Genesis 28:16 — "When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'"
Jacob was on the run. Fleeing from his brother, sleeping on a rock in the middle of nowhere. Not exactly a "mountaintop moment." But that night, God showed up. And when Jacob woke up, he said something we all need to hear:
"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it."
God was there. Jacob just didn't realize it.
How often do we do the same thing? How often do we go through our days—our routines, our responsibilities, our ordinary moments—without recognizing that God is right there with us?
Altars in the Bible
Throughout Scripture, God's people built altars. Not because God needed a physical structure, but because they needed a tangible reminder of His presence.
- Abraham built altars wherever God spoke to him (Genesis 12:7-8)
- Moses built an altar after God delivered Israel from Egypt (Exodus 17:15)
- Joshua set up stones as a memorial so future generations would remember what God had done (Joshua 4:6-7)
Altars were markers. They said, "God met me here. I don't want to forget."
Building Everyday Altars
We may not stack stones or build physical altars today, but we can still create sacred moments in our everyday lives—places and practices where we pause and recognize God's presence.
Your everyday altar might be:
✅ Your morning coffee — Before you scroll, before you plan your day, sit with God for five minutes. Thank Him. Talk to Him. Let that be your altar.
✅ Your commute — Turn off the podcast. Turn off the music. Pray. Worship. Let your car become a sanctuary.
✅ Your kitchen table — Pray before meals. Not out of obligation, but out of gratitude. Recognize that God provides.
✅ Your bedtime routine — End your day reflecting on where you saw God. Write it down. Build a memorial of His faithfulness.
✅ Your workspace — Invite God into your tasks. Ask Him to guide your decisions. Let your work be an offering.
Psalm 139:7-8 reminds us: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."
God isn't confined to church buildings or worship services. He's in the carpool line. He's in the laundry room. He's in the hard conversation. He's in the quiet morning before the house wakes up.
He's in this place. Are we aware of it?
The Practice of Pausing
Building everyday altars requires one thing: pausing.
We live in a world that glorifies hustle, productivity, and constant motion. But worship requires us to slow down. To notice. To pay attention.
This week, practice pausing:
- When you see something beautiful, pause and thank God for it.
- When you experience a moment of peace, pause and recognize His presence.
- When you're overwhelmed, pause and invite Him into it.
- When something goes right, pause and give Him the glory.
These pauses become altars. Moments where you say, "Surely the Lord is in this place."
This Week's Challenge:
Choose one ordinary moment in your day and turn it into an everyday altar. Maybe it's your morning routine. Maybe it's your lunch break. Maybe it's tucking your kids into bed.
Intentionally invite God into that moment. Recognize His presence. Thank Him. Worship Him there.
And watch how your ordinary days become sacred.
Prayer:
God, open my eyes to see You in the everyday. Help me to build altars in the ordinary—to pause, to notice, to worship You in the mundane moments of life. You are present. You are here. Let me never forget it. In Jesus' name, amen.
Reflect:
- Where have you seen God this week that you almost missed?
- What ordinary moment can you turn into an everyday altar?
