Dry Bones Will Walk Again
Your Nightly Prayer for December 3, 2024
by Meg Bucher
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones.” – Ezekiel 37:1
SOMETHING TO PONDER
The dry bones coming to life in the Old Testament passage reminds us of the incredible promises of God! The passage begins with the prophet Ezekiel being carried off by the Spirit of God. In the valley, the Lord brings dry and scattered bones to life! Verse 10 reads, “ So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and the breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.” God came alongside his people, who had lost hope …and their home. He promised to bring them back and restore their hope.
What’s more, verse 14 says, “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said.” Take some time to meditate on this entire passage of Scripture sometime, and picture the scene!
God’s timing is perfect. Though our minds scatter and our bones weaken, our hope is never lost because we live in the promise God spoke to His people through Ezekiel and the dry bones in the desert. Though scattered and slowly deteriorating, the Spirit of God lives in us. This incredible scene from the Old Testament is being brought to life in our daily lives. We are able to see through the lens of our Savior – a perspective that allows us to feel alive when it makes the least sense. We proclaim hope in the midst of really hard days. Our joy sustains the most immense pain. The peace we have surpasses all understanding, as Scripture says, because of the Holy Spirit living in us through Jesus. We don’t have to tear our clothes in sorrow and repentance as the Old Testament believers were compelled. No – we live in the new. The new life of Christ Jesus, with the promise of new on the horizon.
Dry Bones reminds me that Jesus will return. He will bring what is dead to life again, restore what has been lost, and return things to the way they were designed to be. There will be no more pain, sorrow, death, or injustice …can you even imagine the glory and triumph we will feel as our dry bones come to life once more? As I sit at my desk, in pain from a spine that is wearing away in time, I rejoice at the thought of running pain-free through the streets of heaven one day …with my Savior at my side. Whatever is ailing you today … choose to filter through the story of the dry bones in the desert, and let God bring the scattered pieces of your story together in a way only He can. Only He knows the depth of all of your days.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
Praise You for the stories recorded in Your Word. They connect us to You in perfect timing. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, in us, helping us to weave the wisdom of Your Words into the current circumstances of our days. Bless our lives with rejuvenating hope and healing today, God, in the way only You completely understand we need.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
3 THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. What is ailing you today? What specifically hurts right now, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, relationally …check off each category, searching for dry and scattered areas that need the caring love and healing hand of God to tend to.
2. What do you look forward to most about heaven? Allow your mind to wander there, picturing Jesus welcoming you home one day. It’s something to look forward to!
3. As you drift off to sleep tonight, give God each and every pain and heartache that has nagged you today. Then, thank Him for everything that has made you smile or provided you encouragement, nourishment, and comfort today. Finally, praise Him for the faithful provider He is, making ‘dry bones’ come to life …one at a time.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
Meg writes about everyday life within the love of Christ at megbucher.com. She is the author of “Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,” “Surface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,” “Glory Up, The Everyday Pursuit of Praise,” “Home, Finding Our Identity in Christ,” and "Sent, Faith in Motion." Meg earned a Marketing/PR degree from Ashland University but stepped out of the business world to stay home and raise her two daughters …which led her to pursue her writing passion. A contributing writer for Salem Web Network since 2016, Meg is now thrilled to be a part of the editorial team at Salem Web Network. Meg loves being involved in her community and local church, leads Bible study, and serves as a youth leader for teen girls.
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