Building altars

“So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel.” - Genesis 28:18-19b

As the year comes to a close, many of us take time to look back—sometimes with gratitude, sometimes with questions, and often with a mix of both. 

When you reflect on this past year, you may find moments where God’s goodness was unmistakable…as well as moments where His work was quieter, slower, or only visible in hindsight. 

Scripture is full of moments where God’s people paused to remember what He had done. 

They built altars, set up stones, and marked locations with physical reminders that said, “God met me here. God moved here. God was faithful here.”

In our modern world, we don’t build stone altars in the backyard, but we still need to remember. 

We need practices that help us pause long enough to recognize where God showed up—to let His goodness land in our consciousness and our body in a way that shapes our soul.

Maybe remembering looks like writing down the places you saw God move.

Maybe it’s taking a walk and naming them out loud. 

Maybe it’s sharing your story with a trusted friend, or creating a simple ritual that reminds you of God’s faithfulness.

Whatever form it takes, remembering is more than nostalgia. It’s a way of grounding your faith and reminding you that the God who carried you through this year is the same God who is already going before you into the next.

Take a few moments to pause and notice where God moved in your life this year.

What can you do to help you remember His goodness in a tangible way?