– Secret Place Insights –
Dear One, I would like to share something with you, but I don’t actually know how to do it. After much thought, I have decided that I cannot. So I will simply say this, over the decades during lengthy quiet-times the presence of God has often filled me with what I thought was the deepest of all joys. That was, until last week. Last week’s experience brought about what I can only call ‘unspeakable joy.’
After the glorious intensity of God’s Holy presence had passed, I stepped into the family room…shaken. My husband looked at me and asked, “What is wrong?” I replied, “Nothing. It is the opposite of wrong.” Just as I cannot explain the experience to you, I could not explain it to my husband. I hardly even tried; for it seemed impossible.
So why am I mentioning it? Should something so encouraging to me, something which might be an encouragement to others, remain a secret? Lest we forget that God does not change (Malachi 3:6a), shouldn’t we be reminded that such joys are not limited to biblical times? Shouldn’t such treasures be shared to help all of us to keep on drawing ever nearer to God (James 4:8a)?
Soon after that memorable morning, I came across the following quotes from E. M. Bounds, (1835 – 1913). He was an American author, attorney, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South clergy:
“God is always within call, it is true; His ear is ever
attentive to the cry of His child, but we can never get
to know Him if we use the vehicle of prayer as we
use the telephone — for a few words of hurried
conversation. Intimacy requires development. We can
never know God as it is our privilege to know Him,
by brief repetitions that are requests for personal favors
and nothing more. That is not the way in which we can
come into communication with heaven’s King.”
“The goal of prayer is the ear of God, a goal that can
only be reached by patient and continued and continuous
waiting upon Him, pouring out our heart to Him and
permitting Him (time) to speak to us. Only by so doing
can we expect to know Him, and as we come to know
Him better we shall spend more time in His presence
and find that presence a constant and ever-increasing
delight.” E. M. Bounds
And from the Bible:
“You have made know to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Psalm 16:11 NIV
Blessings,
Susanne
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