The Secret Place

We have heard about the secret place, and many bible teachers refer to it. But what is the secret place, and why is it important for believers to have such a place? The secret place is implied throughout the word, as some translations use the word shelter, covering, or dwelling. In the Old Testament, the term Secret place comes from the Hebrew root word ‘cether’ which means to hide or conceal. The secret place is simply a life of continual fellowship with the Father (God) without the need to be seen by others. It is a place where you talk to him in the morning, throughout the day, and night without the motivation of being recognized by people, only pure desire to know him. Make an intentional decision to establish a routine that includes time with God, reading the bible, praying, and listening to him.

In Matthew 6, Jesus is in the middle of delivering the Sermon on the Mount, which gives us the best definition of what the secret place means. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you that they have their reward. But you when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your and who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:5-6) Some think this means that the secret place has to be in a bedroom by yourself, but this isn’t what Jesus was trying to communicate. Although the Lord is practical and says to get alone and spend time with the Father, his main point was not about being alone in a room but developing a prayer life without the motivation of being seen by men.

The idea of a secret place originates with God because He is Spirit, and his glory is beyond our ability to perceive. We must meet him in the secret place of the heart to commune with him. When Moses wanted to see the glory of the Lord in Exodus 33:20-22, God allowed Moses to see it only in the secret place. “When my glory passes by, I will put on a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” Here, God gives us a glimpse into what we must do to experience the presence of God.

Psalm 91:1 gives us a good illustration of the value of the secret place: “He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.” The promise is to those who dwell, that means to live and becomes our address. God invites us to move in his presence. To do so, we must walk away from the noise and enticements of the world. We must be willing to quiet our hearts before him and allow him to investigate those inner recesses we reveal to one.

God longs to transform and make us more like him, but it happens in his presence. Change happens when we fix our eyes on him and let him shed light on the dark place in our lives. God wants to meet with us. He wants to impart wisdom and make his word come alive. The secret place implies honesty and trust. We cannot join God in this place unless we are willing to be transplanted and host with him. It does not mean we neglect our responsibilities or relationships. It simply means we surrender to the Holy Spirit and the will of God for our lives. In the secret place, we are most vulnerable with God and deeply experience his intimate love.