To Breathe......

Consider the following six activities:

1)      Racing a car

2)      Cooking a Hamburger

3)      Shooting a Free-throw

4)      Reading a book

5)      Listening to Music

6)      Sleeping

What do all the above things have in common? (and they’re NOT all actions…sleeping hardly qualifies…)  I recently asked a large group this question, and was met with silence until one young man yelled out “You gotta be breathing!”  Right!  Excellent!  The commonality is discovered!  As diverse as they are, they share the necessity for breathing.  In “Looking to the Book” this week, I want you to read the 26^th chapter of Isaiah, where you will find a similar commonality for life.  Isaiah reflects on several extreme facets of life; war, peace, wealth, poverty, journeys, desire, evil, righteousness, and the Spirit of God.  The theme of the book is breathing…. Well, not breathing exactly, but what is intended to be the Christian’s equivalent of such… praise.  “Praise” means to express admiration, approval, and respect.  It carries the insinuation of priority and esteem.  Isaiah treats praise in this chapter as if it should be something engaged in during every facet of life.  No matter where we each find ourselves this week, we need to be proactive in expressing our love, admiration, and esteem to the Almighty.  Tough week?  Praise God!  Job troubles?  Praise God!  Sick Kids?  Give God praise!  Not because of where you are, but because of WHO HE IS!  To us, it’s like the oxygen of breathing, we absolutely MUST praise.  Jesus even made mention that if we don’t take our responsibility in this arena seriously, the rocks themselves will take up our job!  Pause for a moment right now… read the 26^th chapter of Isaiah, and offer your own praise to the One who gave you the ability to breathe…