Steady in the Valley: A 7-Day Leadership DevotionalSample

Speak Life: Partnering with the Word

God's Word

"Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:4–6 (KJV)

Leadership Reflection

Once Ezekiel has walked through the valley, faced the bones, and answered God's question, the next step comes: “Prophesy to these bones” (Ezekiel 37:4, KJV). It is important to notice that God does not act alone. He chooses to move through Ezekiel’s voice. God speaks, but Ezekiel must echo it. This is the invitation to partner with the Word.

So often, we wait for God to do something to us or for us, but here God is doing something through Ezekiel. Transformation requires obedience, not just observation. Ezekiel has already been led, placed, guided, and questioned. Now, he is commissioned. He must speak to what appears hopeless. He must declare life to what looks lifeless.

This moment challenges the way we think about faith. Real faith is not silent. It is not passive. It does not ignore what is broken, but it also does not concede defeat. Faith-filled leadership learns to speak God's Word even when nothing has changed. It learns to declare what God has said, even when all you see are dry bones.

When God tells Ezekiel to prophesy, He gives him specific words to say. This is not about positive thinking or empty declarations. This is about aligning with heaven's instruction. “Hear the word of the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:4, KJV) becomes the turning point for transformation. Ezekiel does not manufacture a message; he delivers one.

This reminds us of other leaders in Scripture who were called to speak boldly, even in the face of uncertainty. Jeremiah was told, “Thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7, KJV). Paul instructed Timothy to “Preach the word… in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2, KJV). There is power in declaring the truth of God, even when the atmosphere resists it.

What we speak matters. In leadership, in prayer, in relationships, words create space for God to move. When those words are rooted in God’s Word, they carry authority. Ezekiel models this: he does not argue with God or edit the message. He speaks what he hears.

You may be standing in a valley of your own today. You may see lifeless places in your team, your home, or your own heart. But here is the question: What is God asking you to say? What truth needs to be spoken, even before you see results?

Ezekiel teaches us that leadership in the valley begins with listening, not performing. Intentional transformation often starts in the tension between what we cannot fix and the God who knows all things.

Soul Check

• Where are you being invited to speak God's truth before you see results?
• Are you resisting God's invitation to partner with Him through your words?
• What specific scripture or promise do you need to declare today?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for inviting me to partner with Your Word. Teach me not to stay silent in the face of what feels lifeless. Please give me the courage to speak life, even before I see change. Align my words with Your heart. Let what I declare be shaped by what You have said, not what I feel or fear. Amen.