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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Secret Place

Psalm 91:1 says "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"  When the tests and trials of life come and we want to run to Him for shelter, what does that look like?  Where do we go and how do we know when we've arrived at His "Secret Place"?  I think this looks different for each of us.  When you find yourself in a situation where you need God's covering, where do you go?

In Sheila Walsh's book, The Shelter of God's Promises, she tells a story of her teen years when she went camping out in the middle of no where with a couple of friends.  As she slept alone in her tent a fierce storm arose and in the dark she found herself in a cleft in the rock where she was able to escape the storm and sleep.  In that instance, God's Secret Place was an actual physical place for Sheila.  Although there were storms all around her, God gave her a safe warm dry place to stay until the storm subsided.

Sometimes, the Secret Place is not a physical place like the one Sheila Walsh describes, but a spiritual place.  I always sign off at the end of my blog posts "From His Lap", because that's my Secret Place in Him.  When I enter into prayer or praise and worship, I close my eyes and find myself right there, in His throne room, up on His lap.  There is where I can abide under His shadow and feel safe from the storms of life.  When I haven't spent time in prayer or if I'm harboring some bad feelings towards someone, it's hard for me to find my way there.  That is my gauge that lets me know I'm out of fellowship with Him and I need to get still and quiet so that I can find my way back to the Secret Place.

I went back to Psalm 91:1 and looked at the words again.  "Dwell" means "live in".  "Abide" means "live in a certain place".  What?  Oh, so we don't run to that secret place when the storm comes!  We live there!  We live there!  What does that look like?  For me, I must strive to live my life as if I'm in the throne room on His lap.  I can be a wife from the throne room.  I can be a mom from the throne room.  I can be a friend, an employee, a neighbor...all from the throne room!  I don't mean that I have to be so heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good.  And I'm not saying that no storms will come if I stay there.  I simply mean, that for me, if I filter life through His shadow as I sit on His lap, I can get through the storms that come and be a testament to others of His Mercy and Grace.

What does His Secret Place look like to you?  It would bless us so, if you shared about it here in a comment!  There is no right or wrong Secret Place.  It's up to each of us to figure out where we can live, abide, dwell in Him.

From His Lap,





36 comments:

  1. Hi Erin - I never thought about it like that. I suppose I am one who would run to shelter when in the storm, when in fact, God wants us to live in His shelter, His secret place.
    Great post, Erin
    God bless
    Tracy

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  2. Beautiful post, Erin! I've been gone from the Throne room for too long. I need to find my way back. I love your analogy of being seated upon His lap! I'd like to use that visualization for myself!

    Nikki
    @Farmgirl_IN

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  3. Tracy,
    I think we all do that. I'm going to purpose in my heart to stay there!!!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  4. Nikki,
    I'm so glad you're finding your way back! Climb up there on His lap, feel His hand on your hair and hear Him whisper in your ear how much He loves you!
    ~Erin

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  5. Love the new blog post, Erin :) Thank you for sharing :) I love your writing :) Nicole

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  6. Thanks for taking time out to read my blog on your vacation, Nicole! I hope you and your family are having a great time of refreshing!
    Love you!
    ~Erin

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  7. Beautiful post and thought provoking message dearest Erin! I'm kind of in my secret place at this very moment. Lovely idea! ~Hugs, MR

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  8. Erin, this is so beautiful. You've certainly got me thinking about creating a secret place, both physical and spiritual. I find myself in prayer constantly...driving, folding laundry, hooing to sleep, while shopping, doing the dishes. I can't wait to say prayers at night; mine are like a conversation that never ends. So I guess my place is portable, with me always.

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  9. MR,
    You stay right there under the shadow of the Almighty. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
    I love you!
    ~Erin

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  10. Kristin,
    It must warm the Father's heart that you stay in such constant communion with Him! He rejoices over you with singing!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  11. i have recently read that book (or devoured it!) and was struck again at abiding there. My Secret place is a chair, snuggled up, or my front porch in the summer by my gardens.. i kind of talk with Him throughout the day as well, and am just so thankful for His amazing, steadfast love.

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  12. Jeanette,
    Don't you just love that book! My ladies Bible study is reading it this summer. We have learned so much!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  13. My Secret Place is a wonderful book. I need to get it out and read it again. Thanks for your visit to my blog too. It was very kind of you to leave me a comment and follow me. I connected with you through Networked blogs. Love your music that is playing now too. Thanks! :)

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  14. Thanks so much for stopping by, Angela! I didn't even know there is a book called My Secret Place. I'll have to look it up!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  15. Hi Erin, I love coming over and reading your blog, the music is so beautiful! I hope your day is going great!
    Take care,
    Lisa

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  16. My secret place, like yours, is in his lap. I close my eyes and I see myself as a little girl sitting on her daddy's lap, head resting against his chest listening to the beat of his heart.

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  17. Thank you, Lisa!! I shall be writing in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Journal tonight and get it in the mail tomorrow!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  18. Luana,
    Thank you so much for stopping by! Isn't it a sweet place...on His lap? I love it!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  19. Erin, I love that we can run to our Daddy and crawl in His lap. There we find safety, security, love, peace.

