A Place of "Altering"

Genesis 12:7-8 ⁷ Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. ⁸ After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord.

Altars are a memorial of the places where God meets us

Altars represent the occasion and place where we have had a personal encounter with God. We may not always be able to make a physical altar, but there can be one established in our hearts. (Jack Hayford)

     I have had the opportunity to “meet God” in a few places and special times in my life. I wish I had set up alters, then perhaps it would be easier to relive and share the changes that God did at those times. We have a couple of friends, that collect a rock at different times in their life, and write on the bottom of the rock, what this “alter” is standing for. A few other friends of ours have tattoo’s that are their ‘alters’ to God. Where they have a constant visual of the things God had done and or brought them through.

What struck me, was that Jack Hayford said that alters can be “in our heart”. True. However, I am a visual person, and need a reminder that is physical to help prod the mental. I like the idea that alters are “places that God meets us” – what is funny, is that if we are not looking, or paying attention – we don’t see it, and we miss it.

When we celebrate communion, we are celebrating the grandest altar of all, the Cross of Calvary. The Son of God was the ultimate sacrifice, and His work on the Cross reconciled all humankind to God, made possible for our lives to be infused with meaning, for our sins to be forgiven and to give us the promise of eternal life. (Jack Hayford)

Altars appear throughout the Bible in many different forms. They are for tons of different reasons. What strikes me in each of the alters that were built and that we can build – is the very word “alter”. Alter means to change. So, we have to recognize as well as be willing to see and do a change. God has a place of “altering” for each and every one of us. Yet, He doesn’t make us do it or go through it alone. Nope! Jesus is right there! The Holy Spirit lives in us and is walking with us in each and every moment where God meets us! Alters have a price. They are intended for us to “alter” something and in return we receive Gods promises as we transform and recognize Him in those moments.

I have a couple of “alters” that I actually wear (I’m afraid of a tattoo lol) that are BIG moments of “change” in my life: my wedding ring which represents many things all in one! Then I have a couple of other rings that represent times in my life that there were BIG changes that happened. A thumb ring that has an inner section that spins on the ring – this represents my releasing of 100 pounds. Another ‘spinning ring’ represents a special bonding moment where I surprised our youngest daughters’ oldest son on his birthday – priceless!! I have another thumb ring that stands for the amazing journey of 2 years since my weight loss surgery. I realized, these ARE alters that I have set up to God as a remembrance to me for the special moments He has met me in. Yesterday is done, over, gone - today is new and inviting. We cannot change yesterday, but we can prepare for today and tomorrow. Inviting God into our "moments" allows us to see Him at work, 'altering' things around us - FOR us!

Today, as you go about your day, look back and see if there are “special moments” that the Lord has brought you through, that you could have some sort of “alter” for Him. This alter is a place or thing that you can go to, and meet with God in both to remember that moment, honor Him because of that moment, and to look at the promises of future moments where you encounter God again. Maybe it is an alter for prayer that is in your “prayer room/war room” that you have set up. Maybe it is pictures that you saved on your computer or phone. Perhaps it is something hanging on your walls. It could even be an actual “thing” that you have made or built as a representation of God in certain moments – whatever it is… I encourage you to ‘take a walk down memory lane’ and revisit the alters of times when and where God has met you where you were and provided for you.

Have a GREAT rest of your day!! I am praying for you! Be well, be safe, and BE blessed today!