Monday, October 18, 2021

THE SECRET PLACE

Today’s Reading: Psalms 90-91

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Goreme is a town in Cappadocia, an historical region of Turkey. The people who settled here built their homes within these unusual, cone-shaped hills. This area was first settled during the Roman period. Christians were persecuted and for protection they dug subterranean dwellings into the rock hillsides. The believers in Christ were literally dwelling in a secret place as our key verse says. When Christians became the majority in the region, many churches were carved out of the solid rock. These amazing structures can still be seen today. Cappadocia is mentioned several times in the New Testament, including Acts 2:9 and 1 Peter 1:1.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Psalm 90:1 & 91:14

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom….

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

Psalm 90 is unique in that it is the only one composed by Moses. He probably wrote this during the wanderings in the wilderness for 40 years, when they had no place to call home. They could not fortify themselves against enemy attacks. Moses learned that their only safe dwelling place was in the Lord. Considering the shortness of our days, 70 to 80 years approximately, we need to pack in all the wisdom we can gain so that “the beauty of the Lord will be upon us, and the works of our hands will be established” (90:17).

Psalm 91 teaches us that the secret place with God every day (it could be this blog) is the place of security. The world can be shut out and a sense of belonging to God is ours. We’re at home in the presence of the Lord! This is true protection!!! The warmth of God’s love is here!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, here I am, dwelling in Your secret place. I pray that I will learn more and more to relax and dwell constantly in Your presence. Thank You for this peaceful place of complete security, for now and for eternity! This is only because of Jesus in Whose Name I ask this great mercy. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have personally experienced the fact that God “is my refuge and fortress.” As an evangelist who has shared the message of Jesus on the streets first, and then for decades on television, I’ve had attacks on my personal integrity which had no substance, and attacks on the effectiveness of the ministries which I’ve led. I felt totally unworthy when I received an award in 2008 for “Integrity in Life and Ministry,” along with Billy Graham, who received the same honour that year, presented by the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. I believe the secret of honouring God in honesty and love to all is that consistent “secret place” time with God early every morning. My meditation contained in this daily blog happens in that “secret place.”

Yours because of the Lord’s promise to “establish the work of our hands!”

David

In another part of historic Cappadocia, the city of Kaymakli was created by persecuted Christians who excavated the relatively soft rock deep below the ground with the access opening well hidden. This is one of the below-ground rooms, and the round stone was likely a kitchen table. While this underground city consists of 8 floors below ground, only 4 of them are open to the public today, in which the spaces are organized around ventilation shafts. Archeologists think that there could have been up to 3,500 people living in this city. So far 36 underground cities have been discovered in Cappadocia.

13 thoughts on “Monday, October 18, 2021

  1. “For he himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).

    Thank You, Father, for all Your people. Keep each one in Your care and in that secret place with You, in Jesus’s name, amen

  2. To have that secret place is so comforting. Praying for missionaries kidnapped in Haiti. This includes their children. They had an amazing work for orphaned Haitian children. I believe they are being held for ransom. Father, in Jesus Name, be their Protector, Provider, and Deliverer. Amen 🙏

  3. Amen to prayers above. So thankful for my secret place which brings such peace from above. Prayers for all missionaries, those captured and those still working in the field. Lord, please protect them and those they are working with. Keep them safe and bring them Your salvation. Blessings all.

  4. Amen to above prayers.
    Dear Father please bring these missionaries and children to a place of safety. Cover them with your feathers and cover them with your wings. ( Psalm 91).
    In Jesus’s name amen.

  5. Amen to every prayer above.
    So thankful for this blog, where we can find peace from reading
    the word of God. Ephesians 2 : 14.
    Praying that our Lord’s Will be done in the lives of all Missionaries,
    in Jesus’ Name, Amen. Our God is good, His Mercy endures forever.

  6. Praying for His hostages who are in His care and will be freed unharmed.Praise God
    Seeds Of Eternity

    Beyond the sunset where peace is found,
    There will not be found reason to cry,
    For beyond that veil without bound
    We find our home when our bodies die.

    Where the ocean ends and time e’er sleeps,
    Together in love we will e’er be
    For we are the crop the Savior reaps,
    Among the seeds of eternity.

    Beyond the sunset our ship will sail,
    Where evil’s never been known to be,
    For it’s there always without fail,
    We will find peace in eternity.

    Where the sky rolls up to meet the moon
    We see no end to infinity,
    For there the countless stars are strewn,
    Anchored by the holy Trinity.
    GW Marshall / 19-Oct-013

  7. Beautiful poem William, thank you. Praying for the missionaries and their children in the Haiti abduction also. God does all things for the greater good therefore praying that the gang members will come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

    God has given us snow this a.m. in WC Alberta. Doesn’t usually come here till Halloween, nevertheless, very beautiful and clean looking:-).
    Blessings on all saints I pray.

  8. Reading an amazing story in a book by Jeremy Dronfield: The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz. Heartrending and true. No one should ever forget the Holocaust I believe.
    Blessings dear readers.

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