Get Cozy with God – Create a Special Intimate Time and Place
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6-7
My five year old loves getting cozy. Nothing beats us in our pajamas, under our favorite quilt cuddling and reading a book or sipping on a cup of hot chocolate loaded with marshmallows. I admit I look forward to those cozy days probably more than she does. Cuddling is a major perk of your job as a mom! Well, your Father enjoys getting cozy with you even more! God desire is for you to get completely wrapped up in his word. When you immerse yourself in God’s love you’re filled with a sense of tranquility and well being that permeates every facet of your life. God yearns for private time with you and is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, and three-hundred sixty-five days a year. Do you take full advantage of His availability?
In your house there may be a family room, play area, or even a room for your pet, but is there a sacred space dedicated to spending time privately with God? Maybe you don’t have the luxury of having an extra room. What matters is you carve out a sacred space to nurture your spiritual life and get intimate with God.
Don’t underestimate the value of solitary time with the Lord, it’s a crucial contributing factor to your well being. Moms need time alone with God to worship, pray, work through their issues and study His word. Don’t get hung up on the space issue. There’s no need to hire a designer or take out a home equity loan to design your sacred space. This endeavor only requires your personal touch. First, it’s essential to identify a comfortable and uncluttered space in your home. When you create your sacred space keep in mind it should be designed in a manner that allows you to give your undivided attention to the Lord, not the piles of dirty clothes overflowing from the hamper. Where in your home are you most comfortable? What area makes you want to kick back your feet and relax? Maybe that space is your bedroom, a sun room, or a nook in the kitchen. Do you find it relaxing to sit in a well lit area with abundant sunlight? Or is subdued lighting more soothing? Keep these details in mind when choosing your sacred space. Bedrooms, dens, walk-in closets, and even laundry rooms can easily be transformed into a personal space suited to your spiritual quest for private time with God.
Only a few essentials are needed for your sacred ‘God Time’ space:
A Bible, spiritual literature, a notebook, journal, pens, highlighters and anything else that will enhance your devotional time.
Storage baskets for your materials.
A comfortable chair to lounge in and to support your posture.
A table or desk and a lamp sufficient for reading.
A warm blanket and a few comfy pillows nearby for those chilly days.
The purpose of your sacred space is to shut out the rest of the world, kids included and get lost in God. Turn off the television, cell phone, tune out the chatter in your head and turn your attention to your Heavenly Father. Take advantage of this private time to express your joy, fears, to cry out to Him, repent, and fall completely in His arms. I created my sacred space in a little corner of my bedroom. On my desk is my Bible, a journal I write favorite Scriptures in, notepads, pens, index cards, soothing candles, and some of my grandmother’s letters from her own Bible study that are precious to me. It takes little effort to design your sacred space. Simply surround yourself with anything that inspires you to grow closer to God.
Lastly, enforce boundaries to protect and respect this special private place. Clearly communicate to the kids that mom’s sacred space is off limits. Remember this is the one nook in the house that belongs solely to you. If your children are inspired by your sacred space encourage them to create a devotional haven of their own. You may just start a trend!
Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved