The word Ebenezer means “stone of help.” The reference comes from I Samuel 7. After defeating the Philistines Samuel raises his Ebenezer declaring that on this spot God defeated the enemy. Samuel wanted the people to remember, not just for a few days, but for years, for decades, for generations, how God had come to the rescue of his people when they humbled themselves before him.

There is a song titled, “ Just As Good.” These are just a few of the lyrics.

I will build an altar 

And stack it stone by stone 

‘Cause every Ebenezer says I’ve never been alone 

My faith will surely falter 

but that don’t change what You’ve done 

‘Cause every Ebenezer points to where my 

help comes from 

And I will build an altar 

And stack it stone by stone 

‘Cause every Ebenezer says I’ve never been alone

The first time that I heard that song it really pierced my heart. I could immediately think of many Ebenezer’s in my life where I encountered the Lord. I was then changed from that moment on. I would like to share four of them.     

The first one that I want to share with you was back when I was around 22 years old. I was going through a very dark time of depression and thoughts of suicide. I got up that day and halfway through I just couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to die but I definitely wanted the pain and the depression to stop. As my thoughts were on suicide I just cried out to the Lord. I said to Him, “I can’t take it anymore and I need you to do something!”  It was at that moment that I felt His presence. I knew He was there and my heart was changed. Something supernatural took place. I would not find out until a week later that at that precise time one of my sisters felt an impression from the Lord to drop to her knees and to begin praying and interceding for me. When she was done she sent me a note in the mail with a scripture.

 

I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

When I received the note and read it I realized she had no idea at the time what was happening to me. That verse answered so many questions that I had and it gave me peace and I knew that it was the Lord speaking directly to me right where I was at. I was taken out of that depression and suicide for a long time. I was changed. He was faithful.

The second one was when I was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. I had allowed fear, anxiety, anger and depression to slowly build up again. At the time I was 37 years old. Life was not working for me and I just knew that there had to be a change. I could not go on with the way that I was at the time. I met with a group of friends at our church on a Saturday night and we were worshiping and then praying for each other. As I was being prayed over I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Something supernatural took place. I knew at that moment that I did not have to live the way that I had been any longer. I knew that whatever had just happened to me it was the answer that I had been searching for. Receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit gave me the power I needed to overcome and dispel all fear, depression and anxiety. It has left me never to return. I was changed. He was faithful

The third one came five years later. The Lord had given me a dream on a Friday night. When I woke up I said to the Lord, “What was that?” He said, “I am redeeming the time.” I knew that redeeming the time had more than one meaning so I looked it up. The two meanings are to buy back and to make the most of. I felt that I was making the most of my time so it must have been the other definition of buying back. I kept mulling it over for 3 days trying to figure out why the Lord would redeem the time for me. On the third day I was on my way to my son’s school to drop them off for the day. I was making my way back home when I was hit head on by a vehicle that crossed the centerline. I should not have survived the accident and I definitely should have had some pretty severe injuries. I had no seat belt or air bag injuries which is impossible. I only had a bump on my knee from hitting the dashboard. As I was sitting in the police car filling out a report the dream came back to me. He had just bought me back and given me more time. The enemy’s plan that morning was to take me out but God had other plans and He bought me back. I was changed. He is so faithful.

The last one that I want to share is the day he called me into the ministry of Operation Christmas Child. It was my first time packing shoe boxes and we made twelve of them. God miraculously answered my prayer and sent me enough items and shipping money for all twelve. Once the boxes were filled I dropped them off at the nearest Relay Center. I came home and walked through the front door. At that moment I heard the Lord speak and He said, “This is your ministry.” I was so excited and happy. First of all hearing His voice, but secondly I loved this ministry. That happened back in 2000 and I am still packing boxes today in 2023. There is so much about this ministry that has changed my heart, my mind and even my soul. It has helped me to become more like Christ. It’s a phenomenal ministry. I get to be part of miracles that happen constantly. That is what it takes to fill 5,000 shoe boxes. That is how many we are packing each year now. I get to be part of a group of ladies that are humble godly servants. They are so loving and kind towards me and they encourage and strengthen me more than they will ever know. They show up every Friday to sew or pack shoe boxes. The gospel message is given and preached wherever these boxes are distributed. I’m a full-time missionary and I don’t have to leave my home. I was changed. He is faithful

Each one of these Ebenezer’s I have stacked stones to erect an altar in my heart. Each one God showed up and did what only He can do. At each one my life was changed in one way or another, never to be the same. Each one showed me that He was there and He was faithful. There are many more altars that I have built and I have written them all down. For me it allows me to go back and remind me of his faithfulness, provision, protection and that I am never alone. I can draw strength and encouragement from each one to continue moving forward. As the days are getting darker and harder I believe each one of us needs Ebenezers to remind us of who He is and what He does and that He will not leave us. We are going to need this as we head into the darkest of times but I believe also the most amazing times. 

How about you, do you have your own Ebenezer’s?  Have you written them down so that you can go back and remember that He was there and He was faithful? If not I encourage you to start on that today!

“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” Psalm 100:5