An Invitation to the secret place of prayer

The hidden place is where our roots begin to grow deep. It is an invitation to go deep in your relationship with God. The time you spend with God in the secret place becomes a chamber of encounter with God Almighty.  I am astounded that the God of all creation desires intimacy with his creation; that He longs for relationship; that He pursues you & me, chases after us and calls us to draw near to Him. 
 
Psalm 27:8 says, “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me. And my heart responds, ‘Lord I am coming.’”  This is the call to the secret place.  Let your heart be drawn by His whispers to go with Him, where others don’t see~ into the hidden place.
 
The call goes out to all, but only a few answer the call to enter the secret place.  God’s purpose is not that you will do more for Him but that you will choose to be more with Him. Only by entering the secret place, tarrying awhile before His Presence can you enjoy the most rewarding friendship with God and experience the greatest abundance for His Glory.
 
I invite you to enter into a season of being hidden away with Almighty God; to unite your heart to His; to engage in relationship with Him.  You are invited into a place of peace, refuge, joy, friendship, fellowship, vulnerability, intimacy, and acceptance.  God longs to meet with you.  He desires to speak tenderly to you.  He waits for your response to Him. 

Perhaps you:

• have never prayed before except in times of great need
• do not believe that prayer is effective
• are broken by the pressures of life or disappointments
• have prayed for many years and have not seen the answers you desired
• feel like God is distant and remote
• avoid prayer because you feel ashamed, sinful, or unworthy
• have tried prayer and it didn’t seem to work
• are faithless or feel that you have just a little faith
• the busyness of life has affected your relationship with God
• have had inconsistency with a prayer life
• love to pray and have been one who has enjoyed the secret place of prayer for many years, but you still long for more of God

 
No matter where you are, the Father’s heart is open wide to welcome you to come into the quiet place of prayer.  God receives us just as we are. There are no “prerequisites” to meeting with Him. 
 
Jesus is all about relationship.  This secret place experience is a time to fix your eyes on Jesus as His eyes are fixed on you.  He wants to fellowship with you. 
 
Revelation 3:20 shows us the heart of Jesus. He desires to be with His people. He is not distant.  “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” 
 
This Scripture tells us that Jesus is knocking and calling out “Here I am”.  He doesn’t force His way. He is gentle and tender as He calls.  He loves us.  This isn’t a call to get us alone and then tell us how we have sinned and how horrible we are.  His goal is to get alone with us, so He can tell us how much He is ravaged by us. He desires to pour His love on us. Jesus is so happy that we choose to use our time with Him because He desires relationship.  He doesn’t call us to follow a set of rules, He calls us to be in relationship with Him.  Jesus tells us in this verse that He desires to eat with us, which is a reference to fellowship. 
 
Did you notice that the Scripture doesn’t say, “Here I am.  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door and also follows the 10 commandments, goes to church weekly, loves his neighbor, gives at least 10%, teaches Sunday School, is baptized, has read through the Bible and has memorized 100 verses, etc., etc…….”  NO, Jesus says, “OPEN THE DOOR”.  There is no other requirement to fellowship with Jesus. 
 
Here are a few first steps:
 
1. Say “Yes” to His invitation to come.  “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with me’: and my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.”  Psalm 27:8 (NLT)
2. The next step is to set a time and place to meet with God daily.  My suggestion is that you write it in your planner as an appointment, so the time will not be stolen from you or have your “secret place” time first thing in the morning
3. Pick a time and place:  ____________________________________
4. Commit to this for a certain amount of time.  Do not give up after a week or two. My suggestion is to commit for a period of 60-90 days, until this becomes a habit, something you long for daily.
5. Prepare the secret place.  This place could be your closet, car, living room, etc.  I have a basket that holds all my prayer sheets, journal, pens & highlighters, colored pencils, devotionals, etc.
In your secret place, put these items: 

• Bible
• Journal
• Pen(s)
• Markers or colored pencils for drawing
• Anything else you may want for this time with the Lord
  

​6. Commit to the secret place with an expectant heart; a desire to have an encounter with God.  Start today.  God is waiting. 

Scripture tells us that we will reap from sowing into the secret place.  “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” Galatians 6:9 (Passion Translation). This is a promise of God.  But, remember, like the farmer, it takes an entire growing season before the plants are ready for harvest. 

Stay steadfast, unmovable in your commitment.  A harvest of peace, joy, intimacy, fellowship, wisdom, etc. will come forth.  Let your commitment be greater than any obstacle that comes against this time from:  friends, time, energy, selfish desires, or the enemy who may fill your thoughts with anything else to do or think about to keep you from spending quiet time with the Lord.