27 July 2008
Hide & Seek Part I
July/28/2008 07:47 PM
Remember when you were a kid and you played hide and seek? You searched for the best hiding place, where you knew you wouldn’t be found, and stayed quiet as a mouse. Or maybe you and your buddies had a secret hideout where you would meet. Our Heavenly Father has a quiet hiding place and a secret hideout for us to meet with Him!
Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
It’s not enough to go to church, attend a bible study or prayer group. These are things we should be doing on a regular basis; but nothing can take the place of spending time in the secret place with Him. This quiet, secret place is where we can really get to know Father God. It is in this place that we worship Him, talk to Him and He speaks to us. In this secret place He changes us by His glory, refills us and strengthens us for each day.
You give out, and then you give out some more, right? You give out for ministry, for your family and friends, and for your job. If you keep giving without replacing what was used up, you will be empty and dry. If you’re not careful, you will be a full-blown burn-out case! You may be thinking, “I’m there right now!”
In Mark chapter 6 Jesus sent the disciples two by two on a ministry tour. The disciples went out telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. They cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. All they took was a walking stick and the clothes on their backs. Their transportation was their own two feet; food and lodging came from the kindness of those they met along the way. I can imagine they were very excited about all the wonderful things that happened; but I can also imagine they were very exhausted and hungry.
When the disciples returned from their journey, they told Jesus all they had done and taught. (They reported right back into the presence of Jesus after their labors.) Then Jesus said to them in verse 31, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus recognized they needed some time to recuperate from their hard work.
Moving on to verses 32-33, the word says that Jesus and the disciples left by boat for a quiet place where they could be alone. But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.
NEWSFLASH…..life keeps happening and it keeps coming at you fast; no matter whether you are weary or up for the task! It’s like a merry-go-round that doesn’t stop, you have to get off of it to take a break! There will always be a distraction to hinder you from going to the secret place.
I once read somewhere that, “You’ll never find the time to spend with the Lord, you have to make it.” How true that is.
Your Heavenly Father knows your frame and knows all that is going on in your life. He knows you can only go so far without coming into His presence and getting alone with Him. But if you make that time, it will be the difference between being a “burn-out” case or living a victorious life.
Matthew 6:6 says, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
kimconnor@whwc.org
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