How can we create "memorial stones" to remember God's work in our lives? The Original Memorial Stones “Then you shall answer, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.” (Joshua 4:7) • Twelve stones were lifted from the dry riverbed and stacked at Gilgal. • Each stone represented a tribe, a tangible witness to God’s power in stopping the Jordan. • Those stones preached silently to every generation that God keeps His word. Why Remembering Matters • God commands deliberate remembrance (Deuteronomy 6:12). Forgetting breeds doubt; remembering fuels faith. • Memorials stir worship. Recalling past deliverance leads to present praise (Psalm 77:11–12). • They instruct the next generation. “Tell your children what the LORD did” (Exodus 12:26–27; Psalm 78:4). Modern Ways to Build Memorial Stones Physical Tokens • Keep a small box of items tied to specific answers to prayer: hospital bracelet, paid-off loan receipt, mission-trip ticket stub. • Place a framed verse or photo where the breakthrough occurred—kitchen wall, office desk, car dashboard. • Plant a tree or set a garden stone with a date inscribed, echoing Samuel’s Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:12). Written Records • Maintain a prayer journal, noting date, request, and God’s response; review it regularly. • Create a family “book of testimonies,” inviting each member to write milestones of grace. • Write anniversary letters to yourself, recounting the year’s mercies, sealing them in envelopes for future reading. Celebratory Rhythms • Mark the calendar: establish an annual “Red Sea Day” or “Jordan Day” on the date God intervened. • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper at home with intentional reflection, obeying “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). • Compose or choose a worship song as a personal anthem, singing it whenever doubt arises. Shared Storytelling • Give public testimony in church gatherings, small groups, or social media, echoing Psalm 40:10. • Teach children bedtime stories of family miracles; let grandparents recount deliverances around the table. • Record video testimonies and store them digitally for future generations. Putting It into Practice 1. Identify a recent work of God—provision, healing, guidance. 2. Choose a fitting memorial format: object, journal entry, celebration, or testimony. 3. Place or record the memorial where you and others will encounter it often. 4. Revisit the memorial during trials, allowing past faithfulness to steady present trust (Lamentations 3:21–23). 5. Pass the story on, ensuring the memory outlives you (2 Timothy 2:2). Verses to Keep Close • Psalm 103:2 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds.” • Isaiah 46:9 – “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other.” • Revelation 12:11 – “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” |
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