CONCERT OF PRAYER Pray Week 654
“The Valley of Dry Bones”

Ezekiel 37:1-6 (ESV) The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley;? it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD … and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

Our spoken words have power. By our words we can destroy a person’s self-esteem or we can build them up. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” – Proverbs 18:21

Satan has sought to use this power to counterfeit the power of the Living Word of God. In various cults and New Age circles people are taught that they can create their own reality by speaking positive words. This corruption of God’s Word has even permeated the Church with the Word-Faith, Name-it, and Claim-It doctrines. The problem with these counterfeit doctrines is that they place us in the position that rightfully belongs to God. Who do we think we are that we can demand that God act a certain way, do certain things, and perform on our time schedule? However, we must not throw out the baby with the bathwater. There is a place for the speaking out the Word of God over situations in our life. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

Do you have a valley of dry bones – abandoned dreams and visions – things you have given up hope on? Have you prayed to God for something and finally gave up thinking that God did not hear you? Perhaps there are dry bones in your valley for a career direction or dry bones of prayers for understanding your life purpose? Speak God’s Word over the dry bones. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

Does your valley contain the dry bones of loved ones who need healing or salvation? Speak God’s Word over these dry bones. “Therefore … pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16

The bible tells us that David ‘encouraged himself in the Lord’. We too can strengthen ourselves by speaking aloud the Word of God. We do not have to continue to populate a valley with the dry bones of abandoned dreams, desires and visions. Note that this is not some New Age mysticism. The spoken words from the Bible are not founded and rooted in us or in the created things of this world. The spoken Words are the Words of God and they discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. God remains Sovereign and on His throne. When we speak God’s Word its living truth will convict us of wrong motives and attitudes. They will also encourage and strengthen us.

There is much negative noise out there that will seek to discourage you and get you off task and purpose that God has called you to. The cacophony of noise seeks to interfere and disrupt our ability to hear God speak. Speaking aloud the Word of God fine tunes our ability to squelch the noise of the enemy and hear God more clearly. Be encouraged and strengthened by God’s Love for you and speak aloud the life of His Word over the dry bones in your valley.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God