Monday, October 6, 2014

DRY BONES


No, this is not going to be a post about osteoporosis.

(Though at my age, it could be…)

It's about feeling dry, empty, useless, and dead inside.

Now I know that this feeling is unique to me, right?  No one else has ever felt this way.  Uh, yeah…

We have ALL felt this way at some point in our lives.  Maybe you're feeling that way right now.

Like your spiritual gas tank is on empty.  Like the well is dry.  Like the bucket has been drained.  Like you're in the middle of a desert with no oasis in sight.

I'm kinda walking that journey right now.  


So, I'm thinking about a passage from the book of Ezekiel (found in Chapter 37).

It's kind of a weird passage in some ways.  Ezekiel and God have an interesting encounter.  And God gives Ezekiel a vision.  A rather effective object lesson about a valley of dry bones.  

And I think it reads like a very exciting movie scene!


Let's listen in to the conversation:

"The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones.  He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor.  They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out.  Then he asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones become living people again?'

'O Sovereign Lord,' I replied, 'you alone know the answer to that.'"

(Good, Ezekiel!  Right answer!!)


Then the Lord says this:

"Look!  I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!  I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin.  I will put breath into you, and you will come to life.  Then you will know that I am the Lord."

Exciting, huh?!

And so, Ezekiel does what the Lord asks him to do – he speaks a message to the bones.

(Good, Ezekiel!  Right thing to do!!)


And this is when it gets interesting:

"Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley.  The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.  Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones.  Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them."


I love this word picture.

It so accurately reflects how I feel when I'm feeling dry.

Yeah, I might rally myself out of bed.  I might get those creaky legs moving…slowly.  I might rattle around, effectively imitating a human being.

But as far as my spirit – I still have no breath in me.

I'm a spiritual zombie.

However, the story does not end here.

The Lord has more in store!

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.'"


I find all sorts of encouragement in this whole scene.

Yes, I know this vision pertained to the nation of Israel.  But, I don't think the Lord would mind if we apply it to ourselves.

For He knows how we go through dry times.

Times when we feel spiritually empty, tired, weary.  Like dry bones lying around useless.

And here's the dilemma.  What to do during these times?  How do we get out of the valley?

Are you like me?  Do you try to drum up some spiritual vigor on your own?

Are you like me?  Do you plaster on a spiritual "happy face" and tell everyone how great you're doing, even though on the inside you're feeling dead?

Are you like me?  Do you sometimes give up and just accept the deadness, thinking it might never go away?


My friends, let us all remember this…

The story does not end here!

Matthew Henry has some interesting commentary on this:

"No created power could restore human bones to life.  God alone could cause them to live…The wind was an emblem of the Spirit of God, and represented his quickening powers…and it represents the power and grace of God…[who will] put his Spirit within us, and keep us by his power, through faith..."


Yes, it is the Lord who will restore us.

Like a rushing wind, the Holy Spirit will once again sweep into us with power and strength and life.  It may not be today, or tomorrow – but He will come.

Actually, He's already there.

And He wants to bring us back to spiritual vitality.

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'O my people, I will…cause you to rise again…When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord.  I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again.'"


Hearing those words brings a smile to my face. 

For I know it's true.  The Lord will bring me through the desert, for HE is the oasis of Living Water that will sustain me.

He will breathe new life into my wearied soul, and I will rise again.

One last image:

"They all came to life and stood up on their feet – a great army."


Hey you guys, I'm tired of feeling bony.  Are you?

Let’s become an army!






Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Now hear the word of the Lord.

(Words from a well-known spiritual song) 



"'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'" (Matthew 11:28, NIV)

"'For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.'" (Jeremiah 31:25, ESV)

"'...those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.'" 
(John 4:14, NLT)

"'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.'" (Matthew 5:6, NIV)

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." (Psalm 107:9, NLT)

"...those who seek the LORD lack no good thing." (Psalm 34:10, NIV)

"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:11, NIV)

"They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." (Jeremiah 17:8, NLT)

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31, NLT)

"The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.  He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (Psalm 23:1-4, NLT)

"He will feed his flock like a shepherd.  He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.." (Isaiah 40:11, NLT)



Are you feeling like a valley of dry bones - spiritually empty?  How does this vision encourage you?



Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

39 comments:

  1. We brought several mounted dead animal skulls back from the cabin a couple of weeks ago. One is hanging over the side door of the garage and one is hanging on my living room wall (my hubby and son jokingly hung it there to see how long it would take me to notice) so seeing these will remind of this post! What a powerful God we serve...who can bring life back to dead bones! I will never look at these mounted skulls in the same way...thank you! God bless you, friend!

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  2. Sharon this is dead on!! This is one of my favorite scriptures and I have been in it a lot lately. I look around blog world, all the blogs I have followed for years now are more silent or have stopped. I wonder if it isn't because a lot of us are in this season. Could God be rising up his army from the dry bones we are all feeling? Revival starts in the Body of Christ first...so let Him breathe on us all and may we arise.
    Great, great piece.

