Ezekiel: Know that I am the LORD

As I read the book of Ezekiel, I found 59 sentences saying:

"Then they (or you or ...) will know that I am the (Sovereign) LORD."

These sentences come after mentioning both good and bad things. Seeing how many times these sentences appear in the bible and how big the events God did/allowed to happen for this aim, I can imagine how important is this matter to God. Acknowledging - that God is the LORD in every detail and every time - is not always easy to practice. However, I pray that the Holy Spirit will keep reminding you about this.

Dry Hope

In Ezekiel 37:1, Ezekiel was brought to a valley of dry bones, which represents the loss of the people's hope. In Ezekiel 37:3, God asked Ezekiel if the bones can live. Ezekiel's response was: “Lord, You alone know”.

Maybe, there are dreams in your life that are dry. That can be the hope of having a live partnership, the hope in marriage, the hope in any social relationship, the hope of having offspring, the hope of employment, the hope to attend a specific school, the hope of graduation, the hope of mastering a specific skill, the hope of physical or mental health, or even the hope of spiritual revival in a country. Maybe, the hope is so dry, that is so difficult to have incredible faith. The maximum that you can say to God is: You alone know.

Do not bury your hopes, just let God shine on them. God knows what He wants to do with it.

God is with you

From time to time we need to be reminded that God is with us. Many bible verses go in that direction, for example:

• God said to Moses (Exo 3:12), to Joshua (Jos 1:9), to Gideon (Judg 6:12,16), to His disciples (Mat 28:20)
• Many people/prophet said that to the people: Moses (Deut 31:6,8), Isaiah (Isa 41:10),  Zephaniah (Zep 3:17), the author of the book of Hebrew (Heb 13:5).
• By signs and wonders: by the presence of manna, cloud, fire, angels, etc.
• Holy Spirit is with us: Eze 36:27, John 14:16, 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 13:14.

During my long journeys (eg. long academic studies/processes, in the effort of praying/believing for something), apart from small voices in my heart and from reading the bible, sometimes God gives me small reminders about His companionship. He suddenly answered my simple prayers/wishes (eg. want to have/eat something, want to talk with someone). Then, He said the simple sentence to me "I am with you". This helped me a lot especially when I feel emotionally tired or when I start to doubt (if I did/decided something wrong). 

The God that loves you is with you.

The Struggle against Sin (Romans 7)

I was reading the bible about faith (Heb 11), holiness (1 Pet 1), and love (1 Cor 13). I was thinking very hard about how it is possible to meet all those standards at the same time. Even though I spent a long time praying and bible-reading, it feels very difficult. This reminds me of Romans 7:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. - Rom 7:14-20 (NIV)

Even tough I know that theoretically the answer lies on Romans 8, I was struggling very hard. It feels like I am 'beating myself' because I keep failing. I realized that only God can change me:

I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. - Jer 31:33b (NIV)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. - Eze 36:27a (NIV)

If this struggle happens to you, keep praying, keep asking God to change you, and believe that this is possible. God knows how and when to change your heart. He will never ignore a thirsty heart:

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. - John 7:37b-38 & Heb 8:10b (NIV)

Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. - Rev 22:17b (NIV)

I believe that flows of living water (Holy Spirit) will able to change our hearts.