Altars in the Home: Inviting God's Presence into Everyday Spaces | Christian Interior Design
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- Feb 10
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 6
Have you ever stopped to consider what your home is saying? Not with words, but with its very presence—the arrangement of furniture, the books on your shelves, the art on your walls. Our homes tell a story, whether we realize it or not. And as followers of Christ, we have an opportunity to shape that story into one that reflects God’s presence.
In the Bible, altars were places of encounter. They marked moments when people recognized the hand of God and responded in worship. Our homes can be the same—spaces that draw us back to Him, reminding us of His goodness and calling us deeper into His presence.
But in the chaos of daily life, it’s easy to drift into autopilot, letting distractions take center stage. We wake up, go through our routines, and collapse into bed without realizing how much of our environment shapes our spiritual lives. The good news? We can shift our focus with intentionality. That’s what Altars in the Home is all about.
The first altar in the Bible
I wrote about this in my Altars Contemplative Guide that's for sale at my website shop: "Reading Genesis 4:3-7 “Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk. God spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.”
This offering is the first of its kind in the Biblical narrative. It teaches us something very important: There seems to be a link between not giving God our very best and sin lying in wait. Or, in other words, the very act of giving an acceptable offering on God’s altar can help you master sin. Note God’s warning to Cain and take it as your own today: Sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce. You’ve got to master it.
An altar reveals where a person’s affection lies."
What Does Your Home Say About Your Heart? Christian Interior Design that Matters
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). What we treasure finds a home in our lives, often without us realizing it. If someone walked into your home today, what would they say you treasure most?
Is your Bible visible, or is it hidden under a pile of things to do “someday”?
Is your home filled with distractions that pull you away from time with God?
Do your walls reflect truth, beauty, and faith, or are they covered with things that add noise to your mind?
Hands-down the best decision my husband and I ever made was selling our TV and buying a projector instead. Both of us grew up in families where meals in front of the TV was normal and it did not take long for us to realize that is becoming our normal too. (Balance is key, we still do movies and meals on the couch, but we're trying to not do that every day!) It bugs me when living room furniture faces the TV. It's saying: THIS is the most important thing in this household.
The reality is that every object in our home sends a message. And when we live without intention, our spaces slowly begin to reflect the world rather than Christ.
That’s why setting up intentional altars in our home matters—not just physical places to pray, but spaces that naturally draw our hearts toward Jesus.
Listen to this song while you read on and let the Holy Spirit show you what you need to hear today:
Creating a Space of Worship
Throughout Scripture, altars were built as a response to what God had done. After Jacob encountered the Lord in a dream, he set up a stone and declared, “Surely the Lord is in this place” (Genesis 28:16).
What if we began to cultivate that same awareness in our homes?
Consider these simple yet powerful shifts:
Moving your Bible to a place where you see it daily
Playing worship music in the background as you go about your day
Creating a dedicated space for prayer and reflection
Replacing wall decor with Scripture or art that stirs your heart toward God
These are small acts, but they have the power to shape the atmosphere of your home. When we intentionally set up our environment to remind us of God, we create spaces where worship becomes second nature.
The Home as a Place of Encounter
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the lost coin:
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’” (Luke 15:8-9)
This parable is often taught in the context of salvation, but consider this: The woman was deeply aware of what was lost in her home. She knew something was missing, and she took action.
What if we applied the same principle to our spiritual lives?
What has been lost in your home?
Has time with God been replaced by endless scrolling or TV shows?
Has the peace of Christ been pushed out by busyness and stress?
Just like the woman in the parable, we can light a lamp—we can take inventory of our home and ask, What is leading me closer to God, and what is pulling me away?
This is what the free workbook helps you explore. Take time to reflect, pray, and make small changes that bring you back to the heart of worship. You’ll find it linked at the end of this post —download it today and start reclaiming your home as a place of encounter.
A Home that Welcomes Jesus
Imagine Jesus walking through your front door. Where would He be drawn to sit? Would He find a home filled with peace, or a space cluttered with distractions? Would He sense His presence welcomed, or would He feel like a visitor?
Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Jesus desires to dwell with us—not just in church, but in our homes, in our daily routines, in the way we live every moment.
So let’s take a step today. Let’s invite Him into our space, not just in theory but in practical, tangible ways.
Here’s one simple challenge:
Choose one thing in your home that you can change today to draw closer to God. It could be moving your Bible, setting up a prayer corner, or playing worship music as you cook dinner.
At the end of the day, our homes are where we live. All of life can be worship to God (even working, eating, fellowship with loved ones, and relaxation). So, it is not about a home makeover or buying new stuff. It is just choosing to be intentional with what you have and ask the question: Is this room directing my gaze to Christ?
It's more than Christian interior design. Because when we build a home that honors God, we’re not just decorating a space—we’re building an altar. Let me know in the comments below: Have you ever seen the areas in your home as altars? What is the significance of this perspective shift? The journey to creating a home of worship starts with one step. And if you’re ready to go deeper, the free workbook PDF is here to guide you. Download yours at this link:
Comments