1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,675 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: Abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:13,035 --> 00:01:19,435 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Ben Little. What do 12 00:01:19,555 --> 00:01:22,515 Speaker 2: you do to remember the things God has done for you? 13 00:01:25,035 --> 00:01:29,515 Speaker 2: In First Samuel chapter seven, the Israelites were repenting because 14 00:01:29,515 --> 00:01:33,075 Speaker 2: of their idol worship, but they were facing attack by 15 00:01:33,115 --> 00:01:37,715 Speaker 2: the Philistine army. The prophet Samuel prayed to the Lord 16 00:01:37,795 --> 00:01:43,355 Speaker 2: for them, and in a miraculous way, the Philistines were defeated. 17 00:01:44,395 --> 00:01:49,955 Speaker 2: Then Samuel did this. Samuel then took a large stone 18 00:01:50,155 --> 00:01:53,715 Speaker 2: and placed it between the towns of Misbah and Jeshana. 19 00:01:55,035 --> 00:01:59,235 Speaker 2: He named it Ebenezer, which means the stone of help, 20 00:02:00,355 --> 00:02:03,675 Speaker 2: for he said, up to this point, the Lord has 21 00:02:03,795 --> 00:02:12,035 Speaker 2: helped us as you consider the ways in which God 22 00:02:12,275 --> 00:02:19,235 Speaker 2: has been your ebenezer, take a deep breath, release it slowly, 23 00:02:22,275 --> 00:02:28,075 Speaker 2: Let your neck and shoulders relax. Let your mind be 24 00:02:28,195 --> 00:02:37,475 Speaker 2: centered on God and his watch care over you. Jesus 25 00:02:37,675 --> 00:02:44,315 Speaker 2: is your ebenezer, your stone of support. Imagine that each 26 00:02:44,395 --> 00:02:50,555 Speaker 2: time Jesus helps you, you receive a special stone. Create 27 00:02:50,595 --> 00:02:54,355 Speaker 2: an altar in your mind's eye of all these stones, 28 00:02:55,235 --> 00:02:59,235 Speaker 2: and turn to it when your faith waivers. You know 29 00:02:59,395 --> 00:03:02,755 Speaker 2: that he is your rock. He has helped you before, 30 00:03:03,555 --> 00:03:11,555 Speaker 2: and he will help you again. Some people keep an 31 00:03:11,555 --> 00:03:15,835 Speaker 2: actual bull or jar of stones at their home and 32 00:03:15,915 --> 00:03:19,275 Speaker 2: put one in it every time they experience God's provision 33 00:03:19,435 --> 00:03:22,755 Speaker 2: for them, a smooth stone that they can write on. 34 00:03:26,555 --> 00:03:30,035 Speaker 2: What stones of help can you place to remind yourself 35 00:03:30,115 --> 00:03:35,995 Speaker 2: of what God has done for you? All power, Lord, 36 00:03:36,835 --> 00:03:41,395 Speaker 2: You are my help, my savior. You show up in 37 00:03:41,475 --> 00:03:46,235 Speaker 2: ways that I don't even expect, and sometimes I miss 38 00:03:47,355 --> 00:03:50,435 Speaker 2: open my eyes to see where you are working in 39 00:03:50,515 --> 00:03:55,715 Speaker 2: my life. I might not see a miraculous victory like 40 00:03:55,755 --> 00:03:59,875 Speaker 2: the Israelites saw over the Philistines, but your help in 41 00:03:59,995 --> 00:04:04,515 Speaker 2: my life is no less significant. Thank you for always 42 00:04:04,635 --> 00:04:10,595 Speaker 2: hearing me, for never changing, for always loving me even 43 00:04:10,595 --> 00:04:16,675 Speaker 2: when I turn to idols. Thank you for your mercy. Amen, 44 00:04:19,195 --> 00:04:22,795 Speaker 2: keep breathing deeply as you hold open your hands before 45 00:04:22,835 --> 00:04:27,155 Speaker 2: the Lord, signifying your willingness to hear from him today, 46 00:04:28,275 --> 00:04:30,955 Speaker 2: lift them up as if you're presenting him with an offering, 47 00:04:33,155 --> 00:04:51,435 Speaker 2: the offering of your life. Is there anything keeping you 48 00:04:51,475 --> 00:04:54,355 Speaker 2: from wanting to give your whole self to the Lord today? 49 00:04:56,155 --> 00:04:59,675 Speaker 2: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of hesitation 50 00:05:00,595 --> 00:05:07,315 Speaker 2: and then confess those to God. He stands ready to 51 00:05:07,435 --> 00:05:28,395 Speaker 2: forgive your Ebenezer, your rock of help, your stone of remembrance. 52 00:05:29,195 --> 00:05:36,995 Speaker 2: Jesus the Christ your cornerstone. Let all praise and glory 53 00:05:37,115 --> 00:05:40,515 Speaker 2: go to him today as you focus on the things 54 00:05:40,515 --> 00:05:53,635 Speaker 2: that God has done for you. Father, I thank you 55 00:05:53,955 --> 00:05:57,275 Speaker 2: that you are an ever present help in times of trouble. 56 00:05:59,875 --> 00:06:09,115 Speaker 2: You are my shield, my stronghold, my rock. You hear 57 00:06:09,195 --> 00:06:13,715 Speaker 2: me when I cry out to you. Help me to 58 00:06:13,795 --> 00:06:17,595 Speaker 2: turn to you first, instead of counting on my own strength, 59 00:06:18,315 --> 00:06:24,675 Speaker 2: my own willpower to overcome what attacks me. When I 60 00:06:24,715 --> 00:06:29,915 Speaker 2: am weak, You show that you are strong. And the 61 00:06:29,995 --> 00:06:32,875 Speaker 2: truth is, I don't want to have to do this 62 00:06:33,035 --> 00:06:43,435 Speaker 2: by myself. Thank you that I don't have to. In Jesus' name, 63 00:06:43,795 --> 00:06:54,555 Speaker 2: I pray Amen. Consider creating a family or personal stones 64 00:06:54,595 --> 00:06:58,755 Speaker 2: of help jar. Remembering how God has helped you in 65 00:06:58,795 --> 00:07:05,435 Speaker 2: the past will give you hope for the future. Until 66 00:07:05,475 --> 00:07:08,835 Speaker 2: next time, may you abide in Christ.