[363 words]
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6).
One of the good things about the Thanksgiving holiday is that we are “forced” to stop our busy, self-centered lives and count our blessings. It is so easy to take our blessings for granted!
I was recently reminded of how our loving and powerful God cares for us—in ways we rarely ponder.
The average human being takes 23,000 breaths a day. Unless we are sick, winded from running, choking, or experiencing something else out of the ordinary, we never give this complicated and amazing routine much thought.
The process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide is a complex task that requires physiological precision in our God-designed respiratory system. And yet, we do it thousands of times each day without so much as a second thought.
We tend to praise God and give Him thanks for those “big events” that take our breath away. Sometimes it is good to be reminded that our mighty God is blessing us each moment of each day. Let us use the breath we have to praise the Lord and give Him thanks for our many blessings.
“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty in His work, and His righteousness endures forever. He as caused His wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111).
Bart Warren
South Green Street church of Christ
Glasgow, KY