The Secret Place

Have you been feeling a tug on your heart from God? Have you longed to just find His presence and discover clarity and rest? Have you wished you could get away from the stress and business of your day-to-day life? God is calling us into the secret place. This is the place where we are hidden in God, experiencing his comfort and protection. We feel His love and rest in who we are in Him. We have an understanding of our weaknesses, but His strength is so perfect that we find contentment and trust.

Psalm 91:1 ESV “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” In this place, God builds intimacy with us. He answers our cries and speaks words of comfort and belonging. We hear His voice speak to our hearts.

Psalm 91: 14-15 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”

There are so many awesome promises within these verses. God is promising to hear us, deliver us, be with us, and rescue us. That is what we are seeking! We long for His presence as we go through a tough day or a difficult situation. These promises are found in the secret place: the spot where we separate ourself from the hectic and stressful and give ourselves the opportunity to draw close to God. We learn to abide in Him and it makes all the difference. He is our peace! Our lives are brought into perspective and we learn to live in the shadow of His wings. We are conscious of God’s presence and His kingdom as we go about our day. We then experience the peace that surpasses understanding.

So how do you enter the secret place? How do you get your mind to detach from the worry, the urgent, or the everyday? I am sure it is different for different people, but we must learn to pull aside: to withdraw to a still place. We need to learn to quiet our hearts and settle our minds. We must a-tune our ears to hear. The peace of God resides in His presence. Let’s draw near with open hearts. Let’s create a place where we share with God and leave space for Him to speak to us. Let’s be honest with God about our hearts and become available to Him. It will cost you time, but feed your soul immeasurably.

Ephesians 1:17-19 “…Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…”

Here are a couple of prayers right from scripture, that will take you deeper into the secret place. They will train your heart to listen to the voice of your Redeemer. You too can learn to abide in the presence of God.

Psalm 51:6, 10-12 “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

As we enter into the Christmas season, preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s commit to finding Him in the secret place where we lean into His heart. May we experience His presence and know His ways.