The Secret Place

Jesus told His followers when they prayed, to go into an inner room and close the door. He also told them to pray to the Father who is in secret, and sees what is done in secret. [Matt 6:6] Many people talk the Christian talk in public. These same people do not frequent the secret place. The Father sees. He sees what is done in the secret place. He takes note of the fervent and faithful petitions of those who give soul sweat in the secret place. 

These are the intercessors. They do not get noticed. Their ministry is done in obscurity. While others scurry about in busyness, the intercessors shut to the world out to spend time in the presence of the One who has power to change people, circumstances, churches, communities, and countries. 

The secret place is where the Father waits for His people to seek Him.  It is there that He gives revelation and the sparks of revival are ignited. In that wonderful place God listens. More importantly God acts. He also speaks. The Devil will do anything to keep God's people away from the secret place. Distractions abound. Most are too tired at night to pray. Many are too tired in the morning to do much more than rush through a devotion. They have good intentions to pray in secret, but never seem to get around to it. Life is so busy. The secret place has to be prized and prioritized.

The secret place is where war happens. Where strongholds are torn down. Where the enemy is confronted and withstood in the powerful name of Jesus. It is in this place, battles are won to reclaim prodigals. Battles are fought and won for the lost to be saved. Skirmishes are fought and won over families, friends, and even foes. While many sleep, stalwart soldiers take their watch in secret and pray fervently. These are God's sentries strategically stationed in secret to oppose the evil forces of darkness. You may never know their names, but God sees in secret and His rewards are openly displayed in public. 

The secret place is a solitary place. It is a place where God beckons His followers to come alone. To seek alone. To plead alone. To enjoy God alone. I am not saying that are not times for believers to gather with others to pray. There is certainly a precedent for that. See II Chron 7:14 and Acts 1:14. Those times can never substitute for the private encounters God desires for His people. 

It is appalling how few Christians really spend time alone with God in private devotions. Bibles go unread and unheeded. Prayer is neglected while the enemy advances. Love and passion wane in lieu of religious rituals that rot the soul. The remedy for that is time, and lots of it, spent shut up with God in the secret place. May God stir all to make that a priority.