Monday, November 18, 2013

More Than a Pile of Rocks



What do you do with the memories of how God proved Himself faithful in your life? When God does something that you know could only have been the work of His hand, do you commemorate it somehow? We must not waste His victories. I believe that when the Lord does something significant in our lives, He whispers to our spirits, “Now don’t you forget that!”

In Old Testament times, God commanded His children to pile up stacks of stones as reminders of victories. Those memorial stones – or stones of remembrance – were to remain for all to see and remember. 

After crossing the Jordan, the Lord commanded Joshua to establish a memorial stone and, speaking to His servant in Joshua 4:6-7 the Lord said, “Let this be a sign among you so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” (NASB)

King David had his memorial stones too. When facing the giant form Gath named Goliath, David kept memories of overcoming a lion and a bear close to his heart. When the Lord led him in to the difficult battle, He remembered God’s great faithfulness and provision in earlier trials, and that strengthened him for what he was about to face. After defeating Goliath, God’s word tells us that David took the giant’s weapons into his tent. Perhaps this, too, was a reminder of what God had done. Perhaps David kept the weapons alongside the lion’s skull and the bear’s paw.

There are many ways to establish memorial stones today. Perhaps you like to journal, or keep a scrapbook. Maybe you write a blog or document short stories and testimonies in your Bible. The style of memorial stone really isn’t important, what matters is that you establish memorial stones in your life so that when your children (either physical or spiritual) ask later, you’ll be able to recount the stories of all that God has done in your life. 

We encourage one another through our stories. We spur on the faith of others by allowing them to hear the events that take place and giving the glory to God!  

Your Turn…

I’ve encouraged groups at many women’s gatherings to establish memorial stones and remember the way that the Lord’s hand has moved. What creative ways do you establish memorial stones? 

One way to begin is to make a list in headline style (without detailed narrative) times in your life when God’s hand was visible. Next, list a way that you can establish a memorial stone for each instance. Some have shared that they hang photos, quotes, or Scripture verses as reminders of the Lord’s activity in their life. Others literally pile stones of remembrance in a prominent location. Some keep a small stone in their pocket or purse, with a single word or a Scripture reference written on it. What will you do? 

Next week, I’ll share a memorial stone of my own. 

Be strengthened today, by His Word,

Cathy
Psalm 119:28

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