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