31/12/2024

1 Samuel 7:10 “And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.”

1 Samuel 7:11 “And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.”

1 Samuel 7:12 “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

This is the final day of 2024! What a year it has been for me.

God helped me this year, and I want to thank him for doing so “Ye have seen what I did … and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”

God changed my life this year again and drew me to his Son like never before. He did not fail me or forsake me, he was with me as he promised me “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

It was not for anything of me or special on my behalf, it was not because I deserved better, it was all his mercy “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

I don’t know if God has ever given you an “Ebenezer”, but he has me, the last few years in an extra special way, but every year another stone set in place in time that testifies to my Rock of Ages.

Ebenezer is a constant reminder of God’s mighty deliverances, none more mighty than the salvation of my soul.

Thank God for experiences that become monuments to his faithfulness… wonderful reference points in our lives that help to anchor our faith in times ahead based on what he has done.

It hasn’t been an easy year for me, but with God he’s made it special anyway “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”

As God did back here in the book of 1 Samuel, when Israel experienced marvelous salvation from the Philistines, so he did for me also “We having the same spirit of faith”

I got baptized this year, and I thank God he made a way for it to happen, it was such a wonderful experience. His timing was right. It was such a privilege before witnesses to testify to what Jesus Christ has done inwardly in my life in saving me from my sin and giving me newness of life.

I got engaged this year, who would’ve thought it, and it has been miracle after miracle how God has worked in it all, giving me far better than I deserve, and I have been way out my depth most of the time, and if it were brought together and maintained by my power, it would have collapsed long ago.

But God has been in it! therefore it has not burnt out, like the burning bush that Moses turned aside to see, what a great sight it was, and what a great sight God’s grace has been for me to behold for myself, if for no one else.

Whatever 2025 holds, as children of God we know that he is and will be sufficient for whatever we face “but our sufficiency is of God”.

Eternal life is you knowing God and God knowing you. And that’s all on the basis of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. If that didn’t happen in 2024, I hope it’s no later than 2025!

We really have no idea what we are missing out on in sin and disobedience. And in 2025, there is another opportunity to break the norm, and trust and obey God, rather than taking the old path of unbelief.

In 1 Samuel 7, the nation of Israel had been in disobedience to God and reaping what they’d sown for twenty years and the Bible says “the time was long”… time is long when we’re not right with God!

… but after twenty years, God made a change! Better late than never! And he used a faithful man of God who knew his word to turn the nation back to the old proven path of faith!

The opposition quickly came, but that all just set the stage for an even more wondrous song of deliverance and story for the ages of how God delivered them from the Philistines without them having to do a thing… their Ebenzer.

And here I raise my Ebenezer, thank you to everyone who made 2024 what it was to me, both the good and the bad, both friend and foe, God has used it all for good, and I am confident he will always do so “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

… “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Hopefully this is the story of the year that was for you, but if not, I pray God makes this, his Son, your boast in time in 2025!

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