Listen

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will dwell secure, because he will surely become great throughout the earth; he will become one of peace.

Micah 5:4-5a

Think

The sign outside the door says, “Please remove your shoes, you are about to step onto hallowed ground.” The room is dimly lit by candles. There is soft chanting rhythmic music playing in the background. There are no chairs, only large stuffed pillows covering a good portion of the floor. Every space of the walls is filled with newsprint and the newsprint is filled with bright colored writings and pictures. It feels incredibly peaceful, and in fact, there is a deep sense of being on hallowed ground.

This prayer room was created by an amazing group of young people after a significant tragedy happened in their lives. As a response to their growing sense of unpredictability in the world, they created a space of peace. A safe space where they could go and pray for themselves, for others, for the world. A space where they felt the loving arms of God embrace them. There may be no greater way to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child than to create spaces for ourselves and others to feel God’s peace and love.

Brian Prior

Pray

Loving God, prepare me this day to create space to fully embrace the peace that can only come from you. Amen.

Go

My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For this day, I know I am a beloved child of God.