Are you ready to go deeper? by Sherry Gaither
For many Christians, Psalm 91 has been an “umbrella” of protection, especially during difficult days. However, God is challenging all of us to develop a deeper relationship by having a hunger and thirst for His presence.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide [stable and fixed] under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1, NKJV).
The secret place is not a physical place, but a spiritual posture and position—an attitude and an outlook. GPS navigation system cannot take you there, but a hunger, thirst and passion to live in the presence of God will lead you there.
“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5, NKJV).
Many people think that praying means coming before God with a laundry list of petitions and expecting God to answer. But the truth is that you will never get into the presence of God without thanksgiving, praise and worship. In thanksgiving we recognize His goodness. In praise we recognize His greatness and amazing works and in worship we recognize His majesty, sovereignty and glory.
To make God a priority, we must see him as Savior, Lord and King. As a result of redemption, we embrace Him as Savior. As the King of kings, Jesus came not only to save us, but He came to establish His kingdom on earth, to reign and rule.
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst . . . now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever” (1 Timothy 1:15, 17, NIV).
What does God want from His people? God’s first desire is for us to know Him and to draw near to Him. We were created to know Him and cultivate a relationship with Him. The secret place is the place of transformation. It is the place of revelation, where you gain a better understanding of who He is. You come to the point that you are no longer content with just knowledge or emotional excitement. You were saved because you believed in your heart, not your head, and you confessed what you believed with your mouth.
When you dwell in the “shadows” you are always in His presence, so when the enemy comes to attack, he sees God all around you. When you are “dwelling” in the secret place, your new normal is to feed on the Word of God, to constantly declare who you are in Christ. The more you commune with the Holy Spirit, the more you come to know your heavenly Father. We cannot overcome anything in our own strength, but in the secret place we are empowered and transformed into His image and likeness. It is a choice that you make every day.