Altar of Remembrance

There are many ways to look back over the last year and remember what the Lord has done. Prayer journaling, pulling out your calendar and reviewing what each month held, or discussing the year with your spouse or a friend will allow you time to intentionally review.

When we look at scripture we see many examples of individuals looking back in order to acknowledge and memorialize the Lord’s goodness. Deuteronomy 27 shares the command from the Lord for the Israelites to build an altar after they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. “Write on

[the stones] all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today. [Tweet “Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones.””] The Lord often commanded his children to build an altar of remembrance for all that He had done and we can do the same thing!

Our encouragement this week is to take some time after you review the year to set up your own altar in remembrance and gratitude for 2016. One example could include: purchasing a Sharpie and bag of stones at your local craft store and writing on those stones some words that represent God’s presence and faithfulness in your life over this past year. You could even purchase a wooden box to hold the rocks and add to the box in future years!