Raise your Ebenezer!

In my study of 1 Samuel the author, Jen Wilkin, led us to passages that explained how God’s people would pile rocks in places where God showed up and revealed Himself in mighty ways.  In seeing these stones or spiritual markers, they would remember God’s faithfulness.  In 1 Samuel 7:12 they actually named such a place “Ebenezer” which means “…the Lord has helped us.”  

After studying these passages, Jen’s question was:

“What are the ‘Ebenezers” in your own life that remind you of God’s past faithfulness?”

Boy, oh boy did that question get my mind to going! As I sat there thinking, I looked over at my Bible and saw all the places God had shown up in my life personally!  Those markings in my Bible and notes in the margins represent actual markers in time where God was marking something on my heart, changing my thinking, and answering the cries of my heart. 

I opened to the book of Ephesians as it continues to impact my heart and hopefully my behavior.  I lovingly ran my hand over the pages remembering how God’s Word had pierced my heart.

I flipped through the pages of my Bible and saw dates in the margins and remembered praying back those exact words to God over specific circumstances and God’s faithfulness to answer so many of those prayers.  No, not always the way in which I wanted or thought He should, but He was faithful to intervene in His way and in His time. 

My eyes then wandered to a few rocks I have sitting on my desk which reminded me of other spiritual markers in my life. Times when God showed His faithfulness in surprising and very personal ways. Ebenezers that He is so faithful - especially to His Word.

Yes, there are hundreds of requests that go unanswered or have yet to be answered.  There are still things I don’t understand, cries of my heart that seemingly go unheard, and my heart still needs to be changed in so many ways.  But I have proof…I have Ebenezers.

So, I raise my Ebenezers to myself and to you and I declare:  God is faithful.

“Oh, Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies!” Psalm 26:5