I woke up this morning with the quote from Charles Dickens’ book A Tale of Two Cities running on repeat through my mind. I knew there was something in this for us, specifically for today. Here is the quote:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way”
Never in my lifetime have I seen such a contradiction between what IS and what SHOULD BE as we have now. The Lord is urging us to not forget our assignment in this time, we are the ones called to speak the answer over the contradiction. From our personal lives to globally, we are the Ezekiel 37 answer.
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’” (NKJV)
Notice it didn’t happen when The Lord described how He would cause the bones to come to life, but rather the flesh started to form on the bones when he began to speak and prophesy the opposite of what was in front of him.
“7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.” (NKJV)
From this angle, that looked hopeless. How could something so dead live again? The Holy Spirit within us brings answers, hope, reconciliation, and joy to the contradiction in front of us, no matter how bad it is. What’s the contradiction you’re facing today? Perhaps you’ve spoken and prophesied hope and you saw some signs of life over the situation. You saw the bones rattle and come together, you saw the flesh start to cover over and your hope was building but the fullness of what you know to be true hasn’t happened yet? The breath hasn’t fully returned. There is still a contradiction, now what?
Prophesy the answer over the contradiction still. Focus on what God is doing and not on what isn’t happening. Partner with the truth that your words are powerful and living, don’t settle for words that side with the lack. Speak life and destiny, the breath is returning, the pulse is coming back.
“9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”
Don’t give up, don’t allow an exceedingly great army to lie there breathless. Don’t walk away from your greatest miracle.
The worst of times? No, it’s the best of times.
The winter of despair? No, it’s the spring of hope.
Season of darkness? It’s the season of light.
You have nothing before you? Oh but you have everything before you.
SHERRI COLVIN 