Advent 9 – Creating Sacred Space
By Anne Le Tissier
I love the idea of taking timeout in Advent to focus on the awesome truth of Immanuel – God with us. My good intentions, however, invariably fail with the busyness of the season. Rather than praying more often I can end up praying less or become so behind with reading an Advent book that I’m still mulling on it mid-January!
While the Bible doesn’t teach us to mark this season, making time to be with Jesus is a gift to relish and an intrinsic focus of celebrating his birth. Creating a sacred space can therefore inspire us to pause for five minutes or thirty and enjoy being present to his presence amid Christmas commitments and preparations. What’s more, pausing to pray in a sacred space is something we do find in Scripture.
Before Jesus was born, the Jerusalem Temple was the sacred space on earth where God’s Spirit dwelt among his people in the Most Holy Place of its sanctuary. Famed for its stunning architecture and exquisite decor, the Temple itself inspired awe and devotion as worshippers offered sacrifices, made vows and donated offerings. But there were also set times for morning and evening prayer, announced across the bustling courts by the sound of a magrephah, possibly an organ-like instrument, whose persistent tone interrupted activity, calling God’s people to pray.
If we’re struggling to find time in this busy season to enjoy being with God, we might benefit from our own magrephah. This daily call to our sacred space could be an alarm sounding, the front door closing as children leave for school or the daily walk with the dog. What’s important is that it excites us to make space to draw close to God no matter how busy we are.
Back in the Temple, everyone knew where to be still when the magrephah sounded; within the sanctuary, on the steps outside, or in one of the designated courts for priests, men, women and gentiles.
Where might we create our sacred space which subdues activity to focus on Immanuel? On a favourite chair perhaps, in a corner filled with scatter cushions or beside a window with a view that connects us with God’s creation. Lighting a candle, reminiscent of the lampstands in the Temple sanctuary, may help focus our thoughts and emotions on God. Candlelight in mid-winter can also remind us of the light of life Jesus carried into the world, prompting prayers in our sacred space filled with hope, joy and peace. For colder days we might reserve a particular rug or scarf to use as a prayer shawl. I also keep a basket in my sacred space for ready access to my Bible, journal, pens etc. This stops me wasting precious time hunting for something! Is our place of prayer quiet when we want to come to it? Is it suitably warm and comfortable without sending us off to sleep? Can we ignore our phone? And if it’s somewhere outside, where can we go when it rains?
The more we use our sacred space to enjoy God’s presence through prayer and his Word, the greater our sense of peace and poise in the busyness, loneliness or heartache of this season, which in turn, inspires adoring worship.
How would creating a sacred space nurture closer relationship with Jesus? What might be your magrephah? What creative elements to a sacred space would excite you to spend time there each day with your heavenly Father?
Dwell
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