I’ve recently come to find a so-called, ‘golden nugget,’ in my relationship with God, and it is referred to in Matthew 6:6 as the “Secret Place.”

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

In the last few weeks, I have felt the Lord calling me to sit silently in the secret place with Him. It’s as if I prayed for Him to place the desire within me, leading me to desire more time with Him. Oh wait, that is exactly what happened!!! As we see just a chapter ahead, where Jesus gives another word of wisdom when He says, “Ask and you shall receive…” (Matthew 7:7). So I figured, Jesus is Truth so this must be true as well, and I tried it. Well, as you can read above, it is true, He did place it within me after I asked. Now, I am simply reaping the benefits of His guiding me with His word; His benefit being, a desire to be with Him.

Going back to Matthew 6:6, Jesus speaks about what prayer is to look like. It is not to be “babbling on,” or “praying on the street corners to be seen by others,” but it is to be done “in your room” with a closed door. The truth is that it’s all about intimacy. It is what the Father seeks with His children; to be known. As He has been calling me in to be with Him it usually starts with a quiet still moment as I solely desire to wait for Him until He chooses to sweep me off my feet with His love and His presence. After some time waiting, He usually comes on in soft and with love, causing me to welcome Him, thank Him and give Him the space to lead and guide me to where He wants to take me. I trust Him.

It is in that moment of love that He begins to speak. He does so quietly, with love, and boldly. At that moment, it’s as if I can see Him take a breath before letting out a sound, He’s so close. Following His word of direction and guidance, I simply wait and allow Him to show me if there are any areas in my life I am in need of surrender or to invite Him into, in which His presence and love strengthen me to do so; it’s all by Him. And then. . . I wait. This is what Jesus died on the cross for, defeating sin and death. To be united in one with me, and His own. It is a moment that I get to encounter Life Himself.

Throughout the weeks I have come to notice His voice become louder outside of the secret place as well. It is in the place of intimacy with the Lord that His whisper then turns into a megaphone out in the streets. It becomes that moment that Holy Spirit goes before you and leads you in His desire to minister. It is at that moment that His love. Captures you, leading you to obey without a doubt and for His will to be accomplished, the redemption and return of His children.

I strongly believe that the disciples were able to walk in the signs, miracles, wonders, and all other spiritual gifts solely out of the intimacy with the Father. And in my life, I have seen the gifts of the Spirit become more evident and put into practice as I seek the time in the secret place with the Father. It is where He speaks, strengthens, loves, fills, heals, and everything else that he so lovingly does. It is out of the secret place.

My desire is to be like Joshua that He remained in the tent of meeting even after Moses had left (Exodus 33). There he became familiar with the voice of God and was able to notice when God wanted to speak to Him, whether in the secret place or in public.

“Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.” So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.” Joshua 4:15-18

It is in the intimacy with the Lord in the secret place that He is willing to reward you in public. He is a Good Father, and for Him to show you that He is, He wants to be alone with you. Ask Him and join Him! He awaits your presence.