We thank God for the power of the Holy Ghost to deliver, restore, strengthen, and transform. But there are decisions God will not make for us. There are boundaries we must choose, appetites we must deny, and moments when we simply have to tell ourselves, “No.”

Bitterness, resentment, jealousy, competition, and offense rarely remain private emotions. Left unchecked, they begin building something. They influence our conversations, shape our attitudes, and affect those around us. Strong churches are built from strong families, and strong families require us to occasionally examine what we have allowed to remain standing.

Ezekiel would become a prophet whose words have reached nations for more than 2,600 years. He would see dry bones become a mighty army. He would watch divided people become one. He would receive visions of restoration, revival, and a river flowing from the house of God all the way to the sea. But first, he sat among the captives. That is a powerful reminder that where you start does not determine how far God can take you.