The Secret Place

When you pray, go into your secret place and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who is in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:6).

These words words were spoken by Jesus just before he gave the disciples the words to the Lord’s Prayer. While that prayer is probably the most well known prayer in the world, it was still intended as a personal communication between us and the Father. Jesus spoke it as to his own brothers , as a gift from him to them. No matter how many times the words were spoken, they could be received in secret, and go to the heart of the Father.

When I was a child we siblings each had a “secret place” for the game “hide and seek.” Some of them were discovered very easily, but my older brother’s is a mystery to this day. When we were in the secret place, we could hear the “it” person calling our name, and so we tried hard to become quiet. I believe that Jesus anticipated a quietness for his disciples when he told them to go to a “secret place, ” a place where the noise of the world could not intrude, but where his Father could meet with them, and even reward them.

Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Our world is very,very busy and full of distractions , making it often hard to find a “secret place”; but Jesus says that such a task is a way of reaching him and his Father, for his Father “sees in secret.”

This deeply personal advice for living a holy life was given to the Hebrew people, who had a long history with their God, and knew many of His characteristics; nevertheless, the message has reached Christians of all generations and continues to inspire us to draw closer to our God, and their God. The gentleness and lightness of Jesus’ call to those struggling in our world is a real invitation to everyone for resting from our complexities today. If a child can find a “secret Place,” then surely we can all seek the Lord to find His rest and peace.

Love in Him,

Prue