Oct 25 – THUS FAR AND FROM NOW ON!

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, Thus far the Lord has helped us” (I Samuel 7:12).
Thus far, the Lord has been helping you. Thus far He has been showing His grace to you. An eagle carries its younger ones safely on its wings and in the same way, God carries you on His shoulders on which he had thus far carried the cross. Dear children of God, let your hearts be filled with gratitude at this time.
That day, the heart of Samuel overflew. His heart rejoiced in praise and joy about God. He took a stone and set it up saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’ Then he named it ‘Ebenezer.’ From that day, the name ‘Ebenezer’ became one of the names of God. This name gives the meaning ‘God who helps us.’
When you say, ‘Thus far he helped us, He is Ebenezer’ and praise Him, your heart is filled with joy. At the same time, the faith that ‘He helped us thus far and He will also help in the future’ also rises. Yes. He who was Ebenezer thus far will also be Immanuel hereafter.
King David saw God as Ebenezer and Immanuel. He looked up to God and said, “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in your sight, O Lord God; and you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God?” (II Samuel 7:18,19).
Even after getting exalted as a king, David thankfully thought of all the paths in which God had guided him remaining as Ebenezer. He thought about how God remained as a shepherd for him when he was grazing the sheep; also how He protected him from wild animals like lions and bears and also from Goliath; also how He guided him on a victorious path. He also believed that God will guide him also in the days to come. Rejoicing, He praised God thinking about all the glorious things God would be doing to him in the time to come.
Dear children of God, meditate with gratitude how God showed mercy on you, protected you and guided you, even before you knew Him. Today you are the children of God. He will protect you and guide you to the end.
To meditate: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which you have shown your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies” (Genesis 32:10).