Before you keep reading any further, stop.
And be right here. And only right here.
Count to four as you take a deep breath in…And count to six as you exhale out.
Let’s do that one more time.
Count to four as you take a deep breath in…Then count to six as you exhale out.
Each of those breaths (and the one you’re taking right now) are a simple reminder.
A reminder that God is the source of your life. God is the source of all existence.
In Genesis 1 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.’ And that is what happened.“
God literally spoke everything into existence. His breath gave life to humanity. In Genesis 2 we read, “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”
Have you forgotten about your breathing already? Most days, we are unaware of our breath, but it keeps coming in and going out. With each of those breaths, there's a new reason to praise God. He's the Creator and sustainer of your life!
The conversation about life having a source beyond itself isn't just happening with people who read the Bible or follow Jesus. These realities were the subject of Greek philosophers. In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul traveled to Athens, specifically to the Areopagus, where the Greeks debated and discussed the newest ideas.
There, Paul spoke to them saying, “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need…For in him, we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone."
We are God’s offspring. In Him, we live and move and exist. Without Him, we would be nothing. This is why God is worthy of our praise - He’s our Creator!
I don’t know about you, but these basic realities are often lost on me, just like my breath is something I take completely for granted.
But, when I consider all of creation and when I consider myself, I just don’t understand. I find myself speaking the same words that David did in Psalm 8.
“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.”
Have you spoken those words? Ever felt small as you look at the stars and the moon? Felt insignificant as you stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon or looked out an airplane window at a sea of clouds?
These moments are an invitation to wonder and worship. As we reflect on God’s creation, we see just how worthy He is of praise.
If you sometimes get stuck between familiarity and wonder, or wonder and worship, then here are a few ideas to help you get unstuck.
- Set a daily reminder on your phone to pay attention to your breath.Even just two or three minutes of intentional breathing like we did at the beginning of this devotional could prompt your awareness of God’s breath in your lungs.
- Commit to getting outside for at least an hour once a week. I've got an appointment on my calendar. The appointment is with myself and creation.Whether I sit on a bench at a park, set out on a hike, or inflate my paddleboard for some time on a lake, I meet God in His creation, and He renews my soul.
- Look up. When's the last time you looked up at the stars and the moon? They become visible each night, and all too often, we skip the opportunity to look up.
Whether it’s taking some people stargazing with you, visiting an observatory in your area, or just stepping outside tonight before you go to bed, look up soon!
There is a name beyond those stars, a God behind that moon, a breath from which we take ours, and an imagination behind creation. God is that powerful! In Ben Hastings “That’s the Power,” they put words to this kind of wonder and worship.
RELATED CONTENT: Ben Hastings Gives Rise to A Biblical Kind of Courage in “That’s The Power”
Not only is God the one who is the source of creation, He remains powerful over it. He is worthy of our praise because He is the Creator. He is so, so worthy!
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer with the coolest last name ever. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He helps hurting people forgive others through his Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com
