my job this summer has taught me many things. things like the importance of alphabetical order, how much sleep deprevation sucks, and how to back a trailer around a corner. these things all pale in comparison to what i learned in regard to the altar, and it only took me all summer to learn it! wooohooo!
being a "church kid" i grew up having a familiarity with altars. the idea of altars is widespread throughout the bible. it's a place to lay burdens down, offer sacrifices, sing praises and, most importantly, commune with our God. there's one in virtually every church i've ever attended, but i can't say that i really ever took advantage of their power.
one of my jobs this summer was to be a part of making the "concert of prayer" happen at our projects. i read from a script over a microphone at the back of the worship center. at one point during this time i stepped out and stood in front of our screen and facilitated spoken prayer for the nations. at almost every project i was just the guider of prayer, but i didn't partake in it too often. now, don't get me wrong. i had my time with the Lord, but during this concert of prayer, this sweet time of intimacy with the Spirit, i was very uninvolved. i was more focused on completing my task rather than spending time with my God.
something at our last project was different though. usually that time in front of the screen is the last thing that happens before everyone is dismissed, and that is the time that i leave also, but this time i stayed at the altar, and WHOA! it was powerful. i was so able to lay everything down at that time. it was sweet and pure and wonderful. i never would have thought i would feel such a tug on my heart. there's a reason why altars are mentioned so many times in the bible. the Spirit definitely resides there.
my encouragement to you is to take a gander at the altar available to you. step out of the pew and step up to the altar and call on the Lord. awesome things happen there.
genesis 25:26 - isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