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  3. This is a wonderful post, Sharon. So powerful. I have felt some of this lately on my healing journey. Dry, empty words.....actions futile at times. Love these scriptures! Praying for you today and speaking Is. 58:11 over us both. God bless...

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  4. yep, right there with you on this one Sharon. My bones don't feel as dry as they have in times past, but my words have dried up. I guess age has benefits, experience being one of the main ones. I have been there, God saw me through it, and so I continue to walk, as he does whatever it is he is up to in me, and in you. I have learned one thing through the years, the 'feelings' come and go, as do the highs and the lows... all the while, HE remains totally true and always there. I also think satan loves our 'dry bones' periods, he tries to get a foot in that door and tell us how silly it all is and that we are never going to be okay again. WRONG!!! Even as we sense desert all around us... God is already leading us into the NEXT part of his plan.

    Remember... we are warriors, not just the Westmont kind, but the REAL warriors. We serve a mighty God and He is faithful... always!!! Preaching to the choir here...

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  5. :)

    "dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones ... "

    Breathe Holy Spirit ... Come and fill these dry bones (the osteoporosis ones, too)
    and take away this dry spirit, breathing life and making us alive and full in You!

    Wonderful, earth or in this case, bones: awakening, shattering and clattering, inspirational post! as always ... you stir up the power with your penned words and illustrated scripture brought to life and applied ever so well. Thank you for speaking this word ... "are you like me?" yep, yep, yep ... love the comments before mine also!

    Blessings and love,
    Peggy

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  6. Sharon, I'm right there with you, my friend.
    I so needed to read this today!
    An army needs to stand up together, and the breath of God is life, joy, and strength!
    I think God is telling us that it is time to take a deep breath from him and stand up!
    Just typing that sentence made me aware that I've been holding my breath a lot lately...God is performing spiritual CPR on us...We can feel the pressure as he works on reviving the old heart and blowing into our lungs a fresh new life.
    Breath deeply, my friend...there's still so much for us to do here!
    Blessings and love~ Lisa

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  7. Oh my, Sharon! Your description was like reading a transcript of my thoughts not too long ago. Something that has helped me is visiting the website www.sacredspace.ie. They simple offer prompts for prayer and food for thought that have really opened my heart to God in a deeper way.
    The dry bones passage was always my son's favorite as a kid. It created a mental picture for him that was both funny and powerful.
    Thanks for sharing your heart, my friend!

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  8. I am so thankful you wrote this Sharon because I've been feeling dry for such a long time and I've been trying this and trying that to see what I can do not to be feeling like this, so this vision gives me hope that I will eventually be restored :)

    betty

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  9. I love this story too! And yes, it would make a great movie. Maybe someone will do it. :) Praying that the Lord will give you rest in this season and awaken you to fresh movement again at just the right time.

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  10. Oh, how clearly you are not alone in your dryness. And this, too, is one of my favorite stories. Because, as you've so beautifully said, only God can do that. LIFE where there is death. Not just death but DEAD BONES! Oh, how deep His love for us.

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  11. Oh, I love this part of Scripture and needed it tonight, Sharon. He breathed life into those bones and they were an army! Yes, we need His breath in order to have spiritual life. Praising Him this day.
    Thanks for coming by and encouraging me; as a near-neighbor tonight at Unite too.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

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  12. Hi Sharon! I remember watching a movie that had this scene in it. Oh my gosh, it was wild. Bones flying up, coming together...I was a kid and it was pretty impressive. Now as an adult, I think I'd faint.
    Keep persevering my friend. You are a wonderful tool in the hand of the Lord. We all have to go through times of dryness to learn to lean on him, and that's exactly what you are doing. May God continue to bless you and pour the water of the Spirit to bring those flowers and trees to your soul. You are not alone, not by a long shot.
    Blessings,
    Ceil

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  13. Great post. Coming to you from #TellMeATrueStory.

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  14. Yes, oh Lord, please rattle those dry bones add some flesh and breathe on me. Thanks for sharing with us here at "Tell me a Story."

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  15. great post Sharon. Hope you have a fun filled weekend.

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  16. I was right there a little over a year ago, and it had been going on for years! I tried everything. When it happens, there really isn't anything we can do. The Holy Spirit has to do it, and when He does, boy you know! Praying for you. Just keep going. You're there for a reason. God knows your heart and that's all that matters.

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  17. It would be so easy to become dry bones which is why I took the challege to speak at this upcoming Ladies Retreat on being, "Wise Hearted". The times are rip for us women in the baby boomer age to rise up and speak and come along side of those younger ones. We do have much to give out, much to say, much grace we have learned through the years of giving and giving and giving out till we are depleted. I know He is bringing life to my dry bones once again, and they were dryer this time then ever before. I could sit on the side lines and let the younger do it but it's not God's way. We "older" women are called by God Himself to teach them, love on them. Great challenge Sharon, thanks my wise courageous sister.

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  18. Sorry to be so late getting here again. I have a long story, but nobody needs to hear it.

