Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for May 9

“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.'” (1 Samuel 7:12 ESV)

From: May 9, 2013

Samuel called the Israelites to Mizpah for an assembly of repentance and recommitment, but the Philistines heard about their gathering and attacked. God fought for Israel and they overcame for the first time in a generation. There, Samuel set up a large stone to remind them of God’s help, calling it Ebenezer or “stone of help.” Samuel understood that we are a forgetful people and need reminders. Some of us journal, writing it down when God rescues. Some carry a chip to commemorate their years of sobriety. Others compose a song, like “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” singing: “Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I’m come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.” Do you have an “Ebenezer” to remember what God as done for you?

“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’)

From: May 9, 2012

for he said, ‘Up to this point the Lord has helped us!’” (1 Samuel 7:12).
Has the Lord helped you? How have you marked it? Put out your Ebenezer and let others know what God has done for you.

“They forgot the God who saved them” (Psalm 106:21)

From: May 9, 2011

In bondage they cried out, but in freedom they forgot. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness until a faithful generation was raised up. Are we a faithful generation or have do we have spiritual amnesia? When will we remember that freedom isn’t a result of political process, but of spiritual rebirth?