What you breathe in is God’s gift to you … what you breathe out should be your gift to God!

“Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.”

Ezekiel 37:4 KJV

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils

the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Genesis 2:7 KJV KJV

 As my Mom’s life came to an end, my siblings and I watched the transition with a strange mixture of sadness over our temporary loss and the exhilarating knowledge that she was soon to step out of life into Life.

She would inhale … the breath of God which gives and sustains life here on earth. She would hold it for longer and longer periods of time, almost as if she was reluctant to exhale any more of her life into this atmosphere. And finally she held her last breath until she was sure her next breath would be heavenly and eternal.

When we speak about God-given breath we do so realizing that this gift is what gives life. We can’t make it happen, and although science can restore life it cannot create it. At its most elemental, life is a gift from God and with every breath we inhale we must make a choice about what we exhale.

As we inhale we are receiving God’s gift to us … but in exhaling we have the opportunity to return that gift to him in praise. David Leonard and Leslie Jordan composed a powerful worship song which declares, “It’s your breath in our lungs and we pour out our praise to you only.”

What an honor to receive from God what we need and then return that gift through a life of service, love and praise. Do you feel blessed by God? You don’t read very far in Scripture to realize that blessing others is a great joy to the Father’s heart.

This week become a conduit of blessing. As you have received from God, turn around and find someone in your life to bless. Your family could use a blessing. Business associates could use a blessing. There is no one you will ever encounter who would not desire God’s blessing on their life.

Even if you pray Aaron’s blessing over Israel silently, point it at someone and breathe out some of what you breathe in with every breath you take. God will honor your words and thoughts of blessing.

“Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless

the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the Lord

bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be

gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor

and give you his peace.’” Numbers 6;22-26 NLT