Altering the Altar: A Call Back to Surrender
Before we can rebuild anything, we have to understand what it truly means.
What is an altar?
In the Old Testament, altars were physical places of worship. They were sacred spaces where people would meet with God. They were built to offer sacrifices, give thanks, repent, or mark a moment where God had shown up. Altars were holy ground, often made of stone or wood, set apart for encountering His presence.
But today, in the New Testament and in our everyday lives, the altar is not built with our hands.
It is built in our hearts.
It is the unseen place where we surrender.
Where we lay down our desires, pride, plans, pain, and say:
“Lord, have Your way.”
The altar is no longer a location. It is a posture.
It is wherever we fully offer ourselves to Him, without conditions.
A Word That Made Me Pause
Today in church, my pastor said something that shook me a little.
“Every altar must be to God, not to comfort, not to culture, not to ourselves. To God.”
That hit home. Because there have been times in my life where I thought I was surrendered, but I had actually built altars to people’s approval, past pain, fear of failure, or even perfectionism.
And the hard truth is, anything we place on the altar that is not surrendered to God will slowly become a burden.
Reflection: Have I Truly Surrendered?
We all build altars.
The question is, who is on it?
What false altars have I let form in my heart?
What old altars have I kept standing out of fear or habit?
This message reminded me that God does not just tear down for the sake of tearing down.
He breaks the old to build something holy.
And to rebuild, I have to let go.
Let go of the old way of sacrificing.
Let go of doing things my way.
Let go of clinging to what is familiar instead of what is fruitful.
A Living Sacrifice
The sacrifice God desires now is not animals or ritual.
It is me.
My time. My thoughts. My desires. My obedience.
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
This scripture always feels so personal to me. Because I know what it is like to try and live life on my own strength. To serve, to show up, and still feel spiritually dry.
But life happens at the altar.
Not just when I attend church or check off a devotional.
But when I surrender my entire life to the One who gave His for me.
A Few Scriptures That Anchored Me Today
“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”
Hebrews 10:10
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
Acts 3:19
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”
James 4:7–8
A Final Word From My Heart
This was not just a message for Sunday. It was a wake-up call for my intentions and priorities.
I needed the reminder that I am the temple now.
That the altar lives inside me.
And that God is waiting not for perfection, but for surrender.
It is time to tear down what was built on fear, pride, or pain and rebuild with grace, trust, and truth.
To stop offering pieces of myself and give God the whole thing.
Because the altar belongs to Him.
And when He is on it, we are set free.