Advent Breath Prayer: Making Room

Advent Breath Prayer: Dec 24

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. - Luke 2:7

Inhale: "Making"
Exhale: "Room."

Breathe in and breathe out God's Word throughout the day in short pauses.

Each year on Christmas Eve we gather around God's story of the Christ Child coming into the world. We have journeyed through the season of Advent anticipating the light of God's hope, peace, joy, and love to shine brightly into the darkness.

As we peer into the manger, it is quite an ordinary scene. A threadbare wooden manger - a feeding trough - for there was no room in the inn when Mary began to labor and deliver God's greatest gift into the world. Can you imagine not making room for a weary world to rejoice in this holy night?

On this Christmas Eve reflect upon the meaning of Christ's birth in your journey of faith. Where have you experienced God's hope in your fears; God's peace in your chaos; God's joy in your grief; God's love in your brokenness? How will you make room for the Christ Child to nurture your spirit - not just this Christmas - but through the coming New Year?

Dear God, thank you for the gift of salvation we have in Jesus Christ. Open my heart and mind to make room to rejoice in Your ordinary holiness. Amen.

*"O Holy Night" painting by Carson Overstreet