“. . . pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6b (NKJV)
Jesus was teaching His disciples about prayer when He made this remarkable statement about the Father, "who is in the secret place." While this devotion is not primarily about prayer, I want us to pause for a moment and think about all the things that happen secretly in our lives.
Do you have secrets? Are there things known only to you? Would others be surprised to discover something about you that has been carefully hidden away in your secret place?
Scripture reminds us that God is everywhere. It is always fascinating to watch people go to great lengths to cover their actions or hide them from others. The reality is that God sees it all, hears it all, and knows it all. Jesus also reminds us in Luke 12:3:
“Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Most secrets have a way of eventually coming to light.
The thought that God is in the secret place will either bring comfort or conviction. For some, it is comforting to know that when no one else sees the burden, the struggle, the tears, or the prayers, God does. He meets us there. He listens. He cares.
For others, the secret place may be where sinful thoughts, attitudes, or actions are hidden from the view of others. Yet even there, God is present. His presence is not necessarily meant to shame us but to draw us toward repentance, forgiveness, and freedom.
Today is a good day to consider your secret place. Is it a place where you meet with God, or a place where you try to conceal things from Him? The good news is that there is nothing to hide and no reason to pretend. God already knows, and He loves you still.
The next time you find yourself alone, remember that you really are not alone. God is in the secret place.
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