Your Memorial Stones
God wants His people to remember what He has done. In Joshua 3, we see God performing a miracle at the Jordan River. Although the river was at flood stage, its waters flowing downstream were cut off and stood up "in a heap," allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground on their way to the promised land. God then commanded Joshua to have twelve stones taken up from the depths of the river bed and stacked up by the side of the river. The stones were to serve as a memorial of His divine action on behalf of His people.
God knows that we human need tangible reminders of what He has done for us. We tend to forget those times of divine Providence and intervention. When our lives are going well, we are tempted to think that we can pretty much take care of ourselves. Our delusion of self-sufficiency clouds our memories of when we needed God, and He responded. On the other hand, when life seems dark and scary, our fear can seduce into believing that God is impotent to deal with our present challenges.
God knows we need our own "pile of stones" to remember who He truly is and what He has done for us. What is your pile of stones for this past year? Whether this has been a good year or a difficult one for you:
- Where have you seen God at work in your life and in the lives of those around you?
- How have you seen God pruning you, shaping you, and maturing you to more closely resemble His Son?
- What incidents can you point to that give you clues about His calling on your life?
Do something to create a tangible reminder of God's activity in your life: make a list, a collage, a scrapbook page, a collection of objects, a shadowbox display, or something else that is your unique expression of remembrance and thankfulness.
Kevin Brennfleck and Kay Marie Brennfleck, National Certified Career Counselors, are the authors of Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. Their websites, www.ChristianCareerCenter.com, www.ChurchJobsOnline.com, and www.ChristianJobFair.com, feature hundreds of job listings from churches, ministries, and Christian employers; a resume bank; and many other career/job search resources and articles. They also offer career coaching and testing to help you discover work that fits your God-given design, as well as assistance with writing a powerful resume, interviewing effectively, finding job openings, and other aspects of a successful job search. You can schedule a free consultation session today!
Originally published March 31, 2010.
