Sacred Space - Our Sanctuary Within

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Sacred spaces are not places that can be cluttered with chaos and noise.

 

Sacred spaces—or quiet places, are hard to find in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That’s because sacred spaces are not places that can be cluttered with chaos and noise—albeit internal or external. They are places where the only purpose is spiritual and personal reflection.

 

A place all your own— inside or outside your home, holding a deeply meaningful object, experiencing the peace of your surroundings. In essence, a place where you can disappear from the demands and distractions of everyday life and be alone with God to recharge.
Christian singer Amy Grant puts it this way in her song, I Need a Silent Night.
I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

Have you ever thought of creating a sacred space for yourself? It should be a place far from household activity centers. Not a place for paying bills or reading reports. Not a place associated with shoulds and ought-tos. And not a place with meaningless clutter or anchored with items that make you feel burdened or sad.
Find a very personal place. Some people surround themselves with symbols that help them relax and 'center'—photos, books, inspiring quotes, or a special gift from a beloved someone. Try to find symbols that trigger awareness of how you are seeking God in your life.
Now, ensure you can be comfortable in this space—both with what you're wearing and how you occupy this space. With the space and place set, you can let your mind begin to remember who you are and listen within to God's purpose for you.

You may find it helpful, when getting started, to open your time with a favorite prayer—it can be as simple as quite gratitude for the people you love. If you already have a sacred space, perhaps now is a good time to refresh your space with photos that trigger good memories, special keepsakes, or other images that you think are beautiful or inspirational.
Your sacred place is a place where you can be true to yourself, where you can live what you believe. It’s something you don’t have to share with anyone else. It’s your own holy ground—return whenever needed.


More: what we believe

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• What do I really believe? ► read story

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Originally Posted: Mar 23, 2012

Comments

My sacred place is in my bed early in the morning, under my covers. It is quiet and there are no distractions. I begin to pray when the Holy Spirit wakens me at 3:30, 4:30 or 6:30 a.m. Then I reach for my iPad, delete the day's junk email, then read scriptures from my You Version Bible program! I may roll out of bed about 8:00 a.m. to face my day! If I wake up before 6:30 I usually go back to bed for a couple of hours. Oh, I also check my blog activity, too!