Thought for the Week: Ezekiel 37

God Brings Dead Things to Life

In a vision told with vivid details,
that you can see the bones moving,
Ezekiel announces Israel’s rebirth.
Reassembled with God’s breath
of life, the bones become the new
Israel, more powerful than before.
Then in a 2nd vision, Ezekiel sees
the revived nation destroy its last foe
(Magog) after which God is agreed
by all nations as undisputed Victor.

Lord, You Can Revive All Things:
Prophesy to these (dry) bones…
This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: I will make breath enter you,
& you will come to life (Ezek 37:4-5)
Indeed as I looked, the sinews
and the flesh came upon them…
So I prophesied as He commanded
me, and breath came into them…
and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army (v8-10).
Thus says the Lord God:
Behold, O My people, I will… cause
you to come up from your graves,
and bring you into the land
of Israel. Then you shall know
that I am the Lord (v12-13). Amen.

Father, there are areas of my life
that seem to be dead; and they
need a new infusion of Your life.
There are dreams that seem as if to
have died for it has been a long time
and still they have not been realised.
I know if You can make dry bones
into a vast army, then You can also
bring life to anything worth praying,
no matter how dead it seems. Amen.

Gracious God of all compassion,
Your breath alone can bring life
to dry bones and weary souls.
Pour out Your Spirit upon us, that
we may face despair with hope of
resurrection and faith thru Christ.
Forgive our faults as we confess &
restore us the joy of Your salvation.
Call us out of the valley of dry bones
into Your Kingdom of hope. Amen.

Lord, by a roadway in the
wilderness, You will lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade
but Your Word will still remain
And You’ll do something new today
Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
You work in ways we cannot see
You will make a way for me
You will make a way… Amen.

Reflection on Ezekiel & Daniel(Aug6)

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of book of Ezekiel is to announce God’s judgment on Israel and other nations as well as to foretell the eventual salvation of God’s people, while for Daniel is show how God is in control of the earth, the destiny of nations and the care of His people.

On Monday, we learn from Ezek 3

that God Has Message For You.

On Tuesday, we learn from Ezek 11

that God Gives You A New Heart.

On Wed, we learn from Ezek 36

that God Moves You in the Spirit.

On Thursday we learn from Ezek 37
that God Brings Dead Things to Life.
On Friday, we learn from Daniel 2
that God Reveals Deep Things.
On Sat, we learn from Daniel 4
that God Rules & Fulfils Dreams.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You truly keep Your promises;
for You have deep message for us;
for You move us in the Spirit,
give us a new heart, fulfil dreams
and bring dead things to life. Amen.

Trusting God In Daniel 4 (Aug 5)

God Rules & Fulfils Dreams

Perhaps when you think of Daniel,
you think of a young man. But the
book of Daniel covers 70 years
in the life of this prophet of God.
Daniel was 76 years old in chap 4,
86 years in chap 5 and 93 in chap 6.
Throughout his days, Daniel’s
faith shines brightly, whether
in interpreting a king’s dream,
reading the hand-writing on the
wall, or taking a stand for his God.

Lord, You Rule & Fulfil Dreams:
I thought it good to declare
the signs and wonders that the
Most High God has worked for me.
How great are His signs, and how
mighty His wonders! His kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom, and
His dominion is from generation
to generation (Daniel 4:2-3).
As he looked out across the city,
he said: Just look at this great city
of Babylon! I by my own mighty
power have built this beautiful city…
While he was still speaking these
words, a voice called down from
heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar,
this message is for you! You are
no longer ruler of this kingdom…
You will live in the fields with the
wild animals and you will eat grass
like a cow… until you learn that the
Most High rules over the kingdoms
of the world and gives them to anyone He chooses (v30-32).
That very hour the word was fulfilled
concerning Nebuchadnezzar;
(for) he… ate grass like oxen (v33).

Lord, thank You that wisdom and
understanding comes fr You alone.
Thank You for reassuring knowledge
that You are in control of every area
of my life. I confess with my heart,
how great are Your signs & wonders;
and Your kingdom is everlasting.
Thank You that You are my God
and Saviour, for in You I have placed
my trust. Praise Your mighty name.

