The Valley of Dry Bones

He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel 37:3

The background verse comes from Ezekiel 37:1-14. Ezekiel, was a prophet of God and had just witnessed the demise of Israel as a Nation and captured by Babylonians. Yet, this verse speaks of some very critical biblical truths that apply to us just the same today.

In many times of our lives we often feel defeated, feel unworthy, feel incapable of ourselves. And too, periods of spiritual darkness follows as sin seeks to entangle us. While it is normal to feel down and sometimes to the point that we are lukewarm and lethargic in faith, God shows Ezekiel (and us too) just what He sees of us:

We are like Dry bones:
Well.Death itself proves to be an unpopular topic of discussion, especially so across cultures and borders, because its associated with badness. We may be a non-christian suffering from addictions/hurts or devoted christians struggling with issues that somehow keep a stronghold over us. Some say a leopard never changes its spots, much is the same for our sinful nature. There is something in us that somehow can jeopardise the life we ought to be living for and sap the joy in us.

Sometimes we feel like dry bones = lifeless. worthless. And of no use to anyone.

Wha God can do to dry Bones:
As I read through the verses, I see a promise of God:

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”


It is perhaps interesting to think what God has done in my life thus far, even if I'm now struggling with deep issues at the moment. Fact has stacked the odds against our Lord: He chose His 12 disciples from fishermen, tax collector and made it into his Church today. God chose Moses and turned his life around. God chose Saul, a Pharisee famous for persecuting christians and turned him into perhaps the most important apostle Paul, who led many to Christ.

All these people succeeded not because of who they were, and what they were capable of, but because of the Spirit that dwelled in them. Such was a plan that could not fail.

Today, we may think we are like dry bones, and that hope is gone. Yet the limitations of ourselves is the start of where God can work. And he has already shown His intent by choosing to come in Jesus, to put His Spirit in us to work in us. It is an invitation that I myself have taken up for 5 years, ups and downs, rollercoaster of a ride it has been.

He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel 37:3


For me it's a reminder that I would miss the whole purpose of life if I still miss the source of where, or rather whom all life came from. Bones alone cannot sustain life. Only the One who made them can.

Not by feelings, but by Hope

I really felt comfort from these verses as I was meditating through them. While it is normal as human beings to be susceptible to our own feelings, we ought not to condemn ourselves but to acknowledge that it is what makes us.. Humans. Feelings somehow affect the way we think and the way we act but they can all go awefully wrong if things turn out the wrong(felt) way. Our feelings can't be trusted, sometimes we can't even pinpoint why we feel just how the way we feel. But yet, there is something/someone known to be trustworthy:

As the verse in proverbs says, Trust in the Lord. I hope we will really choose to rely on Him, not based on how we feel but by His very Words and promises. May This Easter be a blessed one for you =) 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. 
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. 
Proverbs 3:5-6

Originally taken from: http://encouragingbiblequotes.com/versesifeela.html 

How do you Feel?

Lord, I feel.....

Beaten...yet
You have made me more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37).
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

Bound....yet
You are my deliverer (Rom 11:26).
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

Confused....yet
You are my counselor (Isa 9:6).
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A failure....yet
You have made me an overcomer (1 Jn 5:4).
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith

Fearful....yet
You did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, andof a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7).
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Friendless....yet
You are a friend who sticks closer to me than a brother (Prov 18:24).
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

In darkness....yet
You are a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet (Ps 119:105).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Lonely.....yet
You promised never to leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13:5).
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you."

Misjudged....yet
I'm accepted and approved by You (Eph 1:4).
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

Poor....yet
You supply all my need according to Your riches in glory (Phil 4:19).
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Sick....yet
You are the Lord who heals all my diseases (Ps 103:3).
…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Troubled....yet
You are my peace (Jn 14:27).
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you asthe world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Unclean....yet
You are the purifier and refiner of my life (Mal 3:3).
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify theLevites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will havemen who will bring offerings in righteousness,

Vulnerable....yet
You are my strength and my strong tower (Ps 18:2).
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.

Worthless....yet
You see me as a pearl of great price (Matt 13:46).
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

---

For Each Negative Thing We Say to Ourselves,God Has A Positive Answer For It.

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: "All things are possible" (Luke 18:27)
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: "I love you" (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: "I will direct your steps" (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: "You can do all things" (Philippians 4:13)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: "I am able" (II Corinthians 9:8)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all thingsat all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every goodwork.

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: "It will be worth it" (Romans 8:28)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: "I FORGIVE YOU" (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: "I will supply all your needs" (Philippians 4:19)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear" (2Timothy 1:7)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: "Cast all your cares on ME" (I Peter 5:7)
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3)
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: "I give you wisdom" (I Corinthians 1:30)
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for uswisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you"

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