"A Dry-Boned Zombie"

Referenced: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Romans 7:15

Why is it that we seem to go along just fine for a while and something we hadn’t struggled with in seemingly ages comes back and just envelopes us? I mean if you read through some of the previous blogs here you know I am completely transparent and many of you know my past ; the thing I seem to forget is so does the enemy. This morning, different than most, I got up later than normal, tried to spend time with God in prayer and ended up dozing off. So in short I didn’t get my time with God this morning. Which contrary to what some think, is more important then that first cup of coffee. The day continued on and, “Wham!” within a span of less than an hour two attacks on my mind that led me down a road that I hadn’t been down in a while. In the aftermath, I found myself asking God, “How could this happen, yet again?” I felt like the Apostle Paul in Romans (7:15) where he says, “I don’t know what I’m doing, because I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do the thing that I hate.”

In the silence at the end of my prayer before God, He spoke, not audibly but nonetheless it shook me to my core. What I heard was, “You didn't have time for me this morning and because of that you couldn’t stand against these attacks. You didn’t even cry out to me when you saw where the Accuser was leading you. You know I am more than able to help you, but you MUST call upon me.”  I was floored and immediately the conviction of the Holy Spirit hit me and I was once again before the Lord in full surrender and repentance.

You see, I couldn’t fight because I didn’t have anything in me to fight with. My mornings on my work days generally start very early with prayer and in God’s word. As I think back the last time the enemy attacked with this much force and stirred up the forgiven sins of my past it also was a day that I hadn’t spent time with God. We get so busy doing things that we tend to wear ourselves down and not only is that hard our bodies physically it’s also detrimental to our spirits as well. If we are too tired it’s probably because we are not taking care of ourselves (getting enough rest, eating properly, etc) or we are just doing too much; and, Yes, I have been going non-stop this week and it caught up with me. It’s time to slow down a bit and remember that everything in this world will compete for our time and if we give all our time to other things; what's left for God? 

“Jesus, you’re the one who saves us,
constantly creates us into something new.
Jesus, surely you will find us,
surely our Messiah will make all things;
will make all things new.”

The song titled “Dry Bones” by Gungor hit me hard today because thinking back to the morning I realized I didn’t get my time with God and now I was in a “certain valley” (Ezekiel 37:1) but I alone represented the "dry bones". These lyrics broke me “Jesus, you’re the one who saves us, constantly creates us into something new. Jesus, surely you will find us, surely our Messiah will make all things; will make all things new.” I was led to read through Ezekiel 37:1-14 and “The Valley of Dry Bones” and there are so many parallels here for me. This story shows how through our own tongues and, most importantly, the power of God, life can be restored. The question here is; how can the restoration happen if we don't spend time with the One who restores? I was in dire need of spiritual-CPR and I had become a walking bag of dry bones, a zombie (spiritually-speaking) straight out of “The Walking Dead!” I was in need of spiritual-life restoration this morning but “I was too tired, too worn out and I didn't have time”, and this left me in a weak or malnourished spiritual-state; unfit for spiritual warfare.

So, slow down people! We could all afford to take this advice to heart, slow down and enjoy the journey. We need to be disciplined and diligent to make time for God first and foremost and if we do we will find ourselves ready and able, through the power of God, to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy. Hang in there, don't give up and know that God is still in control and His grace and mercy is not measured by our actions or short-comings, thank God for that! Regardless of how well we do or how much we slip up, He is still God and He is still there to welcome us home with unconditional love, mercy and grace. He's right there with you with open arms encouraging us and saying, "get up, get it right and let's keep going."

Take Care & God Bless,

-E