“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’ So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.” Ezekiel 37:9,10

Of all days to read this Scripture, I would run across it on Halloween. How apropos. Can this scary story speak to me? Ezekiel is taken to a place where he finds thousands of human bones. God tells him to prophecy to the bones, and God breathes new life into them, pulls them together, adds muscles, sinew, organs, and skin. And presto! There appeared a great army.

This was a vision – not a literal event – a story or movie of sorts, that God was showing Ezekiel, demonstrating the power available to us when God’s Spirit invades the parts of our lives that are bone-dry dead.

Do you have areas in your life that are beyond hope? Have you buried dreams, grieved over them, and walked away from all thought of their ever becoming reality? God is the God of the impossible, and when His Spirit breathes on those areas of our lives, new life can be born.

Father,

You know my dead hopes. I have looked helplessly on as dreams have faded out of sight, drifting out of reach. But I trust in You. This story gives me hope that all is not lost when I invite Your involvement in my life. I accept the breath of Your Holy Spirit, and I ask you to breathe new life on my hopelessness. Come, Holy Spirit. I receive your presence through and through. I receive Your renewed hope, a fresh start, a refocused vision. Make me part of a great army, rising up to restore this world to You.

Amen