Lessons From the Secret Place - Lesson 1: God is calling us to a place of intimacy with Him.

I don’t know about you, but in my life, it seems like everywhere I turn the Lord is speaking about intimacy. I can be listening to music and the songs all have the message of time alone with God. Scott and I belong to multiple Bible Study groups, and they all seem to have a similar message these days: intimacy.  Even in our pastor’s messages of late, there is always some mention of time with God, receiving God’s love, knowing God’s heart for us... 

I think there is a message that they Lord is trying to convey to His Bride!  As I write this, I can hear Him saying, “I want to spend time with you.  I want to share my love, my heart, my strength, my peace, and my joy with you. I want to hear about your life, your hopes, your dreams, your joys, and your struggles.  I want to be the first one you share with.  I desire to walk with you every day and to share in every high and low.  My plans for you are greater than you can even imagine, and I will reveal them to you as we spend time in our secret place.  Come away with me my beloved, and I will release in you my anointing and refresh you for the journey we are taking together.” 

Wow!  The God who created and sustains the universe wants to spend time with us!  The One who knows us better than we know ourselves, longs for intimacy with us.   

God has been teaching me what intimacy with Jesus looks like.  Why it is vital that we find that secret place God has prepared for us, and how to enter it to find sweet communion with our Saviour and our Friend.  I feel the Lord prompting me to share my journey with you as well as studying together some men and women in the Word who had secret place experiences with God.   

My heart's desire is for the Bride of Christ to find her true identity in Christ, to find freedom and wholeness, and to learn to take her rightful place of authority here on earth.  This can only be accomplished by spending time in the secret place with Jesus.  By finding rest in Him, and allowing Him to refine, refresh, refill, and refuel us.  This is not a one-and-done, but a daily, hourly, moment-by-moment intimate relationship.  It is a process of learning to receive the Lord’s love, trust His heart toward us, and yield to His healing, purifying, and empowering, as He reveals His desires for our lives. 

The Song of Solomon is a beautiful love poem written by Solomon that abounds in colorful metaphors and eastern imagery. 

Throughout the ages, scholars have also looked at the book through an allegorical lens. When considered in this way, it pictures Israel as God’s betrothed bride (Hos. 2:19, 20) and the church as the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25–32). It teaches that we find our highest fulfillment in the unconditional love of God.i 

Song of Solomon 2:10, The one I love calls to me: Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.  Come away with me!  I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out. For now is the time, my beautiful one. (MEV)

Here we see God calling His betrothed to come away with Him.  That is His desire for each of His children, to come away to the secret place and find love and life.   

Over the next few (or more) weeks I will be sharing bits of my journey as well as diving into the stories of individuals in the Bible who had secret place relationships/experiences with God.   

Beautiful Savior, I pray that the eyes of our hearts may be open to seeing you waiting for us in the secret place.  I ask for the ears of our heats to be open to hearing your words of love and life.  I ask you to ignite in each of us a passion for your Word and a deeper hunger to know you more. May we learn what it means to walk with you throughout our day and may we find our secret place that you have uniquely prepared just for each one of us.  You know us better than we know ourselves.  Please teach us to know you that intimately as well!!!  I want to know your heart and to live out of the overflow of your love for me!  AMEN!!! 

Works Cited:

i NASB Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible Notes

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