Ebenezer.

1 Samuel 7:10-12
10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 11 The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.

12 Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!

A few months ago, at church, my pastor had a variety of rocks to choose from. She told us to choose the one that stood out to us. During the service, she read 1 Samuel 7:12. She told us this rock was to be named "Ebenezer" (meaning "the stone of help" as the passage above states). She told us to write the last part of verse 12 on the rock...The Lord has helped us.

She said "let this be a reminder that God is always there for you." This was the purpose that Samuel had for writing this scripture. He wanted a visual representation to remind everybody of the great things God has done for them.

It is so easy to think that God abandons us in times of heartache and struggle. On the other hand, it's comforting to have a symbol that denotes how much God cares for us.

I challenge you to find a rock. Call it "Ebenezer" and write on it The Lord has helped us. Hold it in your hand whenever you need to see something that shows how much God cares for you. Another idea is to write about something when you felt close to God or when God helped you. Put it away in a drawer and then bring it out when you are feeling distant from God or in need of God's love.

"Reflections will help me remember how great and mighty our Lord is." ~Unknown