Lord, we note Nebuchadnezzar’s
prideful heart when he says:
“By my own mighty power,
I have built this beautiful city.”
Lord, we realise we can also
fall into prideful tendencies.
King of heaven, Your rule is ever
lasting and Your kingdom eternal.
Your acts are just and You are
entitled to humble the proud; and 
so humble, restore & lead us. Amen.

Lord, If drunk with sight of power,
we lose Wild tongues
that have not Thee in awe,
Such boasting as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the law.
Lord God of hosts be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget…
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget. Amen

Trusting God In Daniel 2 (Aug 4)

God Reveals Deep Things

The first 3 chapters of the book
describe the spiritual integrity
of Daniel and his three friends.
Selected for government service,
they resist the pressure to conform
to their pagan environment and
instead take a stand for God.
Whether in diet, truthfulness or
spiritual discipline, the four young
men live out their convictions.

Lord, grant us Your Revelation:
During the Night the mystery
was revealed to Daniel in a vision.
Then Daniel said: Praise be the name of God… For wisdom and might are His (Daniel 2:19-20).
He Reveals deep and mysterious
things and knows what lies Hidden
in darkness… I thank and praise You
for You have given me Wisdom and
strength. You have told me what
we Asked of You and Revealed to us
what the king demanded (v22-23).
The king answered Daniel and said:
Truly your God is the God of gods,
the Lord of kings and a Revealer
of secrets, since you could reveal
this secret. Then the king promoted
Daniel… gave him many great gifts;
and he made him ruler over the
whole province of Babylon (v47-48).

Lord, it seems that in the middle of
the night problems appear larger.
At those times I am reminded that
You never sleep and I can come
to You and cling to Your presence.
I pray that at those times You will
give me the treasures of darkness,
as You have spoken in Your Word.
I pray You will fill my darkness with
Your light and give me peace. Amen.

Lord, I praise Your mighty name
for You are the God who has
all wisdom and power, the One
who guides even world events.
You give wisdom to the wise
and You know what is hidden
in darkness and all mysteries.
Grant me O Lord Your wisdom
and strength to handle the tricky
issues that come my way. Amen.

Lord, we purpose not to lean on
our own understanding; but instead
to look to You the All Knowing One
for understanding and wisdom.
There are things we can’t know by
seeing or hearing are known by God
& You’re willing to reveal them to us.
For Your Spirit searches out
all things and shows God’s deep
secrets to those who love Him.
Reveal to us O Lord those things
which help us be effective. Amen.

Trusting God In Ezek 37 (Aug 3)

God Brings Dead Things to Life

In a vision told with vivid details,
that you can see the bones moving,
Ezekiel announces Israel’s rebirth.
Reassembled with God’s breath
of life, the bones become the new
Israel, more powerful than before.
Then in a 2nd vision, Ezekiel sees
the revived nation destroy its last foe
(Magog) after which God is agreed
by all nations as undisputed Victor.

Lord, You Can Revive All Things:
Prophesy to these (dry) bones…
This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: I will make breath enter you,
& you will come to life (Ezek 37:4-5)
Indeed as I looked, the sinews
and the flesh came upon them…
So I prophesied as He commanded
me, and breath came into them…
and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army (v8-10).
Thus says the Lord God:
Behold, O My people, I will… cause
you to come up from your graves,
and bring you into the land
of Israel. Then you shall know
that I am the Lord (v12-13). Amen.

Father, there are areas of my life
that seem to be dead; and they
need a new infusion of Your life.
There are dreams that seem as if to
have died for it has been a long time
and still they have not been realised.
I know if You can make dry bones
into a vast army, then You can also
bring life to anything worth praying,
no matter how dead it seems. Amen.

Gracious God of all compassion,
Your breath alone can bring life
to dry bones and weary souls.
Pour out Your Spirit upon us, that
we may face despair with hope of
resurrection and faith thru Christ.
Forgive our faults as we confess &
restore us the joy of Your salvation.
Call us out of the valley of dry bones
into Your Kingdom of hope. Amen.

Lord, by a roadway in the
wilderness, You will lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade
but Your Word will still remain
And You’ll do something new today
Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
You work in ways we cannot see
You will make a way for me
You will make a way… Amen.

