It is the season for Thanksgiving and you and I are going to be pausing this week on the Bible for Busy People to thank God for some of the simplest things, the things that you and I might not think about on a daily basis. I know with all my heart that God wants us to make the best use of every breath. So you want to dive in with me today? We’re going to thank God that we can breathe today and we’re going to explore what that means and we’re going to start in the Psalms.
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Transcription:
Gratitude raises our gaze from our troubles to God.
I just read that and I had to pass it on to you. It is the season for Thanksgiving and you and I are going to be pausing this week on the Bible for Busy People to thank God for some of the simplest things, the things that you and I might not think about on a daily basis. Like for example, as I’m speaking with you right now, my heart is beating. I’m breathing, my eyes are blinking. I’m talking with my hands like crazy because I’m Italian, and I’m doing all of these things while I’m talking with you. I’m recording a podcast, but those things aren’t even entering my mind. You’re doing the same things, although your physical activity might look different right now. You might be doing the dishes or on your lunch break, listening in your earbuds or waiting in the carpool lane.
We’re doing all of these things, these miraculous things in the midst of our daily activities that we don’t even notice. We don’t notice that God made us so wonderful and complex, and that’s something to give thanks for right now. Like you and I, were on the wake-up list today. We are still breathing, and while we’re here on this earth, I know with all my heart that God wants us to make the best use of every breath. So you want to dive in with me today? We’re going to thank God that we can breathe today and we’re going to explore what that means and we’re going to start in the Psalms. Join me now in Psalm 33, verse six.
The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
Now, that’s the new Living translation. I also want to read that verse to you in the NIV, the new international version. Here we go.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
Okay, so God’s breath is powerful. He makes stars with his breath, but that’s not all. Join me now in the Book of Job, chapter 33, verse four,
The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
I want to pitch a small tent here and talk about Job for a minute. You’ve heard his name even if you’ve never cracked open a Bible in your life. He’s one of the most tested human beings in history, but especially in the Bible. Satan literally asked God if he could test Job and God give Satan permission to test him, but not to take his life. And Job lost everything, but at the end of the story, spoiler alert here, God restored Job’s fortune and then doubled it. That’s how our God works. The pain is never for nothing, not with our God. Now, I wish we had time to study more about Job’s story. It’s very rich and very fascinating, and maybe one day you and I will study it together, but for today, I just want to read you one more verse from the Life of Job. It’s going to be in chapter 12, verse 10,
For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.
Can we just absorb that for a moment? Your life, your very breath, your next one, is in the hands of the living God. So, won’t you trust him right now with that big problem in your life? Won’t you give it to him, knowing he holds your life, your breath? Those things are precious to him. You are precious to him. He knows the things that are pressing on your heart. You can safely hand them over to Jesus right now. Okay, we are going to move on to the prophet Isaiah. We’ve hung out with him before you remember, he’s one of God’s messengers. Join me in Isaiah 42 beginning in verse five.
This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.
Just imagine that for a moment. Imagine the nail scarred hand of Jesus holding your own hand. Doesn’t that just fill you with so much peace? It does me. Continuing on now in verse six:
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
If you’ve never heard the word Gentiles before, it just means not Jewish
…to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
We as God’s kids have an opportunity every day to be a light in this world. To share the freedom that comes from putting our faith in Jesus. And with every breath, may that be our purpose. May God accomplish that through us. May he give us the winsome words to share with the people we love who haven’t yet met God. May he put the light in us so we’ll shine bright for him. I want to wrap up our time together that we’ve spent thanking God for our very breath with a scene from the Easter ,that evening. Join me in John chapter 20. Now beginning in verse 19:
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Yes, this is something we often talk about on this podcast. The spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us. If you want to look it up again, it’s Romans 8:11. Listen, Jesus is breathing on you right now. You have opened your heart to His Word and he’s present saying to you, peace be with you. Let him breathe his peace upon you, and remind you that you are alive in this season for a reason; to spread light and hope and faith with each breath that he gives us. Oh, until next time, I feel thankful. How about you? You are loved.
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