part 2 on the secret place of prayer
Out of the secret place of prayer shall break forth new things. God will use this place to share HIs intimacy with you and speak His words to you. Dale Fife writes two excellent books, The Hidden Kingdom and the Secret Place. In the book he shares his struggles before he spends the time with God in the secret place of His dwelling.
My mind was filled with worldy ideas and burdens. I have been brainwashed by the media, the world, and desentized by prolonged exposture to the entertainment industry. I really was an adulteress to God, a friend of the world. I am distracted by many things. I saw how desperately I needed this Hidden Kingdom that was within me that I had been neglecting every day.
Paul says in Galatians 6:14 “But may it never be that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Which means that the world is a dead thing to me and I am a dead man to the world. Because of the cross, my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed years ago. I died to the world and no longer have to look to it to get my needs met or find my idenity in it. I was crucified toward the world, I am separated from it, I no longer depend on looking to it for my source, recognition, or my idenity. I have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world. Since I have died with Christ and He set me free from following the world’s ideas on how to be saved. Oh yes the world does have a salvation plan. By doing good works and obeying various rules, like don’t eat, don’t do this don’t do that, try harder, Do not handle, do not taste and do not touch, all these things that are self made religions, self abasement, and severe treatment of the body but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Colossians 2:21-23.
So Deuteronomy 26: 8,9, “The Lord brought us out of Dgypt with a mighty hand and an outstreched arm and He will bring you to this place, a land flowing with milk and honey. So God got you saved and He will bring you into the secret place. He will bring you in with His Holy Word.
The word of God now becomes my way into the secret place and they keep me there. It is not what I tell Him that counts because it is really all about Him and what He wants to tell me. We are listening Ecclesiastes 5:1,2, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools. for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth: therefore let your words be few.
The words that I speak cause me to center or focus on God and that brings me into His presence. As each word is now introduced it will draw me deeper into his presence. So as we think or quietly say the word we wait on God for a short time intravel and then the next phrase is spoken and it takes us deeper into the well of His presence. So we start on the following words. !. I will abide in your presence O Lord..2. Draw me near O Lord that we can run together. 3. Send out thy LIght and thy Truth and let them lead me. 4. I wait patiently for the Lord and He will hear me. 5. I will return to Him and He will return to me. ^6. I will seek Him as gold and silver and He will let me find Him. 7.I will dwell in the presence fo the Most High God. 8. I will fix my eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of my faith. I will wait silently for the Lord. 9. I will draw near to listen and not speak. 10. I will sit alone and be silent before God.
Now these phrases are just the beginning to lead you into the deeper places of His presence. Take the list of 10 things and read part 1 and part 2 on entering the secret place. Let the lord lead you into the deeper waters. You can add some other phrases like, soaking in His presence, relaxing in Him, Beholding the beauty of the Lord, Practicing His presence, Pouring out your heart to Him like water or telling Him how you feel,(which is called the law of first intimacy), Drink deeply of Him, Eat of His flesh and Drink of the True Drink, Take HIm in, Invite Him into your mind and thoughts and emotions. Each phrase will deepen you into His presence.