Category Archives: TOPICAL POSTS by SERIES

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That Secret Place, Part 3 of 3

God is in this.

Spending time with God while meditating in His presence enriches our faith journey by developing a closeness with God. During meditation, God informs the mind, enters the heart, and transforms the soul in ways that only He can do. God had a living relationship with Adam and Eve. We, too, can have a living relationship with God. One that is life-giving real and authentic to the max.

God tells us to follow the Shepherd, to rest beside still waters, to partake of His life, and to participate in the fellowship of a Christ-following community. We as God’s beloved children are instructed to eat at His table of grace and to meditate on His Holy Word.

Spiritual muscle is strengthened through closeness with our heavenly Father. Enlivening vitality comes as we center in Him. The old hymn lyrics, All to Jesus, I surrender, All to Him I freely give, capture what that looks like. We can’t take credit for the good that God is doing. God gets all the glory.

The closer we walk with Him, the stronger we become.

We live in perilous times. Circumstances squeeze some of the joy out of us. I’ve had to re-adjust some aspects of my life when discouragement and elements of fear trip me up. God is greater than my feelings and fears. I know where my Source of help is found.

Help is in my best friend, Father God.

I spend time alone with Him. I open His Word to passages that speak to the need. This week the political scene was disheartening. I chose to open my bible to the story of the prophet Elijah at Mount Carmel. His prayer was clear in its purpose. He wanted everyone to see that God is alive, powerful, and able. The prophet Elijah wanted the people to turn their hearts to believe and follow God.

“The prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, let it be known today that you are God in Israel . . . Answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.'” 1 Kings 18:36-37. Then the fire came down from heaven to consume the sacrifice, “When the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is God.” I desire this very thing, that people in my country and elsewhere will turn to God.

I prayed Psalm 37 this week. I prayed it for my country, for my friends, for those whom have lost their way, for those who are wrapped up in themselves. I prayed that we as a people will–

  • Trust in the Lord and do good. (I pray that America will trust in the Lord.)
  • Delight in the Lord. (I pray that America will delight in the Lord.)
  • Commit our way to the Lord. (I pray that America will commit its way to the Lord.)

I’m reading a book written in 2012 about African Muslims coming to faith in Jesus Christ. The author says, fasting and prayer is facilitating this spiritual awakening that is freeing Muslim brothers and sisters to living relationship with Christ. These new believers fast whole days in intercessory prayer. Many churches are being planted.

Much prayer, much power.

Seeking God by spending time with Him is what happens in “that secret place,” alone with God. The most important part of your day is your time alone with God. Seek God with your heart, mind and soul. Be still with God. Listen. Praise. Worship.

God will come close, and you will be strengthened.

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Photo by Nathan Mullet, Unsplash

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That Secret Place, Part 2 of 3

This is a continuance from Part 1 on “That Secret Place: Time Alone with God in Silent Sacred Space: Awaken Your Spiritual Life to Close Relationship with God.”

Prayer, Meditation & Contemplation

A contemplative approach to spirituality is not the norm for most regular church-attenders. The term itself may confuse. You may envision some form of transcendental meditation. The practice of meditating in the silence is not TM. This is a spiritual discipline undertaken to grow closer to God and live an authentic spiritual life.

To those with concerns, who believe practicing a meditative approach to spirituality is contrary or adding on to God’s Word–by elevating personal experience as equal in value to the inspired biblical text–I assure you, that is not the case.  We guard the fidelity with which we approach and interpret scripture. 

What is true, however, is that biblical-based meditation has a place at the table. Some of the ancients understood this. They partook of what God offers as they sought God to know and follow Him. Some in the faith community seek to know God in this way.

Some are less likely to embrace contemplative Christianity or anything that resembles the mystical side of religious experience. We, and I say, we–for I was taught and hold most of these same beliefs and religious leanings–have been cautious or suspicious of any spiritual teachings too experiential-based. There is reason for this concern.

Christianity’s foundation rests in truth as in what is absolute truth. What is true about God, Christ, and the validity of God’s Word form this foundation. As Christians, we strive to be faithful to the teachings of Christ, God, the Spirit, and the holy scriptures. 

God’s Word shows us how to live through its message, theology, and redemptive story. Our personal experiences related to our spiritual beliefs dovetail in sync with biblical edification, spiritual growth, and godly transformation. Serious followers of God don’t want to stray from rightly dividing the Word of God.

Meditating on scripture doesn’t take away from, rather, it adds to. Those of you who are familiar with Jesus Calling and its sister books like Jesus Always, know what meditating produces. Sarah Young’s books are examples of personal recordings of thoughts God gives during her times alone with Him. They align with scripture and are true to God and His Word. They “add on,” in that they minister to the heart in a personal way.

That Secret Place shows how to draw close to God in this same way.

More later.

. . .

Photo by Victoria Bilsborough, Unsplash