Walking With the Word

Where do we go when we are short of resources? If we are hungry we go to the fridge. If we are thirsty we go to the tap. If we need help, advice, or a listening ear we might go to a friend. What if we are drained of energy, enthusiasm, or joy? What if we feel that all the world is against us, that things just keep going wrong, or feel under constant personal attack? What if we fall short spiritually: cut off or far from God? This is when we need the Secret Place of His presence.

“Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications. When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 31:19-24

These verses paint a vivid picture in my mind. It goes a bit like this:

Imagine with me if you will, a castle keep in a beautiful meadow with thick stone walls. You go inside through a thick-set, heavy oak door and the hinges creak as you enter. It is strangely bright in there and storage crates are piled up all around the walls—provisions all for you as need arises and all at once the Lord is with you. One crate has ‘encouragement’ branded on it, another, ‘strength’, and still another, ‘long-suffering’, and there are many others just like it stacked besides. Over there by the window is a barrel of ‘courage,’ and by that are treasure chests full of ‘Joy’ and ‘Love.’ On the wall, your sword hangs and by the door your shield, and armour, prepared and ready to pick up and put on for when it is time to go back out again; it is a secret place and it is all your own.

“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Psalm 32:7

Outside, meanwhile, the siege continues as the army of Devils minions lie in wait with their fiery arrows in order to kill, steal and destroy if they can. They will you tempt you constantly with distractions by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) in what ever way they can. But inside, in the Secret Place of God’s presence, you are safe from them all as the Lord ministers to your heart and prepares you once again to reengage in the battle, with all that you need, because:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

John 10:10

Spiritual Warfare is a reality that we face whether we like it or not; we entered the battle on the right side—the winning side—when we came to faith. It’s the normal stuff of life, which enslaved under the dominion of darkness, we faced, lost, without hope and without the right weapons. We have been rescued and become its enemy, and as such we draw their attention: harrying activity, insurgency attacks and occasionally all out war, all in a bid to undermine us. Only now, we can recognise it for what it is and face it in Gods strength, with the right weapons as one who has changed allegiance. In this way we are under constant siege from which there is no let up; but there is solace, there is comfort and there is strength to be found with God in the Secret Place.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Colossians 1:13-14

In one sense the Secret Place is always with us, since God is always with us. We just need to remember sometimes to draw upon the resources which are ours in Christ. In another sense, it is good to dwell there for a while, enjoying His presence as we draw upon His wonderful grace in rest and recuperation. This is our daily joy: to rest in our Lord, to be refreshed, equipped and strengthened and then to walk out with Him beside us.

This is not a prescription to solve all our problems or make the pain and struggle go away, but a God-given aid to us as we work our way through life. God Himself is our source of joy and strength.

Run to Him as the fiery arrows fly at your back; go to Him often and find safety and learn from Him. Meditate and draw upon His goodness and mercy. Then you will be able to Stand, fully resourced in the day of battle.