Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12).
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the markers of Your goodness all through our lives. You have been our help and our shield, our protector and our provider through every step of the journey.
You are with us Lord, from our beginning—From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb You have been my God (Psalm 22:10).
You are with us to our old age—Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you (Isaiah 46:4).
You are with us in death—Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants (Psalm 116:15).
You are with us through eternity—You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory (Psalm 73:24).
Father, we trace Your hand and see Your heart as we look over the course of our life. You are there when we thrive in faithful obedience, and You are there when we fail in faithless rebellion. Even when we suffer the consequences of mistakes, unwise choices, and poor decisions, You forgive, and redeem, and restore when we turn to You. In all things You work for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28).
Thank You for the stones of mercy and of grace between our Mizpah's and our Shen's. For the Ebenezers that shine with the light of hope and peace, safety and joy. And for those that stand stark, and gray, faded, and stained with our tears.
Thank You for our unique history. Thank You for every experience that shapes us into what You want us to become. Thank You for the lessons and for the people who have taught us, mentored us, helped us, prodded us. Thank You for those who have supported us, advocated for us, cheered us on, and encouraged us.
And difficult as they are, thank You for the lessons in the school of pain and hardship that You have used for our benefit. Thank You that You desire to let perseverance finish its work so that [we] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4).
We pray for Your help and guidance Lord—so much about life seems impossible to figure out. But we entrust ourselves to You, knowing that [our] times are in Your hands (Psalm 31:15). And when we struggle to understand, we will look back on Your goodness, like the psalmist, Asaph, and resolve:
“To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out His right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:10-12)
And as we remember Your goodness, we will raise our Ebenezers to You, in gratitude, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
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