Today is the first day of school and as the alarm clock goes off, me and my son hit the ground running. There’s always a lot of rushing in our home when school begins and I often feel like I’m on that old game show “Beat the Clock“. I finish packing his lunch, as he grabs his water bottle and we head out the door. We are ahead of schedule. Imagine that. As I drive, we make small talk about the day, his locker, his lunch. And my 8th grader admits he has butterflies. Being the fixer that I am, I suggest this breathing technique I often use. He’s familiar with it as I slowly take a deep breath up through my nose, hold it for three counts and let it out through my mouth. He does the same. I imagine I am breathing in God and releasing out all the stuff I don’t need, like anxiousness. I tell him how God formed us with His breath, in the beginning. We do it together three more times.
When we finish, I remind him of Philippians 4:6 which tells us to not be anxious about anything, but instead to pray. I ask him if I can pray with him. He agrees and we pray for his nervousness, him and his classmates. Then we thank God for the school, teachers and the amazing first day he is about to have. I let him out at the middle school gym and head down to the tennis courts for our “First Day, Let’s Pray” gathering. The leader, a fellow mom, speaks on goals for the first day of school as well as the rest of the year; to seek God first in all things. She says something like, “When we put God first in all areas of our lives, the rest has a way of falling into place. Why not seek God first, first thing in the morning, before your feet hit the floor and let God order the rest of your day.” It was a simple but good message.
As she concludes, we circle up, hand in hand, and pray. The sun was shining so bright in my face, I couldn’t open my eyes. I felt the warmth on my skin and reflect on the morning; both breathing God into my life and seeking HIM first each day. As I stood there, the sun got brighter and it felt as if God stepped forth to meet me. Just as I am seeking God, God is seeking me. Just as I am breathing God, God is breathing me. I realize God has been with me all morning. I’m reminded of Psalms 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” That’s me! I have breath. As I journey through the rest of this day, I will pause and thank God for HE is in the breath. As I seek HIM, I will find HIM in the sunshine and I will praise HIM because I can.
Dear Lord, this is the day that YOU have made, we will rejoice and be glad in. With YOU at the front of my day and my life, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Let me never forget. And with all my breath, let me forever praise your name. In Jesus Name, Amen – M
3 thoughts on “Let everything that has breath praise God!”
Melissa, I am inspired by your morning. There are testimonies of folks who never have enough time, but when seeking God first, their days take on a new dynamic of achieving, which cannot be explained outside the spiritual realm. It is so easy for me to hit the ground running going nowhere. Thank you for the much needed reminder that He is closer than the air we breathe.
I enjoyed reading your entry for today. Good words for the first day of school. Tomorrow is Kasie’s first day at school and she is a senior. Where has the time gone? I will keep Luke in my prayers. Please remember Kasie for this
past monday, the 13th made a year since Kathryn passed away. Life is still hard but God is good!!
Simply beautiful.