Dependence

Today's scripture is Ezekiel 11:16, if you read from chapter 8-12, you'll get a picture of a people who had strayed away from God and judgement has been declared. You also see that God marked His own people to escape from the calamity or punishment that was going to fall.

He sends a message to His people who are marked as His:

Ezekiel 11:16

16 "Therefore, tell the exiles, " This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.

To be in exile is to be separated, to be isolated, to be set apart from the rest, to be taken from your comfort zone into the unknown, to be stretched and placed in a foreign land.

Just like the story of Joseph, a man sold by his brothers into the foreign land of Egypt ( you can read Genesis 37-50 for the full story) and there he flourished and became the governor of the land. A man of the highest rank second only to the Pharaoh (King). This is so because God was his sanctuary.

The word sanctuary is a Holy place, a safe space, a place of refuge from pursuit or danger, a natural reserve, a place of rest, the inner place where God's presence resides.

This place is in you, the Lord resides in us, He is One with us and has made us His temple, Brooks of spring will flourish in us.

He has made a hedge around us and fortified our walls. He has watered our gardens and given us abundant fruit and supply. He has placed our aching heads on His lap and carried the weight on our shoulders.

We have become light as feathers. The Lord is a Father that loves His own, He is a Mother that nurtures His own, He covers His own and dies for His own.

If you are reading this and you don't feel like you're His own, I invite you to say this prayer. Dear Father, I receive you as my father, I thank you for making me your child, I thank you for sending your son to die for my sins, I thank you for making me One with you. In Jesus Name Amen.

Our only Partner, the One we draw our strength from. I want us to know and realise we need Him more than we think and it's okay to lay the full weight of who we are in Him.

He is big enough, strong enough, wise enough, loving enough and more than enough to carry you.

Let's pray, Dear Father, today we feel tired and want to lean on you, we want to rest fully in you, we want to draw full energy, power and capacity from you. Father please quench our thirst, revive your children for the days ahead. We love you Lord Father, in Jesus Name Amen.

Thank you, we receive.