"As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock
and cover you with my hand until I have passed by." Exodus 33:22 NLT
He was a master at making and discovering secret places.
My maternal grandparents lived in an old farmhouse. My first cousin and his
family lived a stone's throw away. When I spent time visiting my cousin, we
normally spent most of our time at our grandparent's house. During one of my
visits, he showed me his most recent discovery. Just above the small closet door
in the kitchen was a hidden door.
What greeted us when we opened it was a spiral staircase. Naturally, we wanted
to explore. Up we went into a dusty cavern. My hopes for discovering hidden
treasure were dashed. Rolls and rolls of player piano music was all we mined. No
doubt once used on my grandmother's old player piano that had been converted to
a playable piano.
I wonder now what this secret room was used for. A storage room. The room an
unruly child was confined to. An extra bedroom. Maybe even a secret place to
hide runaway slaves. Though we didn't know the purpose, we had uncovered yet
another secret place.
Moses was sometimes overwhelmed by his God-given task of leading millions of
people across a wilderness to their Promised Land. He wanted assurance of God's
guidance. On this occasion, he asked to see God's presence as proof. Though God
didn't allow him to see his face, he did place Moses in a secret place-the cleft
of a rock, as he passed by.
Every believer needs their secret place. I have mine, and it's not always the
same place. It's the place I go where God and I can be alone. A quiet place
where I can hear God speak to me by his Spirit. A recliner in the early morning
hours, a bench in a park, the bank of a pond, the top of a mountain peak, or a
chair in the backyard.
The spot I choose isn't as important as my frame of mind when I go there and my
purpose for being there. Secret places are for seeking God's face and his plan
and for renewing my resolve to serve him and others faithfully. Secret places
are essential for good spiritual healthy and should be visited often.
Find your secret place, and go there regularly.
Prayer: Father, show us Your presence in a fresh way when we meet with You in
our secret places.
Martin Wiles Hodges, South Carolina, USA
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