0713 – The Secret Place 隐秘的所在

Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.Because of our busy schedules, we need to make sure that we set aside a time intentionally to be in the presence of God. It is a spiritual discipline we need to develop in our lives, because it is a place where we are nourished, renewed and refreshed.

It would be ideal to identify a room or a place where you can meet with God on a daily basis. When you set up this “secret place” to be with the Lord, you are telling yourself that it is a time to be in the presence of God—you are preparing yourself spiritually, and your mind and emotions are being trained to get used to the routine. Simple decorations such as a cross can to help us to focus on the Lord when our mind begins to stray, and an open Bible on a table can serve as a reminder to come to Him. Make this a comfortable place when you will spend 30 minutes to an hour a day. Morning is usually the best time when we are still fresh, there is no distraction, and it will give you the wisdom you need to face the day ahead.

Luke 5:16 (NKJV) So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

It normally takes 21 days to create a habit. Jesus had the habit of withdrawing from the crowd to pray alone in the presence of the Heavenly Father. He had a busy ministry when everyone was seeking out for Him once His fame had spread throughout the villages. There was never an end to His ministry time and there were so many needs to be met, but He wasn’t dictated by the tyranny of the urgent. Jesus had His priority right. He chose to leave the crowd, the endless crying need of mankind and withdrew Himself to be in God’s presence to pray alone. Jesus had the discipline to do it often by intentionally withdrawing from the crowd into the wilderness. It is a conscious choice to be alone with God.

We would never be able to find the time if we allowed our schedule to dictate when we meet with the Lord. We need to carve out time to be with the Heavenly Father often so that we will get to know Him better, and that begins in the closet. It is a place where we meet with God and He with us— it is where you will have a real and personal encounter with Him.

The Lord is calling us from the preoccupation with self and overbusyness to focus back on Him, and Him only.

Sermon Series: From the Closet to the Board Room (Part 1) – Listening to God


隐秘的所在

马太福音6:6 (NKJV) 你 祷 告 的 时 候 , 要 进 你 的 内 屋 , 关 上 门 , 祷 告 你 在 暗 中 的 父 ; 你 父 在 暗 中 察 看 , 必 然 报 答 你 。

我们繁忙的日程使得我们需要有意地留出时间好进入神的同在。这是一个我们需要在生活中培养的属灵纪律,因为我们正是在这里得到滋养、复兴和振新。

理想情况是你找到一个房间或地方每天来与神相会。 当你设立这样一个“秘密之所”来与神共处时, 你是在告诉你自己这是进入神的同在的时间—你在属灵上预备自己,你的思想和情感在被训练以习惯这样的日常。简单的装饰比如十字架可以帮助我们在走神的时候,专注到主,桌子上一本打开的圣经可以帮助提醒我们来到他的面前。把这地方弄得舒适一些,这可是你每天要花半个钟头到一个小时的地方。早晨通常是最好的时间,那时我们比较清醒,没有分心的事,这将给你足够的智慧面对这一天。

路加福音5:16 (NKJV) 耶 稣 却 退 到 旷 野 去 祷 告 。

养成一个习惯通常要花21天。耶稣有个习惯就是离开人群单独在天父的同在里祷告。耶稣事工繁忙,当他的名声远播到各个村庄时人人都在寻求他。他的事工从未有停止的时候,太多穷乏需要去满足,但是他没有被所谓的紧急事务所支配。耶稣有他的优先权利。他选择离开人群和无止境的人类需求,抽身退到神的同在里单独祷告。耶稣刻意地抽身离开人群退到旷野之中,祂的自律使之成为惯常。选择与神独处,这是一个自觉的的选择。

如果我们让日程表来决定我们与神会面的时间,我们就永远不会有时间。我们需要留出时间常常与天父同在,来更好地认识他,而这起始于内室。内室是一个我们与神相会、祂也与我们同在的地方—在那里,你将与祂有一个真正的私密的相遇。

主正在发出召唤,要我们放下自我的思虑和过度的繁忙,转而专注于祂,单单注目祂。

讲章系列: 从内室进到会议室(第一部分)- 聆听上帝的声音