Lord, You Know. . .

Lord, You Know. . . Preface

He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” –Ezekiel 37:3

I wrote this book for the seasoned saints and the babes in Christ. It is for those who have gone to church for many years. It is also for those who have just come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do you know the worth and power of prayer but only have time for “a little talk with Jesus”? Or, maybe you struggle with knowing how to pray? This book is for you! Every prayer in this book is only three words–bite-sized prayers that pack a punch and get to the heart of the matter.
It is often said that The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is the model prayer for everyone. When words fail you, recite this prayer. It encompasses every want, need, desire, situation, or circumstance. However, as a wife and mother of three, I often find myself with a loss for words as well as a loss of mental and physical energy to pour into a lengthy prayer. In those times, I refer to a three-word prayer that was first recited by the prophet Ezekiel: “Lord, You know.”
God appears in a dream, grabs the prophet Ezekiel, and brings him to a valley of dry bones. Thousands of bones of a fallen army are laying in an open grave. The bones had been there so long they were bleached white by the scorching sun.
God walks Ezekiel around this graveyard and asks the fateful question, “Can these dry bones live?" Fearful of getting the answer wrong, Ezekiel says, “Lord, You know.” These three words have so captivated me that it has become my mantra. When I am overwhelmed or confused by the issues of life. When I don’t have the words to fully express my heart’s desires or I am too afraid I may say the wrong thing, I, like Ezekiel say “Lord You know."
Ezekiel was right. God knows all. God is omniscient. God asked the question already knowing the answer. He essentially tells Ezekiel that yes, indeed, these bones can and will live. But first, they must hear the preached Word. It sounds crazy that bones would have ears to hear but go with God on this one. If God says preach to the bones, then preach to the bones!
Have you ever surveyed the landscape of your life and all you saw was a valley of dry bones? Have you ever felt like it was hopeless? Did you think resurrection was impossible? Did restoration seem out of reach? Have you heard God asking you, “Can these bones live again?” Were you too afraid to answer? Were you too afraid to get your hopes up only to be disappointed? That’s okay. We have all been there.
In your valley of dry bones moments, “Lord You know” is the best response:
When I don’t know how something will turn out, Lord You know.
When I don’t know what to do, Lord You know.
When I question my abilities, Lord you know.
When I worry about the future, Lord You know.
When I don’t know what to pray for, Lord you know.
There is peace in knowing God, who knows what the future holds and, moreover, holds the future. When you pray, “Lord, You Know," you do so as an act of submission and exchange. You submit to God and exchange what you don’t know for what God knows.
Ezekiel’s immortal words are the inspiration for this book. Those three short words, like the three dots of the ellipsis, hold space for so much more without saying it. This book consists of an array of three-word prayers that speak to a myriad of life’s issues. It’s my hope and prayer that you will use these prayers often–whether you only have a moment to pray in three words or you have time to tarry with the Lord in prayer, singing, and reading His Word.