July 24, 2025 -- Psalm 27:5 -- The Secret Place and Prayer

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:5 ESV
 
Sometimes passages like this have become familiar to me in different bible translations. I am not sure why, but this verse I remember from the King James Version: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” It resonates for me as I think of the use of “secret places” in reference to Jesus. He went to lonely places, to wilderness places to pray. Jesus went to secret places, to pray as in His humanity He was seeking on-going intimacy with His Father in heaven.
 
In Matthew 6, Jesus taught on prayer. Believers pray in secret. The Father Who sees you praying in secret rewards you openly. The best and greatest reward is to know God as one’s loving Father Who has given the extravagant gift of salvation in Christ. Such prayer is evidence of the Spirit at work in the life of the believer. Prompting the believer to pray. Leading the believers to lonely, secret places where one can find loneliness is thrown down in the light of His presence.
 
Does prayer “work”? That is the question many ask. Some pray for healing, but do not get better. Some pray for improved financial stability and their finances tank. Okay then, what is prayer all about? From earliest days, the picture of prayer is one of intimacy with God. He Who made you, knows what is best for you. He knows why and for what He designed you. Even before you were saved, He prepared for you good works which you will accomplish when you are in Christ. From that place of intimacy with God you will have the strength and the desire to submit to His will and do as He commands. Prayer works because it connects you to God.
 
Dear Father in heaven, what a marvelous truth it is, that You have given me life and You desire to have fellowship with me. In fact, You desire fellowship with all believers who are Yours through Jesus Christ. Spirit of the Living God, what a glorious task You have, to teach us to pray, to lead us to intimacy with our Father through our union with Jesus. Spirit of God, quiet my mind. Clear out all the rushing words and crowding thoughts, so that in the stillness of secret time alone, I may learn to delight in God my Savior. Lead my heart to daily rejoicing in the contemplation of Christ. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/SQgNH-4NF0Q?si=Slq3TBnG_Sc1eXfA Beautiful Savior
 

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