God's Holy Fire: 'Breathe Life!'

Monday, September 29, 2025

[God] said to me [Ezekiel], "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'GOD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!'" So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army.
— Ezekiel 37:9-10 MSG

Key Thought

God took the dust of the ground and shaped it and breathed into it the breath of life, and "the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). That is the Bible's account of the beginnings of the human race. Today's verses refer to a time when Ezekiel was held in a foreign land. The temple in which he was to have served had been destroyed, and he lived far from where he longed to serve. God's people were in exile. Things felt hopeless. So, God reached back to the creation story and reminded Ezekiel of this truth: If God's Breath, the Holy Spirit, can transform dust into a person, then the Spirit can also transform a destroyed nation and bring it back to life. God's Breath, the Holy Spirit, brings life. The Spirit brings life where there is none. The Spirit brings life to what is dead. The Spirit brings life to sagging hopes and lost dreams. The Spirit brings life to people who have lost their way and given up. That same Holy Spirit longs to bring life to us, today!

Today's Prayer

O Father, breathe on me and breathe into me your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, I ask this. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Can These Bones Live?
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Precious Believer, My resurrection was a surprise to everyone, including My closest followers. It was a glorious shock to their system in many....."

Illustration

Illustration of Ezekiel 37:9-10 MSG — "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'GOD, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!'"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, September 29, 2025

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Heirs of Abraham' (Ga. 3:1-14)
"Dear Father, Thank you for giving us your Spirit, not through works of law but through faith in our hearts. Even Abraham was saved by faith, for he....."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Servants to the Nations'
"Dear Friend, Two powerful themes from the Bible converge in this one story in today's Scripture about Philip and the Ethiopian dignitary:After My..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Psalm 34:14
"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations