Where would you build your altar?

Last week’s reflection dealt with how we sometimes delay or avoid what God is calling us to do. In Gideon’s case, once he runs out of excuses, he offers God’s angel a gift of meat, bread and broth, and the angel uses his staff to miraculously burn the sacrifice. This convinces Gideon that he is indeed dealing with God.

Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, “The Lord Is Peace.” To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:24)

After realizing that “the call” he was trying to avoid was coming from God, Gideon honors God by building an altar. We see this throughout the Old Testament. Altars were built by Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Saul to honor God at the place they encountered Him in some way, shape, or form.

As you think about your own experiences with God, and remembering that spiritual encounters can be through interactions with people, as well as through situations or experiences, do you remember where those meetings with God happened to you? I’ve seen evidence of God’s presence in the Rocky Mountains and on High Plains pastures. When He speaks through people, I’ve encountered God in a poor, rural community in Mississippi and on the 16^th Mall Ride in downtown Denver. God might speak to you in the midst of a terrible accident or tragedy, through the death of someone close to you, or through a birth, wedding, or other celebration. It might be through an experience in your family business, or an encounter with God far away from your work.

As you reflect on your spiritual life, in what locations have you encountered God? What events in your life would you commemorate in a profound way? Where would you build your altar?