The Power of Remembering: Building Altars of Gratitude in Everyday Life

Gratitude is not just a feeling; it’s a way of seeing the world. The more we stop to remember what has already been given, the more peace and strength we find for what lies ahead. In Scripture, remembrance was not only spoken but also built, touched, and seen.

After moments of divine help or victory, people often set up a small altar made of stones. Not to worship the stones themselves, but to say, “Here, God met me.” Each stone became a story. Each story became a reason to trust again.

When we forget to remember, gratitude fades and so does hope. But when we choose to pause, to look back with thankfulness, life changes shape. The ordinary becomes sacred.

How to build your own “altar of gratitude”

• Choose a moment worth remembering: a time you felt protected, healed, or loved.
• Mark it tangibly: it could be a small stone, a note, or even a photo placed somewhere visible.
• Return to it often: each time you see it, whisper a simple “thank You.”
• Let it multiply: as you add new reminders, you’ll see how many ways grace has visited your life.

These small acts of remembrance train the heart to notice. Gratitude is not something that happens to us but it’s something we practice, one moment at a time.

Inspired by 1 Samuel 7:12 – “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”

Watch: The Transformative Power of Gratitude

In this short talk, psychologist and author Dr. Robert Emmons explains how practicing gratitude can deeply change our mental, emotional, and even physical wellbeing.

We’d love to hear from you. What small “altar” of gratitude have you built in your own life? Share it below and help inspire others to remember the good.

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