How can acknowledging God's help strengthen our faith during current challenges? Setting the Scene: Israel’s Ebenezer Moment “Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’” (1 Samuel 7:12) What Acknowledging God’s Help Meant Then • A public confession that victory belonged to the Lord, not to Israel’s strength • A physical reminder for future generations—every passer-by saw the stone and remembered God’s rescue • A line drawn in the sand: if the Lord had helped “thus far,” He could be trusted for whatever lay ahead Why This Matters for Us Today • We face cultural pressures, economic uncertainty, family crises—different battlefields, same faithful God • Declaring “Thus far the LORD has helped us” keeps our focus on His character instead of our circumstances • Gratitude fuels confidence: thanksgiving recalls real history, not wishful thinking Strengthening Faith During Current Challenges • Keep a journal of “Ebenezer moments” where God has provided, protected, or guided • Tell those stories to children, friends, small-group members—shared testimony multiplies courage • Celebrate answered prayer immediately; don’t wait for a perfect moment • Speak Scripture aloud when anxiety rises—“I will remember the deeds of the LORD” (Psalm 77:11) • Replace fear-based talk with truth-based talk: “The LORD has been my help; He will not abandon me now” Supporting Verses That Echo the Principle • Psalm 103:2 — “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds.” • Lamentations 3:21-23 — “This I recall to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed… His mercies are new every morning.” • Philippians 4:6-7 — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” • Revelation 12:11 — “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Living With an ‘Ebenezer’ Mindset • Look back—catalog God’s past interventions • Look up—anchor hope in His unchanging nature • Look forward—face today’s challenges with the settled conviction that the One who has helped “thus far” will help all the way |
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