    I was so encouraged by the ending of this post. It's not just the ending of the passage because I expected that. It was that ONE point that you made about all of us out there becoming an army of revived dried bones together. I feel as if the whole of my blog neighborhood is full of dry bones. If we could ALL just get the Breath into us and be an army together, I can only imagine what it would look like.

    Funny and unrelated is the fact that this is one rare time in my life that I could rightly be called a boney. (Is that how it's spelled? It looks wrong the other way.)

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  19. Sharon I am really dry myself right now - so many things going on that are draining and it is hard. Hard to pick yourself up and get on with life. I know that things with cycle up, but being near bottom is tough.

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  20. Oh yes I'm like you Sharon. How great it is to know that how we are is not are final state of being.

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  21. Amen to becoming an army! I also can safely say that I am like you because I do try to fix things on my own and plaster on that happy face when life is not what it looks like for people on the outside looking in. Great thoughts today! Blessed to be visiting you from Rachel's place!

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  22. A needed encouragement, sister. Well said. My spirit is coming to life in Him… Thanks!

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  23. Visiting from What You Wish Wednesday link up! Really great post!

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  24. You are not alone, Sharon. I love the dry bones message and once again I find encouragement in it. Thank you for the reminder.

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  25. Last night at music practice I asked for prayer on this very issue. One of the team members read out this same passage and I found it very encouraging. I relate to the last thought you had, the one that is 'this is how it is now and it won't change' ... another team member reminded me to speak out over the dryness and see it restored in His Name. Thanks for sharing this with us! Glad I found your blog today. Have a great week!

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  26. Wonderful and slightly creepy (in a good Jesus way, of course) word picture. Thanks for sharing this, Sharon... I have my fair share of dry bone seasons too and will bookmark this in my brain for when another season comes around. Blessings to you, sista.

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  27. I'm thinking we're on the same page given the "fanning into flames" thoughts ruminating through my somewhat tinder dry spirit. I've come to believe that it's exactly what I need at this moment in time, fully expecting a huge burst of fire at any moment. Blessings ...

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  28. Beautiful!
    I love Ezekiel's response to the Lord. Basically, "sir, yes sir!" I am finishing a multi- month study of Ezekiel and The Lord did ask him to do some strange things... But Zeke never waivered. Better yet, God never failed him.
    I love our God! I love that he can add flesh to bones: even dry bones!
    Beautiful encouragement!!

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  29. I know I have FOR SURE been there before. Dry. Weary. Oh, how I love the HOPE He offers us in His Word. Reminding us that there IS hope. That HE breathes life into us. I know I have tried so many times before to stir myself up, to get my own act together apart from Him. And it just doesn't work.

    Thanks for sharing the HOPE He has given you. :) May He breath on you today in tender and life-giving ways.
    Blessings,
    K

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  30. I am feeling that way right now! Thank you for sharing these inspirational words.

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  31. My tiredness, dryness is increasing. NOT, necessarily, b/c of my age, but b/c of the sorrowful of the sinfulness of our nation and many other nations who are seeking other gods and filled with accepting sinfulness. Knowing my former life before the Lord broke in, 48-1/2 years ago when I was 20, I was very sinful and knew I was doing the wrong things and didn't know how to get out, so considered suicide from depression. Am very grateful that He broke in then. Anyhow, yes, some of the tiredness and body issues come with my age, but much of it is simply b/c, as a prophetic person [Ezekiel and the others are my great spiritual brothers that I get to meet in heaven], my eyes see and my heart breaks. Anyhow, that's my impression of what you were sharing. Thank you much.

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  32. Oh how I needed to hear this! I just couldn't put my finger on what I was feeling and now I know. Thank you for sharing what God shows you. I am new to blogging and He has been putting words to speak in my heart, so here I am. I also now He brought me here to read the words He has given you. Thank you once again!

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  33. I've been feeling this exact way this week. I am thankful that God comes to breathe life on my dry and weary bones. Hugs!

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  34. His breath is already upon you, Sharon. Inspiring message! Have a blessed day!

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  35. YES!

    Done been breathed upon since my episode two weeks ago - and can't be more thankful!! I didn't even realize how much dead weight I was dragging around with me - and such guilt - until the Lord removed us from a destructive situation and immediately placed us back with a pastor and church family from almost ten years ago. Like we just woke up from Wonderland! God is faithful - His purposes are beyond our understanding. But, we are rejoicing in this healing place and trusting Him in this season of uncertainty. How will He accomplish this thing He has begun in us? An encouraging post this week, dear friend. Thank you for sharing your heart - and sharing God!!
    Joy!
    Kathy

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  36. Great reminder, Sharon. It doesn't mean anything until He breathes on us! That changes everything. That brings life. That's what I need and what I SHOULD be seeking at all times. Thank you.

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  37. I love that chapter of rattling dry bones. I enjoyed the encouragement you gave me through this tonight. Thanks my sweet friend.

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  38. This is wonderful! THANK YOU! Can’t wait to share it.

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)