Finding A Secret Place
The weather is changing, the leaves are falling, and red cups are back at Starbucks, which means Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner and a New Year is on the horizon. This season more than any other can be the warmest in spite of the cold weather when celebrated with family and loved ones, but it too can be a chilly and brutal reminder of goals unaccomplished, and loved ones no longer here to celebrate these days with us. It’s easy to get swept away in a tidal wave of emotions at the turn of a year full of not only individual, but global change like this one. 2015 has taught me more than any other the importance of having a secret place to go to pour my heart to God.
Matthew 6:6
When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
This year I realized how much I underestimated the importance of designating a place and time to pray and communicate with God. This didn’t come through some guilt trip, but through realizing how much God loves me and desires intimacy with me more than anything.
In the secret place I find my Papa- my loving heavenly father. I find God there waiting to shower me with love through his Holy Spirit, and in being showered with that love, I find myself. I find my identity. In finding who I am, I then learn how to conduct myself in life’s unpredictable circumstances. I am royalty and my Father the King has great plans for me, as He does for every person on this earth (Jeremiah 29:11).
When you know the will of God for your life, you can brave life’s inconsistency, knowing God’s affection for is consistent toward you (Romans 8:39).
Jesus led by example in this, there are so many moments in the bible where you see Him pulling away from the group to pray.
Luke 5:16
But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer.
Mark 1:35
In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.
Matthew 14:23
After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.
Before torture and crucifixion He was strengthened in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45) because He knew God would never leave him. The secret place follows you, just as it followed Jesus, because God’s love can never be taken away. We have to believe when things go wrong, Jesus’ love and presence is always there. When you’re pursuing dreams and promises which lead you down the road less traveled, you can continue in confidence knowing Love will never leave you. Protect and guard your times of intimacy with God, they give you peace and the ability to flourish when things go differently than planned in life. I know they certainly have for me.
Check back next week to see Part 2 of this Series: Me, Myself and I.
Love and Peace Ya’ll!
K.Love