About
God's Calling
Sensing more to life I began seeking God at a young age. In the Winter of 1978, shortly after my twentieth birthday, with a burst of Light, God gave me a powerful experience of the Presence of Christ through the manifestation and filling of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of Peace and Joy in that moment cannot be put into words.
40 Years in the Wilderness
Forever changed, this experience left me wanting more of God. In the years following my experience I began seeking. Over the next 40 years I wandered, looking for fulfillment.
Though I knew Christ was the key, I did not know how to again experience the peace and joy of His Presence. As I searched, I passed over Christianity, as my early background in mainline Christian churches made little mention of such experiences. Instead, I read many different religious writings, including Eastern Mysticism and New Age. I tried Transcendental Meditation for a time. I found no answers.
Looking for clues I was drawn back to the Christian Church and began listening and sitting at the feet of many teachers and theologians. One taught me to seek the promises of God, so I began diligently studying the Bible. For years I methodically studied looking for the answers which would again bring me into His Presence.
religion and Church
Over this time, I had spent over 30 years in various churches, the majority of which were conservative. There I found lots of religion, but no teaching or mention on how to enter into this transcendent experience. The Holy Spirit, though part of the Trinity, was inexplicably avoided. My conservative background made me wary of "spirit filled" churches.
It seemed no one in the Church knew of a process or practice of entering into the presence of God, or at the very least they weren't sharing it.
Revelation
Then, late in 2017 as I was hiking alone in the Northern California hills overlooking the Pacific, I began thinking about the lyrics to Secret Place by Kim Hill. I knew that the song and term "Secret Place" referred to Psalm 91, a Psalm of David.
"He that dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High shall abide in the presence of His Shadow."
Secret Place is one of many names for the dwelling place of God. I knew that David had entered into the Secret Place from his other writings; for example, Psalm 16:11, "You have made known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, eternal pleasures forevermore."
In an inspiration I perceived that in Psalm 91 David was sharing something very important, "He that dwells in the Secret Place shall rest in the shadow of the Almighty." In order to experience the rest (or peace) of God's Presence the key is to enter into and dwell, or spend time in, the Secret Place.
I recalled from my biblical studies that, "through Christ and through faith in Christ we have been given access to God." (Ephesians 3:12)
Further, the author of Hebrews concludes that since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place (another reference to the Secret Place) by the work of Christ, he admonishes believers to draw near to GOD in sincerity and faith. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
I understood what I had to do. I began searching the Scriptures for other verses, promises of God, referencing entrance into the Secret Place. Inspired I began to understand the Scriptures in new light. I found confirmation and corroboration in the teachings of Jesus, and in the writings of David and Paul. The Way, though strewn with countless misinterpretation and error, was becoming obvious and simple.
God has declared, "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
As Sarah Young puts it, "We need a buffer zone of silence around us in order to focus on things that are unseen. Since God is invisible, we must not let our senses dominate our thinking. The curse of this age is over-stimulation of the senses, which blocks out the awareness of the unseen world."
In other words, we don't know how to be still.
Jesus says in Luke 17:21, "The kingdom of heaven is within you."
I was determined to meet with God. So, I found a quiet place where I could without interruption focus on Him.
I stepped out in faith.
Thus, I began the internal journey of entering the Secret Place, by praying and meditating, in sincerity and faith, on these promises of God.
As my mind began to quiet, shutting out all worldly distractions, I began to again experience the peace and joy of His Presence.
What bliss! I began to understand what it means to "Delight yourself in the LORD". (Psalm 37)
The Secret place
Communing with Christ has since become a daily discipline I have faithfully practiced - regardless of circumstance or how I'm feeling. Whether I'm "in the mood" or not I press on knowing that these daily encounters with God bring health and healing, peace and joy, and focus to my life.
God is Good, and He is Faithful.
After a year of starting each morning with the living Christ I realized that as the days wore on, I needed more to finish each day. Like sustenance and manna, I needed more, more strength, more life, more of Him!
So, God provided Scriptural insight and inspiration for meeting with Him for renewal twice daily. Since then, I also begin each late afternoon/early evening refreshing myself in the Living Water.
This is Abundant Life!
Immersing myself in the Presence of God regularly enables me to be renewed and refreshed, and to walk and live life "in the Spirit".
I understand now why Daniel faithfully prayed and spent time with God three times a day.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT." ~ Psalm 1:1