Trusting God In Ezekiel 36 (Aug 2)

God Moves You in the Spirit

Ezekiel’s emphasis shifts from
the failures of Judah’s past to
the Promises of Judah’s future.
Jerusalem has fallen, and the
prophet’s tongue silenced for three
years is loosened at last to declare
that a new Shepherd is coming.
He will tenderly care for the flock
of Israel, rescue His people from
their scattered homes of exile and
restore them to their covenant land.

Lord, we’ll Move in the Spirit:
I will take you from among
the nations, gathering you
out of all countries and bring
you into your own land (Ezek 36:24)
I will give you a new heart and
I will put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out
and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put My Spirit in you and
Move You to follow my decrees
and be careful to keep my laws…
(And) I will deliver you from
all your uncleanness (v26-29).
And I will multiply the fruit of
your trees… so that you need
never again bear the reproach
of famine among the nations (v30).

Lord, take away everything in my 
heart that is not right before You.
Help me to get rid of bad attitudes
and wrong thinking. Show me
anything that has taken root in
my heart that should not be there
so that I can free myself of it.
Help me clear the slate and
begin again with a right spirit.
Fill me with Your desires and
everything that pleases You. Amen

Father God, Thank You that You
have put Your Holy Spirit within
me to Guide me in all things.
Lead me Lord by the power of
Your Spirit so that I will obey
Your Word and Follow Your laws.
Give me Lord the discipline
I need to do what I must do.
Help me to Follow Your leading
and not run ahead or behind
chasing after my own ways. Amen.

Lord, sometimes our Christian
life can be a struggle when
we go through bad times.
But thanks that You God is
in the business of making life
better for us on the inside.
Thank You for the promise
to help us clean up our act.
You will not leave us where
we are but will Help us get to
where You want us to be. Amen.

Trusting God In Ezekiel 11 (Aug 1)

God Gives You A New Heart

Backgrounder on Ezekiel 7-11:
In a series of visions, Ezekiel
foresees the what, why and how
of God’s judgment upon Judah.
The What: total destruction of
Jerusalem and the departure
of God’s glory from the temple.
The Why: generations of idolatry,
wickedness & spiritual indifference.
The How: through the cruel Baby-
lonians, God’s agents of judgment.
But the harshness of the sentence
is tempered by a tender reminder:
A remnant will survive, receive
sanctuary in a foreign country
and return to the Land of Promise.

Lord, Thank You for New Heart:
Tell the exiles, this is what the
Sovereign Lord says: Although
I’ve scattered you in the countries
of the world, I will be a Sanctuary
to you during your time in exile…
I will gather you… and give you
the land of Israel (Ezek 11:16-17).
I will give them an undivided Heart
and put a new spirit in them;
I will remove from them their
heart of stone and give them
a Heart of Flesh… Then they
will truly be my people, and
I will be their God (v19-20).
But as for those who long for idols,
I will repay them fully for their sins,
says the Sovereign Lord (v21).

Lord, thank You that You are
always my Home and my refuge.
Thank You for the promise of
protection in Psalm 91 that: if
you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your
shelter, no evil will conquer you.
Thank You for the promise of
Your Presence & Help in Psa 139:
I can never get away from
Your Presence… If I dwell by
the farthest oceans, even there
Your hand will guide me & Your
strength will support me. Amen.

Lord, fill me with Your love;
and help me to keep my heart
from wandering away from You.
Make my heart to be undivided &
take away hardheartedness in me.
I invite You to take charge of
my mind and emotions & help me
to give complete control to You.
Light a flame of desire in me
for You that never goes out. Amen.

Lord, thank you that when we
become Christians, You did a
miracle by making us new inside.
You took out the hard cold hearts
and put in new & compassionate
hearts so that we are able to
serve, do good and help others.
Help us to have an ear for those
who need counsel or a kind word.
Help us to give practical helps
when someone has a real need.
Help us to intercede for people
in trouble or needs healing. Amen.

Trusting God In Ezekiel 3 (Jul 31)

God Has Message For You

While Jeremiah is preaching about
the judgment of God on Judah,
his contemporary Ezekiel is
in Babylon interpreting God’s
judgment to those Jews already
in captivity. Ezekiel’s preaching
also contains large doses of hope.
The 70 year exile will teach
God’s people “that I am the Lord”,
thus preparing them for restoration.

