"Do you struggle frequently with feeling disconnected from God? Do you strain to feel God's presence when you pray? Does He seem distant to you? Do you long to know that He is with you, right now, drawing near to you? If your answer to any of those questions is, 'Yes,' then I have some wonderful news for you. There is a guaranteed way into God's presence...Jesus gave us the secret in Matthew 6:6 when He said, 'Your Father who is in the secret place.'...to get there, all you have to do is shut your door." -excerpt from "Secrets of the Secret Place" by: Bob Sorge
The Greek word ταμεῖον, pronounced tä-mā'-on, means a chamber esp. an inner chamber. Otherwise known as a room without windows.
Within my first month of my arrival in Kansas City and introduction to the International House of Prayer Culture, I was confronted by the walls of my bedroom. You see, I had nurtured and thrived on a corporate worship intimacy with the Lord. However, I struggled in the awkwardness of being alone with Jesus.
Interestingly enough, I lost my ability to sing well for those first 4 months of my arrival. Jesus began transforming my identity from what I "do" for Him to "who" I am to Him. But it had to start in the awkwardness of the white walls staring at me, and my thoughts running a marathon in my head. There's a name for those things, I call them, "The Barrier." And it only seems to pop up when I sit down to pray. Huh, interesting! That's when it's time to "press in."
Often times, we only have five minutes to pray, I understand that. But there is a great reward when you get in the Secret Place for an extended time of prayer. And honestly, there's a lot less talking from our end when we break through the barrier. If you have only encountered the Lord corporately in worship, imagine the magnitude of encountering Him in the privacy of your own bedroom (or closet)!
Are you ready to experience what's beyond the awkward barrier? Press in and find out!
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