Daily Devotional For Monday, August 31, 2026
Good morning Southside! Our devotional for today comes from Ezekiel 37:1-14:
“The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. (2) 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. (3) 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.” (4) Then He said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! (5) This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! (6) I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skinI will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” (7) So I spoke this message, just as He told me. 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. “ (8) 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. (9) Then He said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” (10) 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. (11) Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ (12) Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O My people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. (13) When this happens, O My people, you will know that I am the LORD. (14) I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the LORD has spoken!’” (NLT).
This is one of my favorite passages. It is called “The Story of the Valley of Dry Bones.” Our story today dwells in the realm of the impossibility. Yet, that is where God dwells also. It seemed impossible for a 100-year-old man and his 90-year-old wife to have their first son. It seemed impossible for the walls of Jericho to come down with just blowing trumpets. It seemed impossible for Daniel to be spared in the lion’s den or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not be singed in a fiery furnace or Lazarus to come from the grave after being dead 4 days, or a teen virgin to get pregnant solely by the Holy Spirit and bring forth the Savior and Messiah for the world. Impossible is not in God’s vocabulary. When the Arch Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her what God was about to do and she questioned Gabriel about it, he said to her this in Luke 1:37, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (NASB). In this sinful world of ours, our doubts in God leads us down the path to despair and that then leads us to hopelessness.
You may be hopeless about something such as a family member coming to Christ. By the time God gave Ezekiel this vision, God’s children had been living in exile for around 12 years. Gandhi and his pagan philosophy appeals to so many because he invited people to come and be the change. I beg to differ. I prefer Christ’s theology – “Come and let Me change you.” Everything near and dear to God’s people is either destroyed, diseased or dead.
These skeleton remains of dried bones all over the desert were more than just in a vision. These were the actual skeletal remains of God’s children who died on their forced journey to be exiles and slaves in Babylon. In Ezekiel’s time, resuscitation was unheard of. When you died, you stayed dead. This is why God asked the prophet, “Can these bones live again?” (vs. 3). Ezekiel’s response is not one of doubt if God can do it, but if it is God' s will to do it. Ezekiel believed God was omnipotent – all powerful. God could do whatever He wanted to do, but would He, not could He. This is the Apostle Paul’s point in Romans 4:17.
Ezekiel never hesitated to do what God commanded him to do about these dry bones. Bringing life to these bones will be a two-step process with God’s word and His Spirit. Why? God’s word is alive (Heb. 4:12) and it brings life (1 Pet. 1:23). This is why we need to memorize Scripture. In situations, God brings to our memory to help us when we doubt or need it. That is the Apostle Paul’s point in Romans 10:17.
God had told His people they would live in exile for 70 years but one day He would bring them home. God did this in 537 BC when the king of Persia allowed them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall under Nehemiah and to learn the Scriptures under Ezra. While the dried bones were symbolic, the vision was to let Ezekiel and God’s people know was going to keep His word. Many times it all seems bleak and dark, God brings light and life.
Reflection Assignment: What do you see God doing because your faith in Him is real? What do you think you are missing out on because you doubt the Lord and His word? Is there something in your life you think is impossible for God to do? Why? Where in your past have you experienced God doing the impossible? Have you ever felt abandoned by God? If so, why? How does Ezekiel’s faith and obedience inspire you?
Scripture To Meditate On: Hebrews 11:1, 6, "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see . . . (6) And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Lord, when I doubt, please help my faith as you did the father in Mark 9:24. Please help my unbelief and please help me to step out in obedience as Ezekiel did when everything seemed impossible. I want to be a person of faith, not fear. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”?
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly