The Secret Place

 There is a place. A very special place. One unmolested by the masses. Hidden. Isolated. Tucked away from high traffic areas. Many walk right by it not even noticing it is there. A beautiful place. An exciting place, but one not frequented as often as entertainment spots. It is often overlooked in favor of Six Flags, Disney World, and destination vacations. The scenery is every bit as comparable to a mountain view, an oceanic panorama, a lakeside lounge chair, or a trip to the Botanical Gardens. 

This special secret place is free to all. No admission. You do not even have to have a reservation. No waiting lists or lines. Free access to all at anytime night or day. 

I just visited that place. In fact, I went twice this morning. Here is the other interesting detail. There are multiple locations around the world. You can find this special spot in every country around the world. There are multiple in every state. They are not hard to find if you are looking for them. 

But when you pray, go into your inner room and close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. [Matt 6:6]

Some call the secret place the prayer closet. In our passage it is referred to as the inner room. Some translations use the secret place wording. 

I say is an exciting place because God encounters happen there. What is more exciting than meeting and experiencing God in life transforming ways. Nothing can compare to that. 

I say more beautiful than destination vacations because in the secret place God reveals Himself. Like Moses, we may find ourselves asking God to show us more of Himself and His glory. You can read about that encounter with Moses in [Exodus 33:18]. You can also read about the glory of God filling the Temple in [II Chronicles 7:1-3]. There is nothing more breathtaking than the glory of God. Nothing more thrilling and awe-inspiring than visions from Him and of Him. 

I say it is a place with multiple locations because in my private life, I have a secret place back in my home office in Runaway Bay, I have a secret place in the parsonage next to the church, I have my office at the church, and the prayer room located just off the sanctuary. You have your own prayer closets I am sure. 

Sadly, prayer closet secret places get overlooked and abandoned. People are so busy. There are many occasions when distractions come when I am praying at the church, especially in the middle of the day. A text comes, an email arrives, the phone rings and on occasion somebody stops by to visit. A true prayer closet is a place where you can get away from all those things for the purpose of seeking God. I just did not long ago. I sought Him about some new direction in ministry and the ever recurring burden for revival in America and at Spring Creek. My how the time passed when it was just the two of us in communion. 

In this busy society, it is imperative we slow down and enter the secret place consistently. We need to be still and know that He is God. [Ps 46:10] We must develop the discipline of going to the prayer closet to refuel and get revived. Removing all other distractions of company, television, phones, and tablets to learn more of Him and to petition for His help. 

There is no place in the world that can compare to the secret place. Wherever yours is, I hope you frequent there often.