I just turned off the news; there was yet another report on the devastating drought that has plagued Texas for months. I used to love walking barefoot through the property that surrounds my parents’ house; now, I find no solace in exploring the land that is covered in water-deprived grass, which bares a resemblance to straw and pokes sharply through my skin. The heat is almost unbearable, not leaving much room to breathe. The land is crying out for rain; fires are running rampant, taking no consideration of what is destroyed in their path. It seems that I catch a glimpse of death while glancing across every inch of land.
As I was looking across the land and propelling myself back and forth on an old wooden swing that sits on the back porch, I remembered the Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes that once filled the pasture. The beauty of endless Texas wildflowers truly is indescribable. The peacefulness of home beckoned me back during my toughest times in college; the beauty restored my soul amidst the craziness.
While I was taking dust-filled breaths and remembering what was once in front of me, I thought of the passage in Ezekiel where he breathes life into the valley of dry bones.
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'”
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army.
Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.'” Ezekiel 37:1-14
Texas is in need of rain. Our nation is in need of a spiritual awakening. My generation is in need of a renewal of the heart.
I’ve been realizing the depth of the responsibility that I’ve been given in leading October squad. The Lord has given me the authority to call life into a valley of dead bones; to call forth the destiny of a generation.
Lately, I’ve had the chance to spend time talking with several women and team leaders on the October squad. Their hearts are vulnerable, their spirits are eager; listening to story after story of what the Lord is teaching them reminds me why I believe in them with so much of my heart. The Lord’s continued provision for them has left me with such joy. I am so excited for these Kingdom bringers to get out on the field! I love them dearly.
The drought won’t last forever. There’s a storm brewing…
