God's Holy Fire: 'Breathe Life!'

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

[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 Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Seek God with All Your Heart and You’ll Find Him'
"Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will...."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'We Thank You' (1 Ch. 29:13)
"O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!"
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'What Greater Witness?' (Jn. 8:17-18)
"[Jesus continued his response to the Pharisees' accusation,] "Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Holy Spirit Confirms Baptism' (Acts 10:44-48)
"Even as Peter was saying these things [to Cornelius and the others with him about salvation in Jesus], the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were..."

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