Every living thing has to breathe. Without breath, we would all die. It is something that most people take for granted and usually never give their ability to breathe a thought, we just expect breath to be there and go about our daily lives. Today as I was walking and listening to my dog panting as she walked along beside me, and my own faster breathing I began thanking God for breath. This day I awoke with clear lungs and breathing easily. As an asthma sufferer there have been many times that my breath did not come easy, I was struggling and afraid. Although I know not to panic and hyperventilate, still I found myself just that, why, because there is life in our breath. We need it, every living thing needs oxygen, to breathe. So, I decided to look at scripture and see what it had to say about breath. Here are a few things I found. 

When God made man he breathed life into him. Genesis 2:7 says: 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. Without God’s breath, Adam was just a pile of dirt! 

Job 33:4 says: The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job recognized his life and breath were from God alone. 

In Genesis 7 we read of Noah and the ark. Two of every living creature male and female were to enter the Ark along with Noah and his family. In verse 15 we read these words:  15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life; and in verse 22 these words:  22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. Life was in the Ark with God, everything outside of the Ark died, nothing survived the flood, every living thing drowned, the breath of life snuffed out. 

In Job 4:9 we read this: 9 
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. God can exact his justice through just his breath. He is mighty and holy; he does not need a sword or any other means by which to smite an enemy. 

Job 12:10 says: 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. And lastly in Psalm 33:6 we read: 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

We have an awesome God, he breaths and life happens, he takes away and life ends. He breathes and his justice is poured out. If it were not for the gift of breath this very moment I would not be writing this. I am thankful!

Too often we overlook the awesome wonder of the body, the heart, the lungs, every function it has, we just assume everything is working fine and never take time to whisper a thank you to the God who created it and sustains it. Right now is a good time to do just that, say thank you!