FORT BENNING, Ga. (Jan. 29, 2019) -- In this week's CHAPLAIN'S CORNER, Chaplain (Maj.) Jason Byers, 3rd Battalion, 81st Armored Regiment, describes dryness of the soul and his personal method of preventing it.
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"Thus says the Lord God to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.'" (Ezekiel 37:5-6, English Standard Version)
Have you ever felt dry? I mean really dry. To the point where your tongue was stuck to the roof of your mouth and saliva as thick as peanut butter permeated your cheeksEver since I began my military journey back in 1997 I have heard "hydrate or die." It's simple, right? One would think so.
Well, have you ever felt spiritually dry? Have you been to a point in your life when you felt dust infiltrating your soul? Well, I have. I have had moments in my life when I was so disconnected from God that I began to question the truth. During those times I felt like I was the only one in the world going through such spiritual battle. And then I come across the Book of Ezekiel. Suddenly I realize that I'm not the only who has experienced a dry spell. The nation of Israel did. The above Scriptures out of Ezekiel 37 describe a time when Ezekiel was prophesying about the rebuilding of the nation of Israel and the promise that they will spiritually be rejuvenated with the breath of God. Many New Testament scholars see this interpretation not as the current state of Israel, but as when Christ came to the earth. Regardless, it is a promise and if God can raise those dry bones he can do anything.
So, "hydrate or die" applies spiritually also. The way we spiritually hydrate is simple. Through prayer, reading God's Word, and being involved in a faith community. Practice those three things and you will begin to feel the "breath" of God bring moisture back to the dry soul. Practice those three things and you won't find yourself caught in the Valley of the Dry Soul.
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