Holy Space

The Angel of the Lord (seems that is a title which begs to be capitalized) met Zechariah in the sanctuary - an inner portion of the temple that could be entered only by a priest because it was holy.

Holy means "to be set apart for the service of God."  The sanctuary was a holy space, and in this holy space God set in motion the divine plan for the redemption of creation. "Zechariah," the angel said, "Elizabeth will bear a son and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit."  A divine announcement in a holy space.

This child, to be named John (God is gracious) was to grow in the womb of a barren woman.  God creates in Elizabeth a holy space where her prayers were to answered, where a prophet would grow, where the divine plan could literally take form. 

John will become God's holy space among God's people, reminding them of the God who has remembered Israel, and carving out a space - a holy space - for Israel to become a part of the divine plan just now being revealed.

Advent is the perfect time to carve out a holy space in your days, in your prayers, in your family time so you too might prepare yourself for the coming Savior.  Press to the side all the other things which clamor for your attention, clear out the 'musts' and 'shoulds' and open a space for the Word of God to come into your life.  When your thoughts and heart are a holy space for God's work in you, all the other preparations of this season are but window trimming.