Remembering a miracle

I wanted to take a few moments to express the gratitude I have in my heart to the Lord for who He is, and for what He has done.  It was on this day – April 24 – that God miraculously healed me.  I wasn’t even a year old yet, and I had developed a disease called Infantile Spasms.  To give you the short version for today, I was having multiple seizures.  Infantile Spasms either kills its host, or leaves them as a vegetable for the rest of their lives.  However, with God all things are possible!  I was in death’s grasp, but the Lord breathed life back into me, and when He did, the disease was also gone.  No seizures for over 4 decades now.  To God alone goes all the glory.

There are several monumental episodes in my life; I make it a habit to choose to look back and remember just how faithful God has been to me.  This is so important because life can be difficult and, in the midst of the storms of life, it’s easy to forget.  The Bible speaks of an amazing episode where the recipients set up a tangible reminder to celebrate God’s power and help.  Check out this helpful article – which you can find at this link.

“The name “Ebenezer” actually comes from the Bible.  In 1 Samuel 7, during the end of the times of the judges, Israel experiences revival under the leadership of Samuel.  The nation repents of their sin, destroys their idols, and begins to seek the Lord (1 Samuel 7:2-4).  Samuel gathered the people at Mizpah where they confessed their sin, and Samuel offered a sacrifice on their behalf (verses 5-9)  

It was during this time of repentance and renewal that the enemy attacked: “While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle” (1 Samuel 7:10).  The Israelites went out to do battle against the invaders, and the God sent them supernatural help: “The day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites” (verse 10).

Israel’s victory over the Philistines was decisive.  Several cities the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, and it was a long time before the Philistines tried to invade Israel again (1 Samuel 7:13-14).  To commemorate the divine victory, “Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.  He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us’” (verse 12).

Ebenezer means “stone of help.”  From then on, every time an Israelite saw the stone erected by Samuel, he would have a tangible reminder of the Lord’s power and protection.”  Today, I relay my own Ebenezer, and I do so with worship and thankfulness to God.

God bless,

Kevin