August 13

Ezekiel 37

Ezekiel has a vision of a huge valley filled with dry bones.

INSIGHT

The apostle John writes: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1, 4). God is life—and not just life for today—but forever. Timothy writes that God alone possesses immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). God is life, and He is the giver of life. He can make dead things live. In Ezekiel´s vision, a huge valley is filled with dead men´s bones. Then God begins to move. The bones form skeletons upon which form flesh and clothes. Then God breathes into that valley of bodies the breath of life, and the bodies come alive. That is a picture of what God will do with Israel: give her life again. That is what He will do with anyone who believes in Him and asks Him for life. Have you asked God for eternal life?

PRAYER

The Lord gives us His immortality, so we praise Him:
I will love You, O Lord my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies (Psalm 18:1-3).

Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
Sing praise to the Lord, You saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:4-5).

Confess your sins.

Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:11).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Greater love for the lost
• The work of missions in Africa
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to God:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).