CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 703

“Rock Collection”

1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV) Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer, for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”

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Rocks tell a story. Geologists are able to discern climatic and geological events from thousands of years ago by studying rocks. I have a fossilized rock encrusted with sea shells in my collection that I found in a dry creek bed at an elevation of 3000 feet above sea level. This rock tells the story of a time when the area we now know as Colorado was covered by the ocean.

Rocks help us remember the past. Perhaps this is why we see stones set up and being given names by the likes of Samuel, Jacob, and Joshua.

And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” – Joshua 4:20

Stones of remembrance were important reminders to teach future generations of the faithfulness and power of God. But what of the modern day church? How do we preserve and pass on the truth of God’s faithfulness to future generations so that they too may be built up in the faith?

Our society erects stone monuments to commemorate victory in battles and to honor those who fought in them. What lasting ‘stones of remembrance’ do we pass on that celebrates the victories won by the power, grace and mercy of God in our life?

Sometimes it is we that need to be reminded of how God brought about past victories in our life. Our memory tends to be short when we are faced with a new and seemingly insurmountable crisis and our faith is shaken. Then we ‘go back to Bethel’ and are reminded of what God has spoken to us and done for us in the past and our faith is strengthened and renewed.

… Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone … So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. – Genesis 35:14

We can create ‘stones of remembrance’ through the discipline of frequent journaling during our time of prayer and communion with God. Rereading past journals helps us see how far God has taken us and our faith is strengthened.

We can also share the stories of our journey with God with our children, grandchildren, Sunday schools, etc. Throughout life’s daily encounters there are teaching moment opportunities ordained by God whereby we can hand off a ‘stone of remembrance’ to someone in need of encouragement in the Lord.

Begin collecting faith building rocks that remind you of what God has done and is doing in your life. Equally important, as the Lord leads, share and give them away as ‘stones of remembrance’ to build others up in the faith.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God.