Remembering Altars

"Build altars in the places where I remind you who I am and I
will come and bless you there.” Exodus 20:24, NLT

Has God reminded you of who he is lately? In our forgetful
fallenness, we need reminding. In the early days, when God showed himself, they
made altars of stacked stones. In Genesis 12:7, Abraham built an altar at Bethel,
after God appeared to him, saying “To your offspring I will give this land.” NIV
But building stone altars in our front yards isn’t part of our American
culture. How can we build an altar where God reminds us of his character?

Three ways come to mind: journaling, art, and planting. We
can take the time to put into language what God does for us. A thankfulness
journal of those times when we get a glimpse of his kindness to us can serve as
a place of remembrance and refreshment. We can also buy or make an art object. A
photograph of a place where God showed himself, sitting on our desk, can be a
place of rest in the midst of our busy days. Planting a tree in memory of a
special experience with God can be a place of blessing.

We’re all spiritually blind. None of us sees reality like
Jesus did when he looked through his human eyes. Wisdom dictates setting up
altars, visual reminders of God. Has he revealed himself to us in the last few
weeks? Have we made a reminder of that? A concrete cue will help us remember
and God will bless us there.

Father, thank you again, for all the reminders you create
for us. May we create altars to you, so we never forget your faithfulness.