Lord, You Speak thru Your Word:
The voice said to (Ezekiel): Eat what
I am giving you – eat this scroll!
Then go and give its message to
the people… So I opened my mouth..
And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet
as honey in my mouth (Ezek 3:1-3)
Then He added: Let all My words
sink deep into your own heart first.
Listen to them carefully for yourself.
Then go to your people in exile
and say to them: This is what the
Sovereign LORD says (Ezek 3:10-11)
When I give u a message, I’ll loosen
your tongue and let you speak: Then
you will say to them: This is what the
Sovereign Lord says! (v27). Amen.

Lord, following Your voice is hard
for Your Words are difficult to obey.
Put Your truth in me, and let me
consume Your message in my
mouth so that it tasted like honey.
Help me Lord embody Your voice
and Your message in my being
and in my life. And let me speak
to others the words that comes
straight from Your heart. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the invitation
to embody Your Word of truth.
For I want to understand You Lord,
Your thoughts and feelings as
well as Your work and Your ways.
I want to do it because I love You
and because I want to experience
the benefits of Your love for me.
And I want to become one with You,
in principle & in experience. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the life message
You’ve given & the target audience.
Sovereign Lord, I ask for Your will
to be indeed my passion and desire.
And that include whom You want me
to serve & what You want me to say. 
May revelation of these specifics
make me more passionate about
Your assignment for me; and Lord
do make the pathway straight. Amen

Thought for the Week: Jer 29

God Promises Good Plans

Jeremiah’s messages of judgment
arouse opposition in the palace.
During Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah
is threatened with a death sentence.
While Zedekiah rules, Jeremiah don
a wooden yoke to portray Jerusalem
surrendering to Babylon. In midst of
turmoil, Jeremiah sends the exiles
in Babylon an encouraging letter;
urging them to settle down for
an extended period of captivity.

Lord, You have Good Plans For Us:
Thus says the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel, to all who were
carried away captive, whom I have
caused to be carried away from
Jerusalem to Babylon (Jer 29:4).
After 70 years are completed at
Babylon, I will visit you & perform
My Good Word toward you and
cause you to return to this place.
For I know the Plans I have
for you, declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future (Jer 29:10-11).
Then you Will Call upon me and
come and Pray to me, and I will
listen to you. And you Will Seek Me
and Find Me, when you Search
for Me with all your heart. I will
be found by you, says the Lord,
and I will bring you back from
your captivity (Jer 29:12-14).

Lord, thank You for planning
a future and a hope for my life.
Because of Your Power and Your
Faithfulness, I know that nothing
in my life is outside Your Control.
Help me to willingly submit to Your
will for my future, draw me to look
for You and to pray wholeheartedly.
And grant my hope be grounded
in Your Unchanging character. Amen

Lord, thank You that Your plans
for me are for good to prosper me
and give me a Future and a Hope.
Lord, I realise that Your good plan
requires my participative prayer.
I seek You about my future and ask
You to help me to hear Your voice
leading me each step of the way.
Help me Obey You and not do any
thing that hinders Your plan. Amen.

Lord, noted that despite the depth
of Judah’s faithlessness, so great
is Your love that You Promised
to bring Your people home again.
Thank You Lord for Your Plans,
though I may not fully understand.
Thank You for the promise to listen
when I pray. Help me persevere
in seeking You; for I will find You &
You’ll fulfil Your plan for me. Amen.

Reflection on Jeremiah (July 30)

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of book of Jeremiah
is to urge God’s people to turn
from their sins and back to God.
On Monday, we learn from Jer 6
that God Shows the Good Way.
On Tuesday, we learn from Jer 17
that God Blesses & Heals You.
On Wed, we learn from Jer 29
that God Promises Good Plans.
On Thursday we learn from Jer 32
that God Is Bigger than Problems.
On Friday, we learn from Jer 33
that God Is Near & Grant Access.
On Sat, we learn from Lam 3/5
that God’s Faithfulness Is Great.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You are faithful, near to us
and bigger than our problems;
for You bless & heal us, promise
good plans & show the good way;
for You truly keep Your promises;
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.