Ebenezer

 

My dear husband bought the above painting for me. It speaks to me of the simplicity I long to embrace in my own life.

I've been pondering the nurture, care and guidance the Lord has provided in my own journey with Him through the years. The lives of old saints are filled with precious memories. 

I've journeyed for almost seventy years now under the care of my precious Savior. He has never once let me down or left me alone. He has won many battles in my life that would have been above my strength to endure.

Today I want to set out an Ebenezer stone as Samuel did in 1st Samuel 7:12. 

The word Ebenezer means "Thus far the Lord has helped us."  

In this verse Israel was celebrating a victory against the Philistines. Once again they were crying out to God to save them as the Philistines drew near to attack.

 In gratitude for God's deliverance Samuel placed an Ebenezer stone as an expression of gratitude to God who was entirely responsible for getting Israel to this point.

I pause on those words....thus far.

Thus far....the Lord has helped.

That was a good place to stop and worship and was enough of a blessing to remember.

Sometimes we want more than 'thus far'.

Sometimes we want to have a guarantee for the rest of our future needs. We want things to be all wrapped up and guaranteed. We want to know how things all wind up..... hopefully in ways we can enjoy.

This is not possible. We can't know the future (thankful for that) and we know that trials as well as joy will come mingled together.

As one friend said to me, "I do know God will do what's best for me. I just wonder how much it's going to hurt. I don't like pain."

It's wonderful that God gave us an imagination, but sometimes we use it to our own disadvantage. We conjure up ideas of what might come tomorrow. We spend time supposing and preparing if possible. This can lead to a lot of tension within the heart and mind.

Jesus told us outright.....do not worry about tomorrow for today has enough trouble of its own.

When I was younger I did worry. I had some difficult trials that deeply wore upon my heart.

One day I realized that I was helpless in my battle against my 'Philistines'. There was no ability within myself or my resources to win against all that had come against me.

I'm going to share a moment of weakness with you from that time. I actually laid on my floor and asked God to take my breath from me and take me home to Him. 

I was so weak and broken that I felt I could no longer take one more step into my trials.

At that moment a song came on my radio. I'll share that song at the end of this post.

God used this little moment to help me set up an Ebenezer stone. 

I got up and washed my tears and got on my knees.

I didn't know Gods plans, but in my young walk with Him I remembered times when He truly had helped me and taken care of me in my weakness.

I yielded to Him once again. I had no resources for the needs I faced, but I had Him.

My choice was to find  the blessings in each moment and write those blessings in a journal. (I have boxes of journals now:)...filled with His goodness and mercies)

I understood that the Lord wanted me to look beyond my own needs and find others in need to help.

Somehow.....someway.....as I was busy focusing on others my own needs were supplied. Even my need for peace and joy.

Thus far....He is still helping me.

I'm old now.

I don't always buckle under the trials as I once did.

Sometimes things still happen that take my breath away, but I have a lot of rememberance  stones hidden in my heart after all these years.

If you are struggling today may I share a remembrance stone or two with you?

I remember that Jesus fed me by His hand.  He gave me the oil of joy for mourning. He wiped all my tears with His own Hand. He protected me from every sling and arrow. He was a light in my darkness. He was the calm in my storms. He cared when no one else cared. He overcame every giant in my path. He gave me breath and life when I wanted to die.....and joy to go with that breath and life.

Wherever you are He can do the same for you if you have the heart to hand over the reigns of your life to Him.

He loves the humble and the weak.

He is love itself dear friend.

No matter what comes.....the love of Jesus conquers all things.

I know.

He's done it for me.

Trust His Heart......