Out of the Ash

August 2020

During my prayer time, as I was loving on the Lord and asking what was on His heart, I was shown in a vision a large dirt pile. As I examined the scene closer, the dirt pile looked as if it was the remains of a fire or a type of burning mound. The smell had the stench of charred flesh and the air felt very warm as if a fire had just died down. 

I looked to find Jesus standing next to me with an anticipated look on His face. Confused as to why He could be excited about a stinky burn pile, I asked, “Where am I?” He waved His hand toward the pile as if I could move towards it. I stepped a few feet closer.

In the massive mound I saw ashes, bone fragments and pieces. I got sick to my stomach and covered my nose with my hand. I looked back to see Jesus smiling at me. I couldn’t fathom why anyone would smile at a time like this. I was looking over a pile of burned bodies and broken bones. I was devastated. 

“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”

(Ezekiel 1-4 ESV)

Jesus spoke from behind me in a loud tone and said, “Wait for it…” I looked back to see Him pointing as if to tell me to keep my eyes on the burial mound.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

(Psalm 27:14 ESV)

Then as if I was watching a movie, the pile began to move. The ash and bones shifted and connected. I stepped back from the ever evolving mound. Then, I saw what was happening—bodies began to form. The bones were connecting to make skeletons. The ash became skin and clothing. Out of the ashes thousands of bodies were forming and arising. In shock, I looked over to Jesus as He intently watched with satisfaction.

“Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

(Ezekiel 37:4-6 ESV)

In the moment I thought, “This must have been what it was like when He made Adam and Eve.” The ground rumbled under my feet and the heat intensified around me. One by one bodies arose standing side by side as a crowd formed out of the remains.

Suddenly, it hit me. They were all women. I could tell they were from all over the world by the clothing they wore. A sound began to rise out of the dust that surrounded this ever growing crowd of women. It was one unison sound, but in many different languages. It was beautiful, yet powerful. It was a war cry!

“The Lord goes out to fight like a warrior; He is ready and eager for battle. He gives a war cry, a battle shout; He shows His power against His enemies.”

(Isaiah 42:13 GNT)

All at once, they charged. They came to life out of the dust strong, not weak, and hit the ground running. It was like lions going after their prey. I stood watching this thinking it looked like something out of the Braveheart movie, but with all women. 

Their mouths were open with sounds of warfare mixed with freedom. The battle had already been won the moment they opened their mouths. Like a lion’s roar scares off any attacker, so these women’s cries brought instant freedom. But, they didn’t stand still. They kept charging forward as one body and with one voice. Although I heard many different voices and tones, they were all saying the same thing.

I now knew why Jesus was so excited as we watched the ash of the burn pile. He knew the women were arising. I couldn’t understand it at the time, but I now stood in amazement and awe; completely aware of why He was so happy. I now looked at these women with just as much admiration as Jesus did. They were amazing! 

Jesus turned to me and said,

“Tell the men to make room for them.”

As He spoke those words, I knew He was saying for men to step to the side–– not backwards or forwards. He wanted them to be side by side. “Make room for the women” was a warning and encouragement all wrapped up into one statement, like only He could do. These women were not here to take over, but to bring the power infused into them by the Lord Himself. He wanted me to tell the men to come alongside them and not discount them. Make room, because they are arising out of the ash.

“And to the husbands, you are to demonstrate love for your wives with the same tender devotion that Christ demonstrated to us, His bride.”

(Ephesians 5:25 TPT)

The Lord needs His original design to take form to complete the body of Christ. He is molding His Bride. A Warrior Bride is now bursting forth.

“Arise, Jerusalem, and shine like the sun; The glory of the Lord is shining on you!”

(Isaiah 60:1 GNT)

I feel the Lord is now calling a company of women, young and old, forth to arise. Arise, for the time is now to hear and speak what the Father is speaking. Women, He is calling you to join in one voice and take your place. He needs you! Others need your voice. He is empowering women, healing them, and restoring them. He is taking the burned, crushed, and fragmented pieces and putting them back together for such a time as this.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

(Ephesians 5:14 ESV)

He is making beauty out of the ashes. Arise women, arise! Your dry bones shall live! Your time is now! Go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit. All that stopped you in the past is now broken and burned. He is calling you forth to rise out of the ashes of yesterday into the freedom of your forever. 

“Bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

(Isaiah 61:3 NIV)