Ready:
“Hallelujah! Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in his mighty expanse. Praise him for his powerful acts; praise him for his abundant greatness. Praise him with the blast of a trumpet; praise him with harp and lyre. Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and flute. Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with clashing cymbals. Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!” —Psalm 150
Set:
There are some amazing breathing techniques that make all the difference for runners. Effective breathing is crucial to maximize oxygen intake and enhance performance. Proper technique can help reduce fatigue and improve endurance. Coaches push athletes to get them in better shape. Sometimes workouts are done in higher elevations to cause greater efficiency in breathing. All of this hard work promotes better breathing to help you perform better and at a higher level.
Our spiritual life, which is of greater value and importance, has breathing connected to us. From the very beginning, in Genesis 2:7, it says, “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.” Before God breathed into Adam, Adam wasn’t alive. But when God breathed the breath of life into Adam, he became a living creature. The very fact that we are living is because God miraculously breathed into Adam, and therefore at our birth we begin to breath. We must breathe to live. We cannot survive more than a few minutes without air. In the Hebrew tradition, some have said that to inhale, and exhale was to actually speak God’s Name, YAHWEH.
With the reality that the air we breathe and our actual breathing, both come from God is why the last sentence of Psalm 150, the very last psalm, clearly instructs us, “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Hallelujah.” If you have breath, the proper response is to give praise to God. He is worthy of all our praise. As Creator, He deserves to hear from His creation much praise, honor and thanksgiving.
We have breath so let’s say it loud and clear – praise the Name of the Lord. Blessed be His name. Blessed be God who daily fills us with goodness, benefits, blessings and air to breathe!
Go:
Have you ever thought about the gift of air and breathing that comes directly from God? Stop now and tell him thank you.
What specific thing can you say to God to give praise to him?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord God, I thank You for air to breathe. You knew I needed air to live, and if I’m living, my breath must be used to give praise to You. I know You want to hear more praise from my mouth. I will do better. I honor You and give praise to You. Amen.”