A Stone of Remembrance ~ by Lynn Moser

A Stone of Remembrance

Ebenezer? Who is that? No, not Scrooge. This Ebenezer was a what, not a who. In the Bible, Ebenezer means stone of help. It’s purpose? Let’s see…

At one time in Israel’s history, when they faced the Philistines, Samuel and Israel fasted, prayed, repented, and offered a sacrifice. God answered their plea by confusing and defeating the enemy that pursued them. To commemorate the fact that Israel was victorious and recovered all the territory the enemy had taken, Samuel set up a stone as a marker of remembrance.

When he did this, he exclaimed, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!” (1 Samuel 7:12 NLT) Samuel, whose name meant heard of God, knew the Lord would hear them and be on their side in the future.

The Lord’s hand remained against the Philistines and the enemy never came back into the territory of Israel. Peace reigned throughout the land all the days of Samuel.

Did the enemy pursue you this past year? Did you experience the Lord’s presence in your circumstances? Did He provide for you, even if in quantities less than desired? Did He bring you victories in certain areas of your life?

We all have reasons to set up an Ebenezer of the Lord, the Rock of our salvation, to mark the closing year. As we do, He will stand poised, firmly fixed between the years. His back will be against the year now gone, resolving its troubles, sorrows, and disappointments and transforming all the old…the old attitudes, the old habits, the old ways, and the old circumstances…into something new.

The light of His presence and guidance will beam across the New Year, illuminating the passage into the land of the unknown. His path will take us through each dry wilderness circumstance to streams of fresh, flowing water.

Therefore, on this virgin trek, let us not carry the baggage of leftover regrets, unforgiveness, resentments, failures, ungrateful hearts, or disappointments, all of which weigh down our usefulness. Let us make room in the New Year for the Lord to do that new thing in our lives.

I plan to ask myself these questions. Will you?

*Will I stand bravely at the New Year’s threshold, ready, willing, and obedient to follow the Lord, no matter where He may lead?

*Will I make room in the New Year for the Lord to do a new thing in my life, or will it be filled with more of the same from last year?

*Will my attitude be to enter His portal with thanksgiving, praise, and worship from a grateful heart, remembering His goodness and mercy over the past year, and asking His blessings over the coming year?
*Will I resolve to serve God greater than the year that has faded?

My prayer for you: May the Lord’s shadow of forgiveness conceal the disappointments and troubles of your year now past, while His light casts a beacon of guidance to His safe haven of the days yet to be explored. May His hand be against your enemy and His peace reign all your days.

May His servants Goodness and Mercy pursue you throughout the days to come.

Have a very blessed New Year!

New Year’s blessings,

Lynn

Lynn Mosher loves to dig into God’s Word and treasure hunts for golden nuggets along the road Home. Lynn lives with her hubby (since 1966) in their Kentucky nest, emptied now of three kidlets and embracing three giggly grand-chicklets. Her greatest passion is to share those nuggets in her devotionals and inspirational stories, fulfilling God’s call on her life to encourage others and glorify the Lord. Lynn writes monthly for several sites and bi-weekly at her online residence, Heading Home.