Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
September 26, 2024
Genesis 2:1-7
1 The heavens and the earth and all who live in them were completed. 2 On the sixth day God completed all the work that he had done, and on the seventh day God rested from all the work that he had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all the work of creation. 4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. On the day the LORD God made earth and sky 5 before any wild plants appeared on the earth, and before any field crops grew, because the LORD God hadn’t yet sent rain on the earth and there was still no human being to farm the fertile land, 6 though a stream rose from the earth and watered all of the fertile land 7 the LORD God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into his nostrils. The human came to life.
Good Morning! Let all who have breath praise the Lord!
From our first breath to our last, air fills our lungs with life. I have several reminders around my house, yard, and even a shirt that says, “Just breathe!”
It’s funny that breathing is an instinctive operation that requires no thought on our part, yet we have to remind ourselves to breathe at times. When we do a complicated thing, we unknowingly hold our breath, which tenses our body and adds additional challenges to our attempts.
I remember sitting at the piano, working through a particularly difficult passage, and my teacher placing a hand on my tensed shoulder and saying, "Relax, just breathe." When a mother prepares for her baby's arrival, she practices breathing exercises to aid in the birth process. Remember, during a temper tantrum, you are threatening to hold your breath, and your body plays along for a bit, but when air is needed, you are forced to breathe.
God provides the breath of life that begins life. We are called to live our lives as we travel along our faith journey. When the time comes, and God calls us home, we breathe our last breath, and God brings us home to our eternal life. Hallelujah! Praise God!
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.
Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. Let us praise you from the mountaintop through the breath you begin at our birth. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Let all who have breath praise God!
Relax and breathe; God is in control! Pastor Liz
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