Valley of Dry Bones

A life without hope or a promise clung to is like a valley of dry bones.

To illustrate both the detachment of the Israelites from God, but also God's great love for His people, God led Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones, (see Ezekiel 37).  The Lord said that His people cry out, "Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off," (v 11).  I've heard this cry time and time again; not just throughout the Bible, but in everyday life.  When we are close to God,  nothing can touch us.  We are full of life and the world seems open to us.  But as we slowly drift from an intimate presence with God, we begin to dry up.  The promises we've taped to the bathroom mirror seem empty.  The visions we'd hoped to see come to pass are fading in the distance.  But the Lord is faithful and He wants to fulfill His promises.  Moreover, He wants us to be in His intimate presence again.  And He says, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them...'I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life,'" (vv 4-5).

What is it in your life that seems like a valley of dry bones?  What promise seems dead and without hope?  Into what dry area do you need to prophesy life and breath?  What vision, hope, dream, promise do you want to see live?  When the Lord led Ezekiel back and forth through the valley of dry bones, the Lord asked him, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And Ezekiel answered, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know," (v 3). Even if you have nothing more than a faint promise, speak life to it as you cling to the Lord-who is life and who gives life-and watch it grow into a promise fulfilled.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says...'I will put my Spirit in you and you will live...Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it,' declares the Lord. ~ Ezekiel 37:14

Training to be Warriors

Train even your weaklings to be warriors ~ Joel 3:10

I’m in training right now.  I’ve joined a friend’s small group in order to have accountability so that I will train and condition my body to be first, in better health and condition, and second, to stay motivated enough to work hard enough to win two days off of work next year in a speed-walking contest.  Training, the getting up early on Saturdays and working out outside-no matter the weather, isn’t a whole lot of fun.  In fact, several mornings, I debated not going (which is why I need accountability or I really struggle to do it).  But after I put in the time and effort and saw the results of each training session I felt both excited and proud of myself.  I think that’s what Hebrews 12:11-12 is referring to, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.” 

Each time we take a step toward a goal, we are strengthening both our bodies and minds.  In walking, the faster you swing your arms, the faster your legs will move.  When I’m really tired and my legs feel as though they are going to give out, I tell my arms to swing faster and my legs follow suit.  This is the same thing, as we continue on toward our goal, no matter how tired or worn out we may be, we just need to keep going.  Because when we do we produce a harvest and we are no longer weaklings but warriors who are ready to go out and take on life’s challenges.

And now, O Lord, call out your warriors ~ Joel 3:11

From There

But if from there you seek the LORD your God… ~ Deuteronomy 4:29

Have you ever been floating on the water, whether on a lake or the Gulf, and noticed that after a period of time you gradually drifted away from where you started?  That can happen to us in our walk with God.  We’re going along, walking closely with God, but over time a million tiny interruptions come our way and one day we realize that we’ve drifted from the closeness we had to His heart.  Our first instinct might be to panic.  But no need to worry, for the Bible says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you…[for He has] loved you with an everlasting love; [and has] drawn you with loving-kindness,” (James 4:8; Jeremiah 31:3).

Where ever “there” is for you, you needn’t fear, for if you simply turn around and look for Him, God will be there.

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. ~ Deuteronomy 4:29