When living in Japan as a child, my Mom would play games with my younger sister, older brother and me to help us adapt to our new place.  One of the adventures we loved was playing "hide and seek" in our house in Nishi-Kunitashi.  My sister was only four at the time, so Mom would help her in the hiding process.   Being the big sister, I had great influence on Shirley and could talk her into almost anything!  My brother was always quick and able to run to the "base" without being found or caught, but Shirley was different.  Mom would put her into amazing places like wicker hampers with a light towel over her and tell Sis to be really still.  Being an obedient child, she would hide quietly and make it hard for me to find her!  After a while I would call out, "Shirrrr-ley, where arrrreee you?" in my sing-songie voice.  And a sweet little voice would respond from the hamper, "I 'm over here-er" as Shirley told of her " secret place" of hiding!  No matter how many times Mom would caution her to not tell of her hiding place, I still could talk her into revealing it!

 

At Anna 's Gate we are studying Psalm 91 and "HOW" to dwell in the "secret place of the Most High" with all the promises connected with it.  We discovered it is not to be a secret to us and it certainly is not a secret to the Lord who has invited us!  It is to be a secret to who and that which could hinder God 's plans for us!  The plan for my sister was to not be found by me!  But Shirley exposed her hiding place!  God 's plan is for us to be protected and safe from fear, confusion and destruction!  But we like my sister say the wrong thing with our mouths, "I 'm over here-er"!  The way we do this is by agreeing with the lie instead of the truth of God 's Word! We will even do it in the form of a prayer request as we turn to people to meet our need instead of the Lord!  "Oh, please pray for me, I need a job...but you know they are n ot hiring", as we say it to many hoping they fill our need.  I am not saying that you don 't ask for prayer or reveal to a trusted prayer warrior your need.  But what is your motive?  Is it for that person to take care of you?  Or even give you pity? Are you sabotaging yourself by agreeing with the lack?  If you believe they are n ot hiring, then why pray?  Are you going to God to meet your need? 

 

Psalm 91:2 tells us how to guard our hiding place.  "I will SAY of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!"  We say of the LORD of what and who He is!  We chose to spend time in that secret place with Him!

 

I remember a time when my son was a teenager and messing with drugs.  The Lord said, "How bad do you want him free?"  I quit my part-time job and spent that time in the Word and in prayer.  We had to adjust our finances and tighten our belt, but that was what was needed! I marched through my house declaring the Word when my fears wanted to overtake me.  I found the scriptures on children and the promises God made me.  I declared the promises instead of my fears!  I refused to go to people and disclose my dread.  I had a couple trusted friends that stood with me in prayer, praying the answer and standing on the promises with me!  I refused to cry out, "Devil, I 'm over here-er!  It looks hopeless.  I will just be angry and feel God let me down!"  Instead, I cried out that God was my refuge and my hiding place!  And..." For me and my household, we would serve the Lord! "(Josh 24:15).  God heard my prayer and delivered Sam.  He loves the Lord and helps many who struggle.  It did not happen immediately, and I had to keep trusting God for several years, but God was faithful!  The key, whether you are praying about additions, finances, health issues or relationships, is to agree with Heaven and God 's Word instead of the fear or bad reports.  We must do our part by getting into that secret place and see God and His Word as our source of life!  We need to trust Him with all that concerns us! 

 

We can cry out to Him...." I'm over here-er!"  and He will answer!  That is where our " Secret Place" should be!

 

Please make your reservation TODAY for "He's My Valentine" widows and single gal's party! Invite your friends too...today is the last day for reservations for our Valentines "secret place" together this year!  It's always wonderful!!!