator, the Potter, formed man, came close and breathed the breath of life into him! Amazing! As human beings we have been made living creatures by the very breath of God!
In the Old testament, Job describes it this way...
"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."
(Job 33:4)
The word breath in both scriptures, means breath, spirit, a living creature
One of my favorite songs is called "Great are You Lord" by All Sons and Daughters. Part of the song sings out:
It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only
The very first thing God put in man was breath. It is the very breath of God in my lungs!
Every morning when I wake, its a reminder I have been given another day of life to live!
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!" (Psalms 150:6)
Praise means to be brilliant, to be clear, to shine.
As I consider the song and scripture above, I think about the words I speak, my life. Do they pour out praise to the LORD, the very source of my breath?
Is my life shining the brilliance of the Lord?
Do I use my God-given breath to complain and cut others down or to speak Truth, thankfulness and encouragement?
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)
Treasure means a place where goods and precious things are collected and kept
Heart means the very center of a person; the place where all thoughts, passions, desires, purposes, endeavors, and affections are
The treasure is stored in the heart.
Out of THIS abundance the mouth speaks...
When my thoughts, passions, desires, purposes, endeavors and affections are filled with the Lord, praise for Him will pour out.
The more I behold all of who God is, His character and His kindness toward mankind, my heart will be filled with HIM, precious, priceless treasure, and out of this treasure I will speak, praise and live...
There is no greater treasure than God Himself and His perfect work through Jesus Christ, the Good News!
The Good News is this: Jesus died in our place. He willingly received the penalty for all of mankind's sin by dying on the cross. and because of Him, those who believe in Him, stand forgiven before God. Jesus' righteousness is applied to our lives and we are made sons or daughters of God.
As I daily reflect on this Good News, the Holy Spirit replaces the lies, the hurt and the selfishness bound within my heart, with a desire to follow Jesus and love what He loves...
trading ashes for beauty and trading temporary things for eternal treasure!
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need." "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:31, 34)
As we seek His Kingdom, we are filled with His abundance; we find ourselves content and joyful and generous even in the midst of suffering, sickness and sadness.
When Jesus is our greatest love and God's Word is our treasure, praise for Him will pour out and we will shine the brilliance of the treasure inside.
Let every breath be used to glorify the One who gave us breath, the One who gave us life.
Blessings,
Amy
