Reading through the Bible chronologically with devotions from Come Boldly: Timeless Daily Encouragements on Prayer that pair with the Scripture readings.

Genesis 1-11; Job 1-9.    Come Boldly Page 55, 197, 288

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” ~ John 1:1-4

Genesis. A new page. A fresh start. The Grand Story, our story, begins with a Word. The Word spoke, and out of nothing, a world filled with wonder was created. Simply a Word was spoken and it all was. And in this fashion, the world was established, from light and darkness, to waters and fish, to grass and birds, etc. Speaking a Word and making it so. But then God does something unexpected. The One Who could have simply uttered a word of life into the clayed form breathes down His own mighty Breath and inspires a soul, breathing Life into man.

Take a deep breath. Breathe in and inspire the Breath you first breathed, oh soul of mine. Drink in His Spirit and utter back His praises with your next breath. You and I were created to praise Him. From beginning to end. 

Job. Wow, what can we say about Job? First thing that comes to mind is “glad I am not Job.” Few of us have been tested the way Job was.  But Job got it.  Our natural bent is to run from the testing, or fall away in faith, but Job stuck with God. “Though He slay me. Yet will I trust Thee.” Job 13:15. Though we may not be tested in the same ways Job was, we still have hard circumstances that can become opportunities for growing our faith. And that means holding on even when things aren’t going well at all for us.We must also realize that our enemy, the devil is actively opposing us in our walk of faith. He’s looking for ways to steal our belief, to cause us to doubt God’s trustworthiness. Also, the Book of Job reminds us that we are rarely aware of the cosmic forces that are in combat as we pray.

Lord, Just a nod, a simple word spoken over our lives, and it is done. Father, speak over our lives. Breathe Your Breath of Life into our ashen hearts into our lives and we will live. Let us use our next  breath to offer back to you the praise that You deserve. Teach us to trust, like Job, like other heroes of the faith such as Noah that You are reliable and well worth our trust. Help us to remember that “every breath is a second chance,” another opportunity to trust more. In the faithful Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior.”