I’ve been reading in Genesis for a few weeks now, and as I recently graduated, I can’t help but notice and take the encouragement of the altars that were built to the Lord. When Noah stepped off the ark, he immediately built an altar. Every time Abraham moved to a different place, he too, immediately built an altar. Scripture records Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, and more, all building altars to the Lord.

Why is building an altar even important? It was done “immediately” by these people to quickly acknowledge God in each new place or season they were in. It was done to set up a precedent of worship. It was done to ensure people would come before and revere the Lord.

As I sit just a few days after graduation, still trying to figure out what the heck happened on May 6, I’m reminded to build an altar in this season. I don’t know what is before me, but I know Who is paving my path. He deserves my acknowledgement, reverence, worship, attention, focus, admiration, love, and trust.

As my husband and I were walking the dog last night, I realized I was a lot less cautious than I normally would have been if I was walking alone. I am always aware of what is going on around me when I walk by myself, especially at nighttime. But I noticed my husband looking around and paying attention to other people on the street and being aware of his surroundings as I happily walked with one hand in his, and the other holding a leash.

I thought about how I sometimes walk throughout life as if I am walking alone in the dark and that I need to be really cautious. I have to make safety plans and I run different scenarios in my head to ready myself for whatever may come. But as I walked with my husband last night, I was totally at peace. I didn’t think about checking my surroundings. I felt safe.

I recently finished reading Revelation and I was left off with Christ as our Bridegroom. What that means and how we can live like He truly is our Husband is topic for another day since it can fill pages on its own, but as I walked with my earthly husband, I got a greater understanding of how I am supposed to live post-graduation, even though I don’t have a job pertaining to my degree, a 5-year plan, or any idea of what is going to take place in the rest of 2016.

As a graduate who walks with the Lord, I must create an altar in this new season of life—acknowledging and praising Him for all He’s brought me through thus far, and also laying every desire on the altar of fire, allowing Him to purify them and to do with me as He pleases. I must walk safe and secure, not doubting my own strength or constantly looking around, but knowing my life is in the perfect place when it’s in His safe and strong hands.