“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 from the four winds, O breath, 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” – Ezekiel 37:4–10 (NIV).
I sometimes think of this at our area hymn sings. The first hymn is usually okay. But then as we sing several hymns there seems to me to be an increase in enthusiasm. Even the slow leaders have trouble keeping it slow. “LOL” The congregation kind of picks them up and carries them along. People seem to me to get right into praising God. I have to smile because it is lifting me up also. I think—this is good. Very good!
What picks you up spiritually? Not everyone is lifted up by singing. It is hard for us singers to believe that but it is true. Satan would like us to become a valley of dry bones. He doesn’t mind us claiming to be God’s children as long as we don’t have any enthusiasm about it.
I remember helping a cow bring a calf into this world. When I should have been ecstatic about the birth of a calf I sat down and cried. You see the calf was dead. A perfectly formed, beautiful little calf. But it had no life. So sad!
Whether it be an animal, a plant, a physical being or even our spiritual life, God must breathe into it for something to come to life. God gives us the opportunity to put ourselves in position for God to do his miracles. By putting ourselves in position for God to bring us to life spiritually we are telling God we want to be revived by him. Attending a hymn sing, for those who love to praise God in song is telling God, “Lord, I want to be revived.” I want new life in my relationship with you.
But what about those who don’t like to sing? One man told me at the hymn sing that he doesn’t really like to sing but seeing brethren from all over the Georgian Bay area just thrills him spiritually. He is giving God the opportunity to revive him spiritually by fellowshipping with the people he loves.
I know a lady who sits down all alone and watches a specific movie because it gives God the opportunity to revive her spiritually. A man loves to hike in nature because it gives God the opportunity to revive him spiritually. King David liked to meditate (think deeply about God) to give God the opportunity to lift him up spiritually.
What do you do to give God the opportunity to re-activate or enhance your relationship with him? It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it works for you and God.