Look at the history of the Egyptians and the role they played for the Israelite people. The most famous story regarding the Egyptians is about how the Egyptians enslaved the Jewish people which sparked the Exodus. Apart from that, time after time we see how Egypt was a place of shelter for certain people. During times of famine, Abraham and Jacob found shelter in Egypt. Joseph, though sold as a slave in Egypt, was practically made governor. Now we read on how Jesus along with His mother and Joseph are told to flee into Egypt to be sheltered from Herod’s attempt to kill Him. Egypt is seen as a place where the children of God go to be saved from destruction. But as for us Christians, the Church has become that salvific place where we run to for shelter against the onslaught of temptations and sins.
But an important question comes up, is this building the only place where we are sheltered from our enemy? Do you have your own Spiritual Egypt? Or are we even able to have a place to consider as our place of spiritual safety? There is one thing which is important to note: In the same way that we come to this building, the Church, to receive certain Sacraments, such as Baptism and Eucharist, we should all try and bring the Church back to our own homes so that we will be able to grow closer to God and have a shelter from sin and temptation within our home. One thing that was shown in the previous liturgical season is the emphasis on how every single one of us is the Church. We are little Churches that come together in this building to partake in the Holy Sacraments that are given through the big Church, i.e. this building.
Therefore, as a little Church, do you have a certain place where you can go to recuperate spiritually? Specifically, do you have a room that has been set aside for the sole purpose of meditation and prayer? Some of us may have enough space in the house to dedicate an entire room for prayer alone. But for those who are unable to do so, having even a small corner of the bedroom, i.e. a Prayer Corner, is sufficient as well. In this place of worship, there should be icons or at least the Cross, a Bible, and a candle. That place should not be used for any other purposes except to pray.
One important advice about this is that we must understand that this does not replace family prayer, but rather it should give you the ability to build an intimate relationship with God. A relationship where it is only about your spiritual growth with God. For the Lord spoke through the prophets saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” In this Prayer Corner, we are to pray and meditate daily. The Church has given us many prayers which we can use such as the Lord’s Prayer, or even Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner). St. Macarius will even mention that “There is no need at all to make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out one's hand and say, ‘Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.’ And if the conflict grows fiercer say, ‘Lord help!’ God knows very well what we need and He shows us His mercy.”