Very Dry

Daily Reading: Ezekiel 37

But there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37.8)

Devotional Thought: These bones weren't just dry; they were very dry.  Perhaps you are going through a situation that could be described as very dry.  Perhaps your family or your church is very dry.

What to do?  Prophesy!

• The first thing God instructed Ezekiel to do in his vision is to prophesy to the bones, directly address them with a word from the Lord.  When we are very dry, it is time to speak hope into despair and life into death.  What do we say?  The Word of the Lord:  We are made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2.5).  Christ came to give us abundant life (John 10.10).  Believing in him we have eternal life (John 3.16).  And even though we die, yet shall we live again and never die (John 11.25-26).

• After the bones came together and were covered with flesh, Ezekiel was to prophesy to the breath.  The word for breath is the same as that for Spirit.  In other words, Ezekiel was to speak directly to the life-giving Spirit, saying, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”  What a great prayer, and what a great reality behind that prayer.  The divine element is an essential ingredient in every spiritual renewal. We can begin to change things by the way we speak and act, but without the Spirit of God we won’t really come alive.  The amazing thing is that we are instructed to speak directly to the Spirit.  “Come, Holy Spirit!”  By faith, call upon the Spirit to come and breathe life into your dryness and deadness.

We can fret and complain all we want, but that will not change anything.  Let’s speak life and hope into our lives, our families, and our churches!

Prayer:  "O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord... Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live...  Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."  Amen.  (Ezekiel 37)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 48.9-14

9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.

10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11 Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!

12 Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,

13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation

14 that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.