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  20. Shannon,
    It's the most precious place to be. I want to learn to stay there, always!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  21. Amen, amen! I loved this, Erin. I learned a long time ago that my heavenly Father loves for His children to sit in His lap and love on Him. I have two favorite places...sitting in His lap or sitting at His feet. Awesome!

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  22. Lynn,
    I always get so happy when I see you've stopped by! You always make my heart sing!
    Love you!
    ~Erin

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  23. Hi Erin -

    I've been here a long time again tonight just listening to the music; thinking and reflecting. I don't believe I have a particular secret place although there are places I have gone in various stages of my life. In the recent past, one SP would be my mother & father's grave site. My parents rest side by side, in peace there together. At certain times of the year I make sure my boys go with me but most of the time I visit alone. I don't look at it as a secret place. I suppose for me it's like going home for a short while. I so enjoy your wonderful writing, Erin. Happy Wednesday evening & God Bless :)

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  24. Brian,
    Thanks so much for coming by again. That's so sweet that you visit your parents grave to reflect and feel like home. You always bless me and make me smile, Brian!
    ~Erin

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  25. I love your secret place "from His lap". I can't imagine a better secret place. For many years my secret place was from my bed. Now, thanks to answered prayers, I have many secret places. It depends on where I'm at, at the moment.
    This is off the subject but I have to tell you that I love your music. I feel instantly at peace on your site.

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  26. Terri,
    Thanks for stopping by! I'm so glad you enjoy my music. Someone told me once that putting music a blog wasn't professional. I had so many others tell me that they love it, so I decided to keep it on here! Thanks for reaffirming that!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  27. HI Erin! Thanks for visiting my blog. My ideas for your son's bedroom: combine the camping-hiking by painting a mural (or a larger photo) with a mountain with hikers & a tent. Add his fav names (brands, mentors, equipment) with inspiring quotes. On another wall have the waterskiing theme with a lake w/skier mural (or large photo of himself skiing). Hang a tow rope, an old ski and wall art words ("28-off", "leg burn"). Inspiring photos of comp winners if he's doing ski competitions; early hikers of Everest & K2. I just heard about a 17 or 18 yo who just completed the 7 summits - use a photo of him. Colors could be darker green, navy blue and punch of red and/or yellow. Use an old ski as a rack if you can put hooks into it. Find old cantene, backpack to be wall items or turn into hooks. Frame old memorabilia from dad, grandfather. I have a post where the room was a camping theme and she used old momentos. On my blog under "topics" click on "Boys Bedrooms" then scroll to "Nostalgic Big Boy Room." Good luck keep me posted on your progress and then I'll include it in my gallery.

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  28. Oh Nan, that could be his secret place. That is so much good info. I know he would love it. I'm going to talk it over with him and see how we will go about it. Thanks so much for the awesome advice!! I've been stuck on what to do for so long!
    Blessings,
    ~Nan

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  29. Hi Erin,

    You have definitely found your calling. With a special needs child, one child heading to college, and working from home while my husband works two jobs it is often a struggle to get to that place but lately it has been easier. I've been reading "A Praying Life" and I'm finding myself better able to get to the shelter by honestly discussing whatever is on my heart and mind rather than trying to clean those thoughts our prior to praying, which never works for me anyway. I will be following you blog.

    God Bless!!
    Anita
    http://anita-whyibelieve.blogspot.com/

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  30. Wow, Anita, you have a lot on your plate. That is a great way to look at the shelter...discussing what is going on with you instead of trying to shove it aside to pray. I never thought of it like that!
    I love your blog too!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  31. Erin,
    My secret place is in my mind and heart. Raising 11 kids doesn't leave a whole lot of personal or private time. I learned that I could be rocking a child, doing the dishes, fixing dinner, or weeding the garden and still tune into my Heavenly Father for some personal time with Him.

    Of course, I do have my time for prayer and scripture study, but during the day, when I need to escape, I usually can't, so I've learned to send my mind and heart to where my body can't go...

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  32. Becky Jane, I can't imagine 11 kids. I thought 6 was tough. I know you are in constant prayer no matter what you are doing. I can just tell my your attitude and countenance!
    Once again, you bless me!
    ~Erin

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  33. Hi Erin,
    What a beautiful post....You definitely have the gift of encouragement through words....You will never know the impact you have on people and I am so thankful for you and your willingness to share your gift with others.

    I have two different secret places. One, like you, is in His lap....I go to this secret place when I am sad, or hurt, or need comforting.....My second secret place is Jesus and me in a small boat at the edge of the water. We are facing each other....I go here when I need to talk through something or need direction and guidance because I want to see His face and expression and look right into His eyes. Both of these are very special places to me and I can see them vividly in my mind.....

    Sweet girl, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day....
    Hugs and blessings,
    Nancy

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  34. Oh, Nancy, I love that!! Just the 2 of you, face to face, love flowing directly from His heart to yours! How wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing that here. You know what's so special about these places is that no one can invade them. They are private for each of us!
    You always bless me, Nancy!
    ~Erin

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  35. What a wonderful post. You have been blessed with such a gift in words. I look forward to reading more of your posts. I am calling by from vB. Please come by and say hi. Sarah. www.acceptingandembracingautism.com

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  36. Sarah,
    Thanks so much for stopping by, I stopped by your site and left you a note! Thank you for your kind words and I hope my post blessed you!
    ~Erin

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Thank you for giving us a little nugget of truth from your heart!

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