Abiding Where God’s Spirit Dwells
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
Did you ever have what you considered a “secret place” where you could go and reflect on life, analyze your present situation, consider ideas and solutions to problems, cry, grieve, and most importantly pray about whatever you are going through? Most of us, as children, had a secret place, at least, we considered it secret although its location was likely known by our parents. When I was young, my Dad built me a little playhouse from some 2x4s and covered it with tar paper (that’s what we used to call roofing felt). It was hot as blazes in there in the summer, but growing up without air conditioning, the heat didn’t really bother me. Today, women might have what is called a “she shed”, and men have their “man caves”. I am sure both of those are much nicer than my tar paper playhouse. As I got older, my playhouse turned into a shed for the lawnmower. Years ago, when our children were young, my husband built them a tree house. It was actually a platform built around our maple tree, but years later it was torn down because the kids outgrew it.
Your children or grandchildren have likely built forts in the living room or family room with blankets, bedspreads, couch cushions, and sheets, but those are only temporary hideaways because you never know when company will show up. Our adult secret places can be anywhere–in our home, our car, a park, or some other place where we can collect our thoughts without distractions. Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 for His followers to go into a closet, shut the door, and pray to God, the Father, in secret, and He would reward those who do so openly. Of course, a closet in this passage of scripture meant any quiet place of solitude wherein one won’t be disturbed or distracted. Unfortunately, the word “closet”, like many other words of the English language, has taken on a new meaning which has nothing to do with a place of prayer.
Our loving heavenly Father provides us a secret place under His mighty and protective shadow. Since we know that God is a Spirit (John 4:24), how can He cast a shadow? We think of a shadow as an image or outline of a person or thing cast by a light shining from behind. I think God’s shadow could be described as an all-encompassing cloud, an aura, an invisible atmosphere which covers His entire kingdom. All who repent of sin and place faith in Christ are included in this shadow of peace, protection, provision, comfort, safety, and unconditional love. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus lamented over the wickedness of the Pharisees, using an example from nature, declared that He would have gathered all the Jews together as a hen gathers her baby chicks under her wings, but most were too full of pride and selfishness to humble themselves and come under the umbrella of God’s love and mercy. When I read this verse, I picture in my mind’s eye storm clouds gathering and a mother hen calling to her little babies as they run to her and tuck themselves under her wings, protected and secure.
While it is definitely advantageous to have a quiet place wherein we can pray, study God’s word, and meditate, the believer’s true “secret place” is not a tangible room, building, etc., but is within his or her own heart because that’s where God’s Spirit dwells. This “secret place” is available to us wherever we go, and God’s shadow constantly surrounds us. The world doesn’t know what it’s missing.