The Breath We Breathe

“It’s Your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise, pour out our praise, to You only.”

Have you ever thought about the fact that the breath we breathe came from God himself? When Adam was formed, God breathed life into Him. (Gen  2:7) The very breath of God brought Adam to life.  As the father of all mankind, it stands to reason that the breath in our lungs is not only a gift from God, it is the breath of God.  Wow, that’s deep! 

When we consider this, it should change the way we use our breath. We should use it to praise God, to glorify Him, to speak of His goodness. We should use it to edify and encourage others. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) James 3:9,10 says, "With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so."

When we think about how special our own breath is, we should want to use it in ways that glorify God and lead people to him. Gossip, slander, belittling, criticism, complaining, lying… these are not how God would have us use the very breath of life that he gave us.  This chorus in the song, “Great Are You Lord,” has made me more aware of the way I use my breath.  I want to use the air in my lungs to praise God and honor Him.  How will you use the breath He has given you?

Into His Arms

“God I run into your arms; unashamed because of mercy.” 

The song, “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave has this line in its chorus that nearly makes me choke up every time I sing it. “God I run into your arms, unashamed because of mercy.” Much of the song talks about God’s awesome power and how overwhelming He is to our finite minds.  Such an amazing thought to know that although He is so great, powerful and holy, we can run to Him and feel His loving embrace.

When I read books or listen to music, the words and lyrics turn into pictures in my mind. What I see when I sing this line is a little girl running into the open arms of her daddy. She knows he loves her no matter what. The sun is shining bright and his smile is warm and inviting. His love for his daughter is unmistakable.  As she reaches him, his strong arms wrap around her and engulf her. He picks her up and holds her. His embrace makes her feel safe and loved.  All is well with the world.

What an amazing picture of our heavenly father who waits for us to run into his open arms. I realize there are many people who don’t have warm memories of their earthly fathers, but God can fill that void. He is a good, good father.  Just as the prodigal son returned home and his father embraced him, pig stink and all because of his love and mercy for his son, God’s mercies are new every morning and we can run to him for forgiveness and restoration.

Not only does God want us to run to Him for mercy and forgiveness but for peace and comfort. Just as a child runs to her father when she is afraid or as his daughter, now a young lady, weeps on his shoulder for acceptance and comfort, God wants to calm our fears and heal our hurts. He is all we need.

Be overwhelmed by your heavenly father. Run to Him and allow his love and mercy, peace and forgiveness to surround you and envelop you.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

I'll Stand

 
I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the ONE who gave it all. 

I’ll stand, my soul Lord to you surrendered; all I am is yours.  All I am is yours.

 

As I sing this chorus of the song, “The Stand,” my heart cannot contain the adoration I feel for my Savior. These few words hold the essence of what it truly means to be a follower of Christ: to abandon ourselves, to completely surrender to Jesus, to give all that we are to Him. 

As I heard a speaker say recently, salvation is more than just a decision. It is surrendering to Jesus.  He used an illustration of old westerns.  When caught by the good guys, the bad guys held up their hands in surrender.  What does surrender really mean?  To agree to stop fighting, hiding, resisting: to yield to the power, control or possession of another: to give up completely in favor of another. Wow, that puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?  Have we truly surrendered our lives to Jesus? Is there something we are holding back?  Can we truly say to God “All I am is yours”?

When we are saved, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 7:25, that we are His forever. “Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”  I know I have surrendered my life to Jesus, of this, I have no doubt.  However, as human beings, our minds and bodies are still influenced by this world.  Daily, I have to surrender a part of me that has stepped out of line to God.  Whether it is my attitude, my emotions, my thoughts, my time or even my children! God wants all of us. He deserves all of us. Why does Jesus deserve our all? Because He gave His all for us. 

When was the last time we stood “in awe of the One who gave it all” for us?  Do we stand in our worship services (if we even go) indifferent and so familiar with the story of Christ that our awe for Him has diminished? Or do we stand with hearts abandoned in praise and adoration? Do we take for granted that the Creator of the universe loved us enough to die for us (See John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16) and continues to show love and mercy to us every day? “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23. (Also see Psalm 136) We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:30)

“I’ll stand…” Do we stand for Jesus no matter what? No matter what the world throws at us? No matter what people may say? No matter what it costs? Is He worth it to us? We were worth it to HIM. Isn’t it time we stood for Jesus, totally surrendered, giving our all to the ONE who gave His all for us?