Devotionals for the Heart: God is our Eternal Rock and True Foundation

Rocks, Stones, Pebbles and the God who never changes!
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” –1 Samuel 2:2 (NLT)

Have you ever dug in the dirt to create a garden or to build a structure?

Where I live the soil is full of rocks. Whenever you want to dig in the ground, you are guaranteed to find rocks of all sizes—from gravel-sized pebbles to enormous boulders.

The fascinating thing to me is that often I dig out the soil, remove the rocks to plant the flowers or bushes, then place other rocks back around whatever it was I had planted either for decoration, for drainage, or to distinguish the garden from the lawn. The rocks that are a nuisance in one spot might be necessary somewhere else. The only difference is the purpose of the rock.

God created the world and it is full of stones and rocks. They are visual and plentiful and maybe that’s why they show up so often in scripture. Many times, especially in the Psalms, God is referred to as a rock of safety or refuge (Psalm 46:1). He is the rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1). It’s easy to imagine that when an army is being pursued, a group of large stones make a useful place of safety, a place to regroup and rest. And if the stones are on a mountain or a high place, they are a vantage point to watch for danger.

Stones were used to build memorials and altars, places of remembrance and worship. The Lord had Joshua and the people pick up stones from the middle of the Jordan River where they had crossed into the Promised Land, then they used those stones to build a memorial (Joshua 4:9). The stones would serve as a reminder of the safety He provided as they took possession of the land.

The Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments, carved into stone by God’s own hand (Exodus 31:18). Because of a rock’s hardness and nature, once a rock has been altered, it will never be the same as it was before. One of those commandments was not to create idols of stone or wood or metal to worship. The Israelites—and believers today—are to worship only the Creator, never the creation or anything we’ve made.

Rocks are foundations, steady and unchanging, the perfect place to build a house. Jesus reminded all of us that when we build our houses on unstable ground, there is a chance they will not stand the storm (Matthew 7:26-27). He wants us to build our dwelling places—our lives—on Him and the truth only He can give.

The most well-known of all the stones in the Bible might be the one that was rolled away from Jesus’s tomb (Luke 24:2). The stone was large, heavy, and a perfect symbol of all the obstacles that were between us and God before His death and resurrection. Through that act, Jesus became the cornerstone and foundation of the spiritual temple God is building on the earth—the Church, which includes each of us as living stones. We are to share in the building of His kingdom here, until He returns. And then, when the new heavens and new earth are created, the Holy City will shine in brilliance with gold and gemstones (Revelation 21:11). Just imagine how beautiful those rocks will be!

So next time you kick a rock out of your path, pick a pebble out of your shoe or drive down a gravel road, remember God’s faithfulness and salvation. God loves you and He doesn’t want you to forget it!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, be my Rock today. Remind me that You are a sure foundation in a world that shifts and changes. Give me opportunities to share Your love and truth with those around me, to help them know the safety and peace that only You can give. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Upon This Rock” by Allison Durham Speer. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two college-age children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. 

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Connect with Glynis:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckerglynis/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlynisBecker7

Devotionals for the Heart: Stones

Stones of Remembrance
A devotional by Jessica Collazo

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” –1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV)

I don’t know how many times I heard someone say that 2020 needed to end.

Interestingly enough, January 1st has always brought about a lot of high hopes for many. An opportunity for a fresh start, a chance for a do-over, a time to reset, or the ability to put things behind us. Considering this past year in particular, 2021 could not come fast enough.

For many, 2020 felt like a boxing ring where one hit after another kept coming and the round never seemed to end. The desire to feel like the end was in sight was heightened by the blows that kept coming and the lack of interference from a referee. The fight felt heavy and unfair.

But I wonder, does the Lord truly want us to forget 2020? Are we supposed to hit the reset button and pretend like one of the most pivotal years in our history never happened?

I am starting to think maybe not.

Could it be that 2020 was actually an Ebenezer year for you and for me? A year where we look back and say “The Lord has helped us.” It is clear that 2020 was a year where no one was exempt from pain, heartache or suffering. It was a year that really tested our faith, but friend, I want to remind you that we made it through. The Lord did not withhold His hand from us. He walked beside us and before us the entire time.

The Israelites experienced God’s faithfulness in their battle at Mizpah. The Israelites had turned back to the Lord, and as they assembled before the Lord, the Philistines came to attack. The Lord heard Samuel’s plea and helped them win the battle.

The reason Samuel put the stone there was because it was to serve as a remembrance every time the Israelites looked at the stone. Why would the stone be needed? Simply put, because in our humanity we seem to forget that the Lord is with us. We forget that if He did it once, He will do it again. Or maybe we didn’t forget what He did, we just feel like whatever we are going through at the moment is so much bigger than what we went through the last time, and we may wonder, “Does He even want to help me again?”

The answer is yes! God absolutely wants to help us and He wants us to remember that He is always with us.

2020 will forever be a year marked in our history for generations to come. An Ebenezer year where we can look back and remember how the Lord does not cease to help us. Now, let’s walk through 2021 with the confidence of knowing that we walk with the Lord, our ever present help. 

May we always remember that our help cometh from the Lord! 

Listen to this song by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and be encouraged. 

Let’s Pray: Father in Heaven, we come to you with open hearts. Acknowledging that 2020 was not the easiest year. Many of us are tired and worn down. We are hurting or simply have become apathetic. However, in the midst of all those feelings, we are choosing to lay down Ebenezer Stones in remembrance of your ever present help. We know that despite our feelings, you my God have never left us or forsaken us. We thank you for the grace and mercy you extend to us daily. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Collazo is a Chicago native with a heart that beats for Jesus. Her passion is to challenge women to think differently, gain a new perspective and live confidently. Because she knows it’s possible.

Using God’s Word, a little bit of humor, along with a strategic way of thinking and sharing personal stories, Jessica offers a fresh take on where to go when women feel stuck, overlooked or overwhelmed.

Jessica’s greatest passion is to help women take off the identities they have been given by the world and realize who they are in Christ: known, dearly loved, set apart, and chosen.

Jessica is the customer experience manager at Proverbs 31 Ministries who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, Jerry, two sons and dog, Sawyer. Prior to working at Proverbs 31 Ministries, Jessica has over 10 years of experience working in women’s ministry, marriage ministry and outreach.

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Connect with Jessica:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_jessicacollazo/
Website: https://jessicacollazo.com