The Breath of Life from God
Month 1: In the Beginning — Knowing God · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Genesis 2:7 & Job 33:4
7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. — Genesis 2:7
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. — Job 33:4
Memory Verse
“I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.”— Psalm 139:14 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Job 20–22
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 19 of 365 — the back-and-forth between Job and his friends deepens.)The Heart of It
When God formed Adam from the dust, he was just a silent, lifeless shape. Then God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (). Life came from God's own breath. Job later prayed it this way. "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (). Here's something wonderful for a Spirit-filled family to notice. In Hebrew, the very same word, ruach, means "breath," "wind," and "Spirit." Right from the first chapter of the Bible, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters (). So God's Spirit and God's breath are tied to life itself.
So the Holy Spirit isn't a New Testament newcomer. He was active at creation, giving the breath of life. The same Spirit who first gave Adam physical life is the One who breathes new life into us, after Jesus rose. Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (). He was echoing the garden on purpose. We are born once by the breath of life. But we must be "born again" by the Spirit to truly live (). And then Jesus longs to fill His people with that same Spirit. The same power that hovered at creation now lives inside ordinary believers, even children. It makes them more like Jesus and bold for Him.
Around the Table
God breathed life into the first man! Every breath you take is a gift from God.
Let's do it: Take three big, slow breaths together. "Thank You, God, for the breath of life!"
The same word means "breath," "wind," and "Spirit." The Holy Spirit was there at creation, giving life.
Let's talk: Your first birth made you alive on the outside. What do you think it means to be "born again" by the Spirit?
The Spirit who gave Adam his first breath is the same Spirit Jesus breathed on His disciples. He's the same Spirit who fills His people today. Our first life is His gift. So are new life and power.
Let's go deeper: Have you ever asked Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit?
💬 Conversation Starter
Try holding your breath… now breathe. We can't even live one minute without God's gift of breath! What does that tell us about how much we need Him?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Where does life come from? Scientists can mix all the right chemicals together. But they cannot make non-living stuff come alive. Life only ever comes from life. The Bible has always said exactly that. Life comes from the living God who breathes it in. We can share this calmly and confidently ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
This is a rich place to lay a Pentecostal foundation without any hype. Trace the Spirit's work as life-giver across the whole Bible. He hovered over the waters (). He gave the breath of life (). Jesus breathed the Spirit on His disciples (). And the Spirit filled the church for witness (). The Spirit is God Himself, personal and present from the very beginning. Help your children see two distinct works. First, there is the new birth, where the Spirit makes a dead heart alive (regeneration, ). Second, there is the baptism in the Spirit, a subsequent empowering for mission and service (). Classic Pentecostal teaching holds both together. And remember the guardrail. The aim is never spiritual showmanship but Christlike character, the fruit of the Spirit (). Before you lead your children toward the Spirit's fullness, ask yourself a question. Are you walking in His power, or merely your own effort?
Draws on: Robert P. Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story; and Derek Prince, The Holy Spirit in You.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You for the breath of life. Your Spirit was there at creation, and He gives us new life through Jesus. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and make us more like Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen."
Every breath is God's gift. And His Spirit gives both life and new life.