He took me into... (Ez. 41:1)

For Ezekiel, he experienced the grief of seeing with his very own eyes the destruction if the temple and the loss of his home land.  He saw in the Spirit the glory of the Lord depart from the temple and leave.  Ezekiel was exiled along with everyone else.  Prophetically he described how incredibly full of anguish and pain this exile would be as the wife that was the love of his life and 'delight of his eyes' died and he was not to grieve but put on his turban and shoes to depart. (Ez. 24:16)

God also consoled Ezekiel. While living in exile, Ezekiel was given visions of God in His glory. Then the Lord took him by the hand into seeing His work. After seeing the destruction of the temple, God let him be a part of the temple measurement. The temple had capacity but was not yet filled. Then God began to fill it with his glory. What a joy that must have been for Ezekiel to see his heart's desire happen in the spirit before his eyes.

“He took me into...”

Lord, take us into places of intimacy with you

Into the inner parts where most do not go with you

places of importance to you –

places of hope and longing,

Places that are empty but full of capacity

Places you long to fill with your glory

Let us see your glory come with our very own eyes

as you bring restoration to places of destitution.

Lead us across thresholds that take us into new encounters with you

Lead us into rooms that would face outward toward those who feel distanced from you

through places that become more and more narrow as you lead us upward into your purposes

Let us walk among places that are your work -built firm, thick and strong

places that are etched with fine intricacies that reflect your glory

places with strong pillars that stand firm with your character

and places full of faces- faces that reflect different aspects of you

    and ultimately bring us face to face with you.

Let us daily come before you
offering you what we have to give
eating the food provided from your holy table
and dressed in your holy garments of righteousness  - not our own

Let us partner with you in what you are doing

Let us be a part of your work as you breathe life into dead places and dead people

Let us prophesy over dead and dry bones and see them rise

let us see arising your bride as an immense army 

Let us see the graves open before us of those who are dead and watch them stand into new life

    and lead us all together as one back into the fullness of your promises for us.

Let your rivers of life flow across our path
Let us be swept up in them as they swell over the banks
Let us eat of the fullness of the life from what these rivers bring
and let us plant our roots deep into the soil where we are nourished and become whole
    bearing fruit the brings healing to all around us

Let the very ground we walk on be your holy and sacred land

     measure it off for yourself

         Let the whole of the land we tread be yours

And at the end of the day,

Remind us that we have no inheritance here on this earth

Because you alone are our inheritance.