Infusing Hope: Speaking Life Into The Valleys of Your Life

Then the Lord 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.” Ezekiel 37:4–5

Prophesy. A verb, stemming from Latin, which means to shout faith.

In essence, when we prophesy God’s word over our lives and the lives of our loved ones, we are essentially shouting faith – calling forth, expecting, counting on, declaring – into the atmosphere. Undoubtedly, we are choosing to agree with the unmatched power of God’s word, poking holes in the dark cloak surrounding us.

Because His word sanctifies, creates, breathes life, maintains order, separates lies, gives light, directs paths, and shields our hearts. Ultimately, when we D.E.C.L.A.R.E. the Word into the atmosphere, we are:

D – Devising A Shield

When the missiles of war invade your life, draw near to the Shield of faith found in His flawless word. As you proclaim the eternal word of God, you are calling on the storm stomping Savior, who shows up with hope, help, and healing in His wings.

• “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31
• You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114
• You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. Isaiah 25:4
• My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior. 2 Samuel 22:3
• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

PRAYER: Lord, your word is flawless; your promises are true. You are my refuge in times of trouble, shield me from the storm as I hold onto the anchor of hope – your sovereign word.

E – Expressing Everlasting Principles

During Christ’s final hours of life, His prayer for all believers established an everlasting principle of unity and strength. Isaiah 55:11 says God’s word does not return void, accomplishes everything He desires it to and Jeremiah 1:12 says He watches over His word to make sure it’s fulfilled. Friends, there are everlasting principles and promises that apply to your life and they’re only found only in His word.

• The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8
• So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
• I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled. Jeremiah 1:12

PRAYER: Before the mountains were formed, You were. The laws of physics, which you spoke into place, are still holding the universe together. Remind me of your eternal promises. Keep watch over the doors of my lips, so I only speak your everlasting truths (Psalm 141:3).

C – Cleansing the Clutter

God’s word is the only cleansing agent strong enough to divide between the truth and a lie. His living and active word purifies thoughts, setting captive hearts free. So, when the lies of confusion and disorder scream, “you’ll never get through this,” the defending truth of His word responds, “I have made you. I will carry you. I will sustain you. I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4

• For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33
• Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
• For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
• Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word … Ephesians  5:25–26
• All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God ^p may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17

PRAYER: Thank you for your word, which divides between order and disorder, truth and lies. Search my heart and reveal anything that does not align with the promises, truths, and commands of Scripture. Correct courses of destructive thinking and speech as I draw from and lean on the only truth – Your word.

L – Lighting the Way for Wisdom

Stumbling through dark valleys is not God’s desire for your life. Engraving His words on our hearts and fastening Scripture to our speech enables the unfolding of God’s word, giving light to our path and a deeper understanding of His direction.

• The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130
• My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. Psalm 49:3
• But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

PRAYER: Undefeated One, there is no other name that I run. Unfold the truths of your word for me as they light the path for each next step and infuse my heart with your understanding. 

A – Activates Faith / Accesses God’s Promises

Learning to see the importance of Scripture in your life and over your situation is key to believing it. Faith – the confidence in what we hope for – comes by hearing the word of God. As we see it, speak it, and believe it, we are activating our faith and accessing God’s eternal promises. God’s word is not a magical “name it and claim it” formula but His word spoken with pure motives and a right heart – within His will – moves mountains both in your circumstances and perhaps more importantly in your heart.

• Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17
• From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips, they are satisfied. Proverbs 18:20
• I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:17
• Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

R – Releasing Heaven On Earth

By His spoken word, He makes something from nothing. Only the Maker of heaven and earth can take the emptiness of your situation and fill it with something powerful and majestic to display His glory. God alone has power over all things, INCLUDING your battles. Standing in agreement with our Savior we say, “thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

• God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did... Romans 4:17
• Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?  Hebrew 1:14
• 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.” Ezekiel 37:4–5
• Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9–10

PRAYER: Eternal King, because I was created in your image, my words have the power to steer my life. Align my will with your’s, enabling me to confidently say “thy will be done on earth.” Help me usher in the help of you, my Almighty King, proclaiming your eternal truths, and breathing life into dead things.

E – Exhale Exaltation and Gratitude

Waiting on God can be hard and trying. We can feel forgotten, unseen. Perhaps, even unheard. We wrestle with thoughts of worst-case scenarios, what if and if only. In all of this, what we are focusing on is us and our eyes become filled with the death of our situation. But, when we choose to praise him, we are drawn out of “us” and into His presence.

• Through Him, then, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
• Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless, I will show my salvation. Psalm 50:23
• Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:13–14
• I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

PRAYER: Holy One, highest praises belong to you! May the fruit of my lips be a continual sacrifice of praise, for you are faithfully trustworthy in all you do. You uphold me when I fall, lift my weary head, and reassure me of your love. You alone are worthy of my adoration.

I don’t know what battle is on your horizon or frightening army you’re facing today, but I pray you have the strength to pick up your sword – His Word – and declare with great certainty that there are far greater fighting for you than against you. Blessings!