Do you have any stones of remembrance?
In Joshua 4 the Bible talks about 12 stones that the were to be placed in the long awaited promise land. After 40 years in the wilderness, the nation of Israel finally crossed the Jordan river, which the Lord had cut off, and God's people entered into the promise land that God promised hundreds of years before to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To serve as a memorial God instructed that 12 men from the 12 tribes of Israel place these 12 stones there, "that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying 'What do these stones mean to you?' Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." (vs 6-7).
Apparently God wanted His people to remember His miracle of cutting off the Jordan river so they could walk on dry land. I think He commanded this because so often we forget what God has done for us in the past. Forgetting what He has done for us does us a great disservice for the next trial or journey we partake in. If we forget God's hand in our events in our lives then we might not have the faith to believe He can deliver us again, or at best we'll doubt Him. This forgetfulness also can cause us to misconceive the character of God, and cause us to know Him less (because if we forget what He has done we could forget who He is). On the other hand, the more we remember the mighty hand of God, the more we meditate on His goodness, and know Him and trust in Him!
What has God done for you lately? I would encourage you to keep a record of God's work in your life (whether He has said "yes," "no," or "not yet.") You can "place stones of remembrance" in the answer section of this Prayer and Answer Journal to serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness, mercy, favor, and blessings. Writing down God's blessings will memorialize God's blessings, which can enrich your faith as well as the faith of your children or whoever reads it in the future.
Join the psalmist and remind your soul to not forget all His benefits (psalm 103:2)!
Blessings,
Akiko