What an incredible thing to consider and experience – an intimate conversational relationship with the creator of the universe! To think that God is waiting for us to be alone with Him so we can know each other and so He can talk with us. WOW! This is my second time through the “Secrets of the Secret Place”. This time I am looking forward to going very slowly, one chapter per week, and doing it with others in The Fellowship – it’s like being on a journey together. These last two chapters reminded me of a daily morning prayer that Dale Fife, a guest speaker several years ago, shared with us. Often since that time, but not necessarily daily, I pray this; “Lord, here I am to walk with you today. Where are we going? What do you want to say to me today?” What would be the result of such a pr ayer? For Jesus – it was leaving Glory; walking on this earth into the lives of and touching all kinds of people from all walks of life that needed to experience the reality and power of His Kingdom; and only doing what His Father told Him – ultimately leading to the cross. For us, the consequence of such a prayer is that He reveals Himself to us; takes us out of the church and into all arenas of life and people to speak volumes of His love, acceptance, forgiveness, and hope to those who need to experience The King and His Kingdom – ultimately leading to our death-of-self only to find true life. How that looks for each of us will be different. I want to grow in my ability to hear and obeying. Where that takes me is a result of a daily decision of making myself available to hear His voice, a willingness to allow Him to lead me, and my desire to be obedient – no matter what.   – Greg

It seems to me that the struggle to have a quiet time –any time with the Lord, requires sacrifice and discipline. I must carve time out of my day to spend with the Father, which means that some other portion of the day has to be eliminated. So what gets cut? Well, I’ve found: nearly everything that’s not relational. I have to ration the amount of time I spend on TV and Internet. It’s too easy to lose hours here or there. But the benefits of conversing and listening to the Father outweigh any sacrifice on my part. His words are life itself and I’ve already seen the fruit budding. My encouragement to others: be ruthless in creating and protecting your quiet times. Allow Jesus to be your intimate confidante and not merely a sometime acquaintance. Then we will see our city changed, our region transformed, our State prosperous, and our Country redeemed. – Ralph

If you have not started reading the book, or feel as if you are to far behind. I would encourage you that you are not to late. The chapters are very small in this book and we are only a few weeks in.  If you are wondering where we are in the book, you can find the reading schedule by clicking here.

The Secret of the Shut Door, does that catch your attention?
In Mt. 6:6 it says: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Matthew 6:6 contains a powerful secret about the where of prayer. There is a guaranteed way to get into God’s presence. There is a sure-fire 100% guaranteed way to have instant intimacy with the Father, and Jesus Himself gave us the key. Jesus gave us this secret in the above verse when He said, “Your Father who is in the secret place.” Jesus is saying, “Your Father is already in the secret place. He has gone ahead of you; He is waiting for you. The moment you get to the secret place, you are in the immediate presence of your Father.

Jesus affirmed this truth twice in the same chapter. He says it the second time in Mt. 6:18, “So that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who see in secret will reward you openly.” Jesus says it twice for emphasis, so we know this word is absolutely certain. Our Father is in the secret place!

Jesus gives us the key to finding this secret place. If your wondering what you must do to place yourself in the secret place, Jesus made it clear. To get there, all you have to do is shut your door.

So what is THE SECRET? Your heavenly Father desires and delights to meet with you in your secret place. You pick the place and He will meet you there.

Hey: Don’t forget the secret: shut your door!

This is a quote from the first of fifty two devotionals in the book.

“I am absolutely convinced the power of heaven is unlocked on earth when we devote ourselves to the secret place of the Most High.”

“One of the best kept secrets of the faith is the blessedness and joy of cultivating a secret life with God. Imagine the sheer delight of it even now. You’re tucked away in a quiet nook; the door is shut; you’re curled up in a comfortable position; the living word of God is laid open before you; Jesus Himself stands at your side; the Holy Spirit is gently washing your heart; your love is awakened as you meditated upon the gracious words of His mouth; your spirit is ignited and your mind is renewed; you talk to Him, and He talks to you in the language of intimate friendship.”

Does it get any better than this?
So check out Secrets and enjoy with new delight the truth that moves you toward greater intimacy with the Lord Jesus!