The Secret Place
The Intimate Pursuit.
One path, walked every morning. Worship, ask, read, pray, and close. This is the rhythm we are asking the whole church to keep.
Before you begin
There is no other agenda.
The aim of your time with God after you awake is to develop an intimate friendship with Him. In the Secret Place there is no other agenda and no other motive but that.
This guide is not the only way. It is a way to assist you in your Intimate Pursuit of God.
Worship & Pray in the Holy Spirit
You can’t afford to miss this step.
Worship prepares your heart to receive. It’s what brings you to a place where you can hear from God as He speaks to you and see what He wants to show you. Without this step, it’s difficult to hear and see from God, because a heart posture of worship purifies us (Matt. 5:8), which is essential for entering the Secret Place. Without this attitude of the heart, your time with God can quickly become merely a checkbox and vain religious activity.
How do you tune into the heart of God through worship? Put on worship music or sit outside and thank Him for His beauty. Pray in the spirit, which builds your spirit up (Jude 1:20, 1 Cor. 14:15), as you prepare the ground to receive from Him. Choose your favorite worship song or open our YouTube worship playlist.
Matthew 5:8 · Jude 1:20 · 1 Corinthians 14:15
Ask for God to Speak to You
Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.
We can hear the Lord speak every time we open His Word. Here we are asking God to make His Word alive in us this day. We are asking for His daily bread (Matt. 6:11). We don’t need to live off of the revelation God gave us yesterday. We need it today.
Pray it with a humble and contrite heart (Is. 66:2).
Matthew 6:11 · Isaiah 66:2
Read the Word
The goal is not to complete a reading plan.
The goal is to hear from the Holy Spirit and what He wants to speak to you today. The suggested reading plan lets you visit many subjects in the Bible so the Holy Spirit can speak to you through the Word of God.
Once you hear from God, meditate on this new revelation, study it, and reflect on what God has shared (Joshua 1:8, Ps. 1:2). More often than not, what the Lord wants to share with you is simple. But the simplicity will feel profound to you. There is much beauty in simplicity, and everything becomes easy in the presence of God. He’s alive and delights in sharing good things (Matt. 7:9-11) with His people.
If you are a person who journals, this would be the moment to write down what God is sharing with you.
Joshua 1:8 · Psalm 1:2 · Matthew 7:9-11
Go Through Your Personal Prayer List
Begin by praying for:
- Yourself
- Your family
- Your friends, and specific people as they come up in your spirit
- Your work
- The City of Jacksonville and Orange Park
- Journey Church and church leaders
- Peace in Israel (Ps. 122:6)
- Add your own
Psalm 122:6
Conclude With Two Prayers
Two prayers close the time.
A. Search me, God, and know my heart.
Psalm 139:23
When praying this prayer, you are searching for sin you need to confess to God (Ps. 66:18, Is. 59:2) and any unforgiveness in your heart (Mark 11:25-26). Hidden unconfessed sin and unforgiveness will hinder your walk with the Lord. You also want God to show you any ways you have been disobedient (1 Sam. 15:22). Often, we don’t sense closeness to God because He’s waiting for us to be obedient in what He’s already asked us to do. Worship absent of obedience is just religious activity, which does not honor God.
B. Protection over your mind, eyes, and heart.
Isaiah 26:3, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 26:41
When praying this prayer, you are asking God to keep your attention on Him as you begin the day, so that nothing seen or heard will distract you from walking the rest of your day in worship unto God.
Psalm 139:23 · Psalm 66:18 · Mark 11:25-26 · 1 Samuel 15:22
Start tomorrow morning
Five steps. Every morning.
It isn’t the only way. It’s a way to start. Pick a reading plan, set the time, and keep it.