Week 2: Day 10 - 2016 Fasting & Prayer
WEEK 2: DAY 10
A Call to Declaration - God, The Giver of Life
"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)
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:13 it is "God who gives life to all things." And in Acts 17:28 we are reminded, "In Him we live, and move, and have our being." We are reminded specifically, over and over again in these scriptures and several others, it is God who gives us life. One of our sons drowned when he was just 3 years old, and when we pulled him out of that pool we immediately started CPR, rotating between chest compressions and breathing. Minutes later when he took that first breath on his own, a wave of relief washed over us. We had breathed life back into him - but in reality, it wasn't our breath, it was God's. I was breathing the breath of life God breathed into me into our son, and he lived!
It was three years earlier and just two weeks before that same son was born that I sat next to my father's bed as he came to the end of his struggle with cancer. I was with him when he literally took his last breath, and I'll never forget that moment. What a contrast, a last breath and a first breath of life - and what frailty it shows us. How dependent upon our Creator we are! How is it we forget this so easily? And how can we go through life as normal and not be captivated by this simple fact each and every day? – Testimony by Doug Stringer
RESPOND
There is a worship song by the group All Sons & Daughters that declares, "It's Your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to You only!" Stop and think about that for a moment in light of what we just read in Genesis 2:7. That first breath you took when you were born - and every one since - is God's breath in our lungs.
Our response to this thought should reflect the sentiments of that song, and echo what the psalmist declares, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14 NIV)
We read that, but do we "know that full well"?
REPENT
Father, forgive me for taking life for granted. Forgive me for forgetting that the breath I breath every day comes from You. And forgive me for forgetting You breathed life into me for a purpose, and how it is only in You that I live, move, and have my being. Show me what my purpose is for today - and then tomorrow, show me again. Help me to wake each morning declaring Psalm 118:24 over my life, that "this IS the day YOU have made, and I will REJOICE and BE GLAD in it!"
PRAY
Declare LIFE over Chester County and the state of South Carolina and call our nation - it's citizens and leaders, both spiritual and political - to remember that God is the giver of life. Pray we will honor Him in the choices we make and in the laws established in our state and nation.
For God's revealed purpose to be manifest in your life. That you will see yourself and what you do as He sees you, and that He would confirm His purposes for you through His Word. Pray that people's hearts are opened to the Gospel message and say yes to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!
WORSHIP
Listen to "Great Are You Lord" by All Sons & Daughters on YouTube. Let the praise fill your headphones, car, or house and call into remembrance the goodness of God. Thank Him for every breath He has given you, and declare to Him you will make every breath count from this day forward.