No More Altars

For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you. Exodus 34:14.

I received shocking revelation on something that I thought was so innocent, but had been robbing me of a deeper relationship with God.  I had altars.  I had altars built by me, that I set before my relationship with God.  An altar is anything you set above and before God.  An altar is a raised structure, person, place or thing used for sacrifice, worship, or prayer.  My biggest altar was one of love and marriage.  For some reason, I was consumed about being married or in a relationship.  Relationships that I should not have entertained, I held on to in hopes of obtaining a love that I so desperately wanted to experience.  God is a jealous God.  Anything placed before your relationship with Him, he will not intrude and his presence will not be there. Where God is not present leaves room for the enemy to come in and settle there.  It’s either of God or the enemy. We know the enemy only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 

Whatever you give more value to than your relationship with God is an altar.  God is not pleased by altars that are not built around and for Him. He ensured us that He would supply all of our needs according to His riches and glory.  Therefore, there is no need to build anything without his presence or guidance. There were clearly some things that I had to work out regarding the altar I built around love and marriage. I had to work on my self-worth.  A relationship does not ensue issues with your self-worth go away, it only magnifies them.  Simply put, the Lord wanted me healed and whole before giving me the desires of my heart.  Our God is a God of order! We need to trust that God will not withhold any good thing from those he loves and are called according to His purpose.  If He withholds that thing (relationship, career, whatever you are waiting on) at this time, it’s because you are not ready.  God wants to be first, because He is Holy, Righteous, and the Only true and Wise God.  If you have not received that thing or desire yet or have failed in your attempts, He is waiting for you to put down that altar that you have built and trust His plan and timing for your life.

God is patiently waiting for you to tear down those altars that you have set above Him!  He will not share His glory.  I heard something very interesting that resonated with me and caused some conviction: “Your sin or your idol is a reflection of what you believe about God”.  I realized that my unbelief, my doubt and lack of faith in God caused me to build altars.  My lack of belief that as a daughter of a King, He will give me the desires of my heart at the right time, was delaying God from manifesting certain promises.  I was causing my own delays with these altars!  God will not step into areas of our lives that we have elevated above Him.  Start to seek Him for wisdom on who and what those altars are. Sometimes pride and self can be an altar. Thinking that we know more than God or we can do certain things on our own without God is an altar.

I’m learning to renounce altars that I have built. It’s pertinent that we tear down altars or we will not see God’s hand on what we are waiting for.  I’m learning to ask God to help me to be obedient to Him and to put Him first. It’s a process, but it is so rewarding. 

Putting God first is living a life of surrender.  Every decision is dependent on what God says and His perfect will. God knows our weaknesses and He reminds us in His word that His strength is made perfect in our weakness!  It is to our advantage to exalt Him in every area in our lives.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.  God is omniscient, He knows everything; therefore, wisdom says to Honor Him and Exalt Him.  He is our Abba Father and He loves us more than anyone ever could.  Trust in God will never be wasted.  He has our best interest at heart. His plans and his will far surpass anything we can concoct on our own. Tearing down altars entails repentance and simply denouncing the altar. Pray and ask God for forgiveness. Decree and declare those altars are broken, in Jesus name!

Trust in the Lord and tear down anything that takes His place!

Leave a comment below on what altars God is asking you to tear down. 

Be Blessed and Be Reborn!