Ok! So I am still on day 2 of the 1st week in this 6 week study. It may take me way longer than 6 weeks to complete but, I suppose the good thing is that I am growing closer to my God. Have you ever had a special place? Maybe it is the one you remember picnicing with your parents for the 1st time, fishing with grandparents, a tree house someone special built for you, or maybe it is a place where you met your spouse, or where he proposed. God wants us to find that place with Him in our hearts. Keep Him close so that, we "...remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty."(Psalm 91:1 amp) This should be a place that is only for you and God. "The secret place is reserved for God's children who have invited Jesus Christ to live in their hearts as their personal Lord and Savior. And even then, it's reserved for only the ones who desire it with their whole being. It's the depth of Jesus" (VF pg 10) Have you ever been there? It is an indescribable, mysterious place where you meet the face of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. There is a sense of overwhelming joy, peace, and humbleness that you want more of once you have experienced it. If you haven't you can! Cindy refers to 1 Cor. 2:7 where Paul talks about "secret wisdom". Paul then says that we can understand God's truth because of the Spirit living in us. In 1 Cor. 2:12 Paul says, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." Wow! Really, we can understand what God has given us?!?! Wouldn't that mean that we are growing closer to him? Why would we want to grow closer to Him and go to that special place?
1 We want stability in our lives. Psalm 91:1 (amp) "[She] who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty!" (VF pg 11) As I was typing out this verse for like the 5 time it occured to me...hmmm! "fixed under the shadow" what happens if you are under the shadow of a tree? It moves!!! The only way it doesn't is if you are standing close to the trunk and in the heat of the day you will just about have to be wrapped around the trunk in order to stay in its shadow. Maybe if we, mainly I, stayed wrapped to His trunk life wouldn't be so unstable. I'm also thinking that the trunk is the most stable part of the tree and when it gets stormy where would I want to be, on a branch? out on a limb? I may be earthly crazy but it makes sense to me to hold on to that trunk!!!
2 We want to rest in God's peace instead of living in turmoil. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdend, and I will give you rest" Matt. 11:28, NIV I believe there is a lullaby about rocking a baby. I believe that there is a cradle, a place where we feel safe and peaceful in the arms of our Savior. This is a cradle that won't break and that we won't fall out of.
3 We want others to see Jesus in our life. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven" (Matt 5:16, AMP) We want others to come to know Christ as their Savior. I am sure we can all agree on that. But what do they see in us? Do they see the love, kindness, and goodness of Christ in us? I think that is what he is talking about here. Live our lives so that others will praise Him and recognize Him in us.

How do we go there? (that secret place) How did the disciples do it? Did they need to get other stuff done before they followed Him? Did they follow without delay? Did they wait for a more opportune time to leave with our Lord? Did they feel they didn't know Him well enough to follow Him? or Were they willing to put everything else aside and follow Him? I know there are times in my life where I put other stuff in front of Him, or delay, or think well God it really isn't a good time for me, or God I don't know enough about you to share your word with someone or speak up in a class, however, I also know there have been times that He has called and I have answered, "Yes, LORD!" Wow! How sweet those times were...I urge you not to waste time thinking you don't know Him well enough or there will be a better time. No time like the present and there is no time like being in His presence!!! My prayer this week is that we continue to meditate on the secret place. Finding that time to sit at His trunk and hold on. I know we are going on a ride. It may be rocky, may be windy or rainy, but we will never know it if we are resting in the shadow of the Almighty!!! I look forward to growing closer and experiencing more of His peace and joy. Hope you are too!!!