Gifts for the Journey

HE Breathed Into You, and You Became Alive!

The Bible tells us in Genesis 2:7:  

“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living creature.”

The moment you took your first breath, you became alive! Can you see that? The Lord ordains every step of our lives from the moment we take our first breath until our last. Would you be willing today, to take a moment to become aware of the very breath you breathe?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and approved of you as My chosen instrument; and before you were born I consecrated you to Myself as My own.” Jeremiah 1:5a (AMP)

Do you believe this promise to be true? God has placed within us gifts that will carry and sustain us through each season of our lives - even those dark nights.

My Story

Over these past four years, we as a family have been stretched and pressed into uncomfortable and even some very hard places. There have been days that I wondered IF we would make it, HOW we would  make it, and WHEN the trials we faced would pass. There were days when my prayer life became almost nonexistent, and I was holding on for dear life - hoping not to crumble and fall. Many days I resisted routine and desperately desired to just eat, sleep, and isolate from everyone and all responsibilities. As the days became harder and the fight became even greater still, I questioned everything I had prayed for throughout my years as a Christian. I wondered why HE was taking so long to deliver our family and me personally from this raging battle; and I wondered if He was ever going to save us. Can you relate to feeling this way? Has your journey at times been so much more than you can handle and taken longer than you had anticipated?

What Then Changed?

One early morning I woke up and became aware of my very breath, knowing it was

HE - Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord who called me and set me apart, and Who gave me a “new spirit and new heart.” I realized that He had breathed eternal life into my very being. For in the Book of Ezekiel we read these words:

 “I'm going to give you a new heart, and I'm going to give you a new spirit within all of your deepest parts. I'll remove that rock-hard heart of yours and replace it with one that's sensitive to me" Ezekiel 36:26

 “I will give you one heart and a new spirit; I will take from you your hearts of stone and give you tender hearts of love for Me” Ezekiel 11:19 (TLB)

Becoming Aware of His Gifts

Of course, my journey was far from over. In fact, during the pandemic I was still treading through the swamp. However, something shifted inside me that morning. I began to praise God for my breath He had given. I realized that those negative feelings I had were actually fleeting ones, and I became aware of even more gifts that HE had tucked inside of me knowing I would need them for this season of my journey - and, thank God, there are more than a few! From the beginning He knew I would come to this time in my life. He knew the struggles I would face and need to wrestle through.  In HIS kindness He revealed additional specific gifts He has placed within me: gifts of steadiness, strength, confidence, courage, joy, contentedness, His love, and peace! For we read in His Word:  

“They will not live in fear or dread of what may come, for their hearts are firm, ever secure in their faith. Steady and strong, they will not be afraid, but will calmly face their every foe until they all go down in defeat.”  Psalms 112:7-8

So, not only did we as Christians receive the breath of life, we also have been given gifts that we discover and use to sustain and carry us through to victory.

Receiving His Gifts

Today, first of all, will you take a moment to become aware of the very breath you breathe? Take five minutes to acknowledge HIM and praise HIM whether you are going through a valley or are on the mountaintop. Will you open your eyes and ears to see and hear His voice today? Will you encounter the heart of God? For it is Jesus who says to you:

  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and approved of you as My chosen instrument; and before you were born I consecrated you to Myself as My own.”  Jeremiah 1:5a  (AMP)

 “When I was still in my mother’s womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell others about him.” Galatians 1:15  (MSG)

Even today, I, Elizabeth, needed this reminder of HIS unfailing love. Today, I needed to become freshly aware that I must breathe in new life by His Spirit - knowing it was HE who has made all things new.  

In Jesus We Have Hope, Peace, and Contentment

Jesus knows our needs. He has already made provision for each of us to gain the victory through His finished work at Calvary!

 “There can be no comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.”  Romans 8:18-21 (MSG)

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12b-13.

How About You?

In your dark valley, I hope you will draw upon your faith in God and receive the hope, strength, courage, grace, contentment, peace, and joy just like I have. In the midst of pain and sorrow these precious gifts will carry you through, too. Allow His JOY to overflow in your heart!

We Are Called to Be His Ambassadors of Peace and Joy

“When I was still in my mother’s womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell others about him.”  Galatians 1:15 (MSG)

"It is not you who chose me, but it is I who chose you and appointed you that you might go and be fruitful and that your fruit might remain; so that whatever petition you present to the Father in my name He may give you." John 15:6 (Weymouth)

 “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!" John 14:6 (TPT)

So, let’s not simply weather this storm. Let's put to use what Jesus teaches us to be a light to guide others through to peace, joy, and victory.”