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Using Scripture as memorial stones

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

What was the purpose of Joshua’s memorial stones? One purpose, as he himself said was, “Let this be a sign among you” (Joshua 3:10a). The function of the stone pile by the Jordan River was to be a sign of encouragement that the God who parted the Jordan and shepherded the people safely across it to Canaan Land would continue to watch over and provide for all the generations of Israel to come.

You and I, also, have need of memorial stones of our own—those specific testimonies, deeds, and promises of God to which we may gaze as a sign of His faithfulness. One teaming treasure trove of such precious stones is sitting not too far away from you in leather or paper binding (or online!) in your Bible.

I will present five of the memorial stones in the Word of God upon which I often gaze when, like David, I encounter difficulties greater than me and need to encourage myself in the Lord (see 1 Samuel 30:6). These stones—anchored in the pages of the Bible—are not mere tales or dusty promises; they are Spirit and Truth; they are living and active; and they work mightily within the one who believes.

Health.  I have found great encouragement and help in Isaiah 53: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (verses 4 and 5, NIV). In fact, as I awakened from bypass surgery in the ICU back in 2003, I drew upon this living stone of Scripture. I could literally feel the Lord bearing my crushing pain for me. Two other verses I’ve used as healing stones are 1 Peter 2:24 and Matthew 8:17.

Protection. I have found God to be faithful to protect me in all kinds of situations. When I go on trips or vacations, I typically begin my journey with Psalm 91. As I meditate upon those sixteen verses, I can’t help but be encouraged that I am—in absolute reality—safe under the shadow of the Almighty. Even if a thousand were to fall at my side or ten thousand at my right hand, it would not approach me. As I gaze at that towering structure of God’s promise to me, I know that He has given His angels charge over me to guard me in all of my ways. Even if I do run into opposition from the enemy, this memorial stone reminds me that I will trample the “lion, cobra, young lion, and serpent” under my feet.

Demonic attack. When I sense an uptick in demonic attack against me, the memorial stone I often gaze upon is Isaiah 54:17, “‘No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the Lord.” As I muse on this promise, the specter of the attack does not threaten so ominously; instead I find relief and refuge from tormenting thoughts as I think on God’s faithfulness to overturn every onslaught against me. I feed my confidence with God’s assurance that the attack will culminate with my vindication from the Lord.

Fear. Like you, I’ve faced off with a lot of it, and am I ever glad that the Word is loaded with giant “Fear not” memorial stones! Fear can come in all shapes and sizes, but the Bible is adequate to grant you victory over every instance of it. Two biggies for me when confronted with fear are very different, but both produce wonderful results.

The first is found in 2 Timothy 1:7 and says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV). I like to run to this memorial stone especially when the fear of man starts to grip me; I know that such fear is not from God and never will be from God. Instead of the fear of man, God has given me a spirit full of power, love, and a sound mind. What a true blessing!

When I am faced with sudden fear—as when things go bump in the night or some similar quick spark of terror hits me—I grab Psalm 56:3 out of my memorial stone holster, pull back the hammer, take aim, and fire: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (KJV). I find this verse hits the bull’s eye every time, helping me to gauge the fear pounding in my chest against the all-encompassing power of the unfailing God in whom I trust. He has always proven to be the Greater One.

When waiting…and waiting…and waiting…for what seems to be forever. Have you ever felt this way? I sure have. The Bible is full of men and women who waited a long, long time for His promise to manifest in their lives. From what I’ve seen in my life and others, this is still the case, far more often than we care to acknowledge. This is why the verse, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Hebrews 10:36), is a shining memorial stone to which I turn when I am tempted to give up.

And my go-to “guy” in the Bible—who embodies unwavering patience in the face of a Goliath-sized wait—is Caleb. This godly man returned to Moses with a good report concerning the Promised Land—one of only two who refused to cower in unbelief at the giants in the land—and the Lord said of him, “My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land” (see Numbers 14:24).

Fast-forward forty-five years, and Caleb is 85 years old and still without land of his own from among the promise. When I first really thought about his situation, I pictured Caleb walking into a modern day “faith-filled” church, forty-four years after the word of the Lord to him, testifying how God was bringing him into his land. And I imagined his reception—the looks he might get and the raised eyebrows—as folks shifted uneasily in their seats, shaking their heads at such a delusional old fellow. And I thought about the counsel he might get—brother, check your faith. You know, your current circumstances are likely the result of your own unbelief. You have not because you ask not!

Yet Caleb, undeterred—in the forty-fifth year after the promise was made to him—asked Joshua for his land. And what do you know? He got it; but first, that 85 year-old man had to fight for it—even though it was his by promiseand fight for it he did. Without complaint. And this patient, long-suffering man inherited his promise.

As I gaze on the life of Caleb as a memorial stone, I am able to rise above the defeat-mentality that so subtly attempts to suffocate me, knowing that “faithful is He who calls [me], and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

God bless you as you search out the marvelous memorial stones of God’s Word!

Dorothy

© 2015 Dorothy Frick