What’s on Your Altar?

When the LORD first blanketed my heart with the idea of hosting a retreat, I have to be honest. . .  I was a tiny bit apprehensive.

What if no one shows up?  I questioned the LORD.  I almost felt like Kevin Costnar in the movie, “Field of Dreams”…if you build it they will come… *grinning*.

In February of this year, Marsha Harwood, devotional writer, wife, mom, and grandma (not to mention her various other ministries), and I met in real life. A  little restaurant in North Carolina called “Brother’s Cafe`” was the chosen place.  My life has not been the same since.   What I felt sitting at that table with Marsha was a feeling I wanted to share with every single blogging heart I knew!  The LOVE of Jesus Christ—manifest in the flesh of another!

The Bloggers Retreat (I know you are tired of hearing about it by now), was more than just a retreat to learn about blogging.  It became a retreat for the soul.  A place where sisters, perhaps a bit weary of heart, from various walks of life came together and under one roof, worshiped God!  Not everyones style was the same, yet there was such a love and unity of heart that no one minded, nor noticed if I praised a little louder (*grinning*), or said “Amen” as I do in my home church.  It was in fact titled, “Free to be Me!”

We were, and still are, free to be what God has created us to be.  Daughters of the King!  Each with our own unique and very much loved personality!  I just LOVE that about Him!

The Holy Spirit moved in a powerful way!  The prayer room was set up and we had a sweet time of prayer and devotion to the LORD before the retreat began! (YOU really should have been there for that!)  We were blessed with awesome worship music and the Holy Presence of the Almighty God was THERE!

During the retreat, we had a sweet time in the altar.  These anointed times reminded me so much of our “Sisters Retreats” at the cabin in North Georgia!  Where, after supper we would gather around the fireplace, read, sing, worship, share and then pray.  At our “Sisters Retreat’s, this sometimes lasted well unto midnight.  We didn’t mind though, for where the Spirit of the Lord is…there is freedom! (2 Corinthians 3:17)

The altar is a significant part of our lives as Christians.  Many of us have in our homes, a preferred place to pray and meet with the Lord.  That, my dear girls is your altar.  The place where you and I lay it all out before Him.  The place where He meets with us. 

The altars in your church and my church are no different.  They may look different,  some may be padded kneelers, or the “old timey” altars of solid wood, or some may be a simple banister railing where you can go and stand or kneel.  But make no mistake, the altar in your home is just as important as the altar in your church.  I have visited various Churches over the years and I always get such a blessing when I see the altars being used.

Tears unashamedly flow freely at the altar.  All our masks are laid aside and we become real before the Father as He lovingly peels away the layers of pain, hurt, guilt and sin.  As the prayers from our hearts go out to Him–He meets us in our point of need. Every. Single. Time.  At home or at church,  He is there.  Everywhere….all the time.

My brother-in-law made this comment one day about their tremendous times in the altar: 

Altar calls aren’t reflective of one style of worship; they are a channel where the hungry, weary, broken and bruised heart can “tarry in” the presence of a loving, caring and ever present God!     ~Juno Douglas, Pastor

Tarry.   Linger.   Stay until you hear from heaven.  As you get up and go about your daily living, keep the attitude of a prayerful heart.  Make an altar of prayer wherever you go.  An extra altar time I am blessed with is when I am driving.   Without any other interruptions, I am able to talk to Him, hear from Him and worship Him with all my heart!  No matter how long it takes to get your answer from the Father, keep praying.  Those prodigal children?   Hand them over to Christ at the altar.  Leave them with Him.  Soon, you will find that they will be searching for an altar to kneel and pray.

What’s on your altar?  Is it children?  A spouse? Financial needs?  Worries of life?  Whatever the trouble, heartache or need—take it to the altar.  Today.

Father, I am so thankful that You met me at that altar all those many years ago and You’ve never left my side.  Thank You, Father for the assurance we have that YOU hear every prayer–no matter where it is prayed, if our hearts are tuned into You–You hear. Thank You Father for the answers that we don’t yet have.  I know they are coming!  Help us to persevere when we don’t see the answer right away.  Teach us, mold us and create us to be the vessels You can use to bless others!  For it is Your will that we desire to do! In the Holy Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ we pray—believing for the answers! ~Amen!

© The Knightly News 2009

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