Find that Secret Place

There is something about David. It’s not that he didn’t go through things. He did. It’s not that he didn’t face battles. He did. It’s not that he didn’t have enemies chasing him. He did. It’s not that he didn’t sin. He did. The scriptures says this of David years after he was dead…

Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'

It’s that he found a place that few people find. He found that secret place.  As a shepherd. Watching the sheep and flocks. Playing his harp. Following the ways of God.  He found a place of sweet communion with his creator God.

Psalm 91 (My Refuge and My Fortress)

The Secret Place…
91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow (shadow, defense, and shade) of the Almighty.  2 I will say[a] to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

David as a young Sheepherder would have understood shelter and shadows after being in fields for extended periods of time and the need of shadows, shade and defense. (pictures from Peru) When David writes of shadows in the Psalms he always correlates them with the almighty or death which is still a picture of the ALMIGHTY. He translates that young boy mentality of shepherding to a man’s mentality of battling with words like refuge and fortress. In fact most scholars believe he would have written this poem in the middle of battle. He found that secret place. And in that Secret place God poured out His promises.

His Promise…
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  4 He will cover you with his pinions, (the outer part of the bird’s wings including the flight feathers) and under his wings you will find refuge;  his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.  5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.  7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

The Secret Place…
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge[b]—Most translation say habitation, dwelling, and refuge..

Too many people want the promises of the scriptures without following the plans of the scriptures. Too many people want the promises of the Secret Place without having a Secret Place.

His Promise…
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.  11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.  13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;  the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

The Secret Place…
14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;  I will protect him, because he knows my name.

His Promise…
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble;  I will rescue him and honor him.  16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

The problem with too many of our churches today is that we are teaching you how to come to programs and not how to develop your secret place. Programs don’t change things. The secret place of God does. Our programs should be designed in such a way corporately that they would encourage you to develop a secret place privately.

That word was so good, I just have to get more during the week.
That worship was so good, I just have to do more during the week.
God spoke to me personally, I just want to have more of that during the week.

1. Commit to the Secret Place

Personal Prayer
Personal Worship
Personal Word
Personal Scripture Memory

2. Stay in the Secret Place

Come Hell or High Water
Times of Adversity
Problems on All Sides
Changes in your Life

The enemy does fight so much when we commit to a secret place as much as he fights when we stay in one. There is a difference between committing and staying.  Today we encourage you to commit and stay in the Secret Place of the Most High.