Let’s start the new year with our Tending the Holy Thursdays by exploring the practice of creating sacred space.
Sacred space can be both external and internal and is a pause, place and/or position where we can find God and ourselves.
Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.
Joseph Campbell
Each month on my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. Today we will discuss the types and why we need sacred space. Next week external spaces will be shared and we’ll end with ways to create more internal space on the last week.
As usual I wrote a free download to accompany this study, titled “10 Tips for Creating a Sacred Space at Home,” with suggestions for forming a space in your home and even some blessings for your area. You can get this PDF at no cost by clicking on the button at the end of the post. It is my hope and prayer that this series and the download will enhance your walk with God.
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Let’s discuss and ponder sacred space in our lives this month.
What is Sacred Space?
A space is usually a defined area – in our homes and environment and even in our schedules and hearts where we experience God in a deeper way. It is a place that holds meaning or become memorable and special in our life journey and spiritual growth.
A sacred space is an area dedicated to God and our faith. It can be a space for rituals, prayers, slow reading and just being with the Lord.
This special place provides insight and perspective to all the other aspects of our lives and helps us realign our calling as beloved children of God.
Sacred space can be a corner of a room, a church, a forest or garden, and even within yourself.
I think the secret to creating this special place is to actively seek it, to designate it, and then honor it with time and prayer. It is a sanctuary for quiet and renewal. A safe haven to express your deepest needs and dreams. An invitation to be ourselves as God created us to be.
Why Sacred Space?
Having a sacred space inspires, renews, and feeds our faith. Coming apart from the noisy world we find quiet and peace to hear God and our own voices.
A sacred space soothes our spirits in the shelter of the arms of God.
[Tweet “A sacred space soothes our spirits in the shelter of the arms of God.” Jean Wise]
In our noisy world, busy schedules, and chaotic lifestyles, finding a quiet place – a sacred place – sometimes seems impossible. We long for peace, solitude, and a space to be with God. Our hearts yearn for God’s intimate presence so we can hear him, be with him, know him.
We need to be intentional in today’s world to seek a place apart externally and internally. In our busy lives what a blessing to have a nook to notice and connect with God.
Each morning I sit quietly in contemplative prayer in my sacred space. I close with these words:
Lord, cleanse my negative emotions that only you can remove. Take away my jealousies, pride, fear and prejudices that draw me away from you and lead me closer to you in love.
I know in the safety, peace, and structure of that spot, I can let down my defenses, my ego and my excessive internal chatter to be with God. I hear him. I experience him. I know him.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
Frederick Buechner
“God Himself is called Place, for He encompasses all things, but is not encompassed by anything.
~Philo of Alexandria
“Wisdom sits in places.”
~Apache proverb
“The soul isn’t designed to be cluttered. It longs for space to taste beauty. To breath. It’s always wanted what God intended for me…
Making room for spiritual whitespace takes us on a journey to awaken our hearts to God again.”
Bonnie Gray
I love that last quote about a journey to awaken our hearts to God. I hope this series stirs up within you a desire to create spiritual space in your life and heart for the Lord.
Don’t forget I created a free download to accompany this topic called “10 Tips for Creating a Sacred Space at Home,” You can get this PDF at no cost by clicking the button below.
What do you think about creating sacred space in your life? How would it help you experience God?
Hi Jean! I have a couple of places in my home that I like to pray. I feel much more at peace when I’m able to sit the quiet in those spaces. Not always possible of course, but I love it when I can.
I do like the prayer you have here, about ‘cleansing my negative emotions.’ Such a great way to offer up what can hold me away from his presence.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Ceil
Isn’t it amazing, Ceil, how certain places we seem to snuggle into the spirit quicker. I have several people comment about that prayer – I almost didn’t include it but “something” lead me to write it out here and that SOMETHING/SOMEONE knew what he was doing. LOL Have a wonderful week.
Love the prayer you wrote for entering a sacred space, which is included in your 10 tips. I plan to copy that prayer and keep it inside my quiet time notebook. Preparing the mind and spirit will surely impact the quality of my time with God. Thank you for all your time and effort, Jean, that went into creating that helpful packet.
Thanks Nancy. I love that we can share heartfelt prayers with one another. The idea of pondering sacred spaces in my live and I hope in yours too, helps me open up to God in new ways. I feel like I am hearing him on a new frequency. Have a good week!
Sacred space is a wonderful idea. We all need mental and physical space to recharge and regroup, and most importantly to spend time with our Heavenly Father. Thanks so much for this insightful and encouraging reminder. Thanks also for stopping by my blog for Ceil’s interview. It’s great to meet you! 🙂
Hi Karen so good to connect. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Isn’t Ceil the greatest? I am been so blessed to get to know her through our writing and blogs. And now I know you too. Have a wonderful blessed weekend.
I had a sacred space in our spare room before my son moved in with us last August. Right now, I have to be content with the inner sacred space, of simply calming down and contemplating God.
Blessings, Jean!
As I wrote to Lisa, I really think creating that internal space is more important than the external one though both help me center. I am learning more and more and value more and more that internal sense of peace and presence. Have a great weekend, Martha.
I still don’t have a dedicated space in my home for my sacred space. Maybe one day I will do that! But I do have certain areas where I meditate, where I do Bible study, etc. It does make a difference.
If you have a designate area to do Bible study I think that IS your sacred space. Doesn’t have to be fancy. I really think the internal space is the key though – carrying that center of peace and presence with us into every place and situation. That is what I am working on. Have a wonderful weekend, Lisa!