“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” - Hebrews 3:13

The Process:

I don’t really have a hard time remembering the times that I have sinned. In fact, they usually seem to be on a replay system in my mind. However, what I do forget about is God’s truth and how the Gospel and His grace have redeemed me from my sin.

So many times I am surrounded by the constant reminders of how I have failed, or how I am not enough. Just like the writer of Hebrews states these negative reminders or influences can cause our hearts to grow hard. It is into these areas that Satan so often sows his seeds of discouragement, his lies that erode our souls.

The truth and beauty of the Gospel of Christ restores us. Amidst the chaos of our world and friction of our sin, God’s truth must come. It is for this reason that the writer of Hebrews urges us to exhort one another every day. Why everyday? Because we have the tendency to forget God’s truth and only hear lies, we only see failure instead of grace. Our hearts tend to wander and get lost, but the Good Shepherd restores us.

The practice of praying for this renewed perspective, for accepting this truth, will always be something we struggle with embracing. We are in need of constant reminders of truth while we sojourn here on earth. One of the best tools that I have found to help me pray and apply truth has been building altars. No, not literally. You won’t see a bunch of rocks in front of my condo. However as you go around our house and my office, you will see pieces of remembrance. Pieces that are symbolic and not only serve a function but act as reminders.

In ancient times, they would commemorate the acts of God by building an altar at that location as a testimony of how God worked in the situation. We have drifted away from such practices. We tend to go from thing to thing and in our transient culture we need reminders of God’s truth around us.

When it comes to remembering God’s truth I need all the help I can get, which for me, means incorporating as many of my 5 senses as I can. Can I build something as a reminder, can I create something that symbolizes what God has done, can I find symbols of God’s truth. Triggers of the Gospel, grace and mercy instead of guilt and shame.

The Exercise:

What are the biggest areas that you tend to forget God’s truth?

What is something that can remind you of this truth in your life?

Have a time of dedication, that this item would be an intentional reminder of God’s truth.

How can you surround yourself with reminders of grace?