“And Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:5-7
I love reading about the Israelites’ journeys, assignments, and adventures as God’s chosen people! At this point, the Israelites had been wandering around in a desert. Finally, the next generation was ready to cross the Jordan into the new land of promise. These people weren’t quite sure what their next assignment would be. They only knew that God had directed them to build a memorial to him with 12 stones and to start walking. God wanted them to be focused and remember who was guiding them. He also wanted the next generations to hear of their story. When the future children would ask questions about the stones, stories of God’s leading would be generated.
I took on a similar assignment when I decided to paint some stones to memorialize my grandchildren in our front flower bed. When I say “memorialize” them, I mean that my painted stones serve as a visual prayer marker where I can remember, honor, and celebrate their lives as I walk by the stones. I certainly pray over my grandchildren continuously, at all times of the day, and I don’t need to be reminded to do so. But my painted stones evoke a special prayer. I ask God to remember my grandchildren and I pray that my grandchildren will always remember their God as they grow into adulthood.
Do you have similar ideas for prayer markers? Please let me know so I can share with all my readers.
