Is God’s Will Automatic?
March 15, 2012
Don’t Settle!
March 30, 2012
Recently the Lord has been reminding me of the importance of spending time alone with Him in “the secret place.” Jesus taught this about prayer: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).
Jesus was teaching that prayer is not something we do so that others can see how “spiritual” we are, but so that we can spend time alone with our Father in heaven. There is a time for public and corporate prayer, but at the heart of prayer is the concept of being alone with God.
There is simply no substitute for spending time alone with God. Bearing fruit requires having roots; and the roots are the part of the tree that is unseen. When we spend time alone with God- meditating on His Word, worshipping Him, praying, and waiting upon Him- our roots are going deeper which prepares us for greater fruitfulness. Psalm 1:3 says that the person who regularly meditates on the Word will be “like a tree planted by the waters, that brings forth its fruit in season.”
Fruitfulness in the Christian life is born out of intimacy with God; and intimacy requires time in the secret place. This was the pattern of Jesus’ ministry. The Bible says that He “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16). Though the crowds were gathering around Him to hear His teaching and to receive His healing touch, Jesus would get away from the multitudes to be alone with God.
How about you? Do you make the time to get alone with God? If you miss this, you are missing the key to a true relationship with the Lord and genuine fruitfulness for His kingdom. Pursue the Lord in prayer- not out of religious duty- but out of a desire to know God and be alone with Him. Make the time to be in the secret place!
4 Comments
Jake, I love this and I could not agree with you more! It’s so true how time alone with God is key to bearing fruit that remains. And, there are seasons when He calls us to much time alone with Him, where He is bending our will to His and shaping our character to prepare us for our call. I have been thinking about all the years that I spent hours every day in prayer with Him and it feels like those very prayers opened the doors that I am now walking through for my ministry. And aside from that, mine and Jesus relationship goes so deep that it fulfills my every need. It’s just beautiful. You cannot marry and expect your relationship to grow by only spending time together in public.. It is in those intimate moments that the two become one.
Melissa, thanks for the comments!
Amen precious brother! I love to spend time alone with the Lord Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit! I miss it terribly when I do not and feel the affects wonderfully when I do! How on earth does anyone do without that time? It creates faith in me and allays all of my fears!
Have you heard of a preach named Joseph Prince? I am learning all about Grace. Something I was never taught in church! Check him out. So much truth! It makes my heart sing to understand that I do not have to work all the time to earn favor and be blessed with the promises of our salvation! What a relief!
Love you Jake! Your newsletters are appreciated!
Gina
Hey Gina, thanks for the comments! Yes, I have heard of Joseph Prince but I have not read his stuff or heard him preach yet. I will have to check him out! God bless,
Jake