The Secret Place
By Rev. Denise Much
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
When I was a very little girl I would make a fort at my mother’s feet while she sat at her sewing machine. There was something about making a hideaway close to my mom that was both comforting and adventurous. Mom had a tin filled with used buttons she’d saved, I would spend hours sorting and searching for what I thought were jeweled treasures (rhinestone buttons.) To anyone looking on, my fort didn’t look like anything, no walls but what made it my fort was I sat in my momma’s shadow. Her presence covered me. It was my secret place for all to see.
Through the years as I’ve gotten older I’ve had many secret places. Some have been up a tree concealed by foliage or in the dark, dusty attic or in a field hidden behind tall grass. Each one met a need I had at the time whether that was for privacy or to be secretive or hidden.
Since coming to the Lord, I’ve found my secret place in a favorite chair in the early morning hours. When my house has felt like it’s full and bursting at the seams, I’ve found my secret place under my willow trees. I have a table and chairs and although it is out in the open, it has a feeling of intimacy. I can pray out loud and no one disturbs me.
God has a secret place for all of us. He longs to meet with us there. God doesn’t always call it a secret place. In fact, the word secret doesn’t mean don’t tell but hidden or covered. In Exodus 33: 21 God says to Moses,”… there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” It is in a cleft or chasm or cave in a rock God covers Moses and reveals Himself to him. There is a revelation of God found in the secret place. As we draw closer, He is never indifferent to us, never too busy to meet with us.
God invites us to come closer, to seek Him out, it is a time of intimacy He longs for. In Song of Solomon 2:13b-14, He says, “Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away! O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.”
If you are in Christ, you don’t have to go anywhere, for He dwells within you. Col. 3:3b says “…your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Now I know God is with me and I can pray anywhere or at any time and He hears. But it is for me, my benefit, I need to find a peaceful, hidden place covered by Him. It’s there God whispers His love for me.
Do you have a favorite place you meet with God? I would love to hear from you. You can reach me at swimdevotions@gmail.com.
