Can I Tell You a Secret?
In our twenty-three years of marriage, and twenty-five years of being friends, my beautiful wife and I have learned to listen to one another, sometimes without using words. Does this sound strange, to be able to listen to someone without using words?
I believe a truly successful marriage has partners who listen in spite of using words, as we don’t often say what we mean or mean what we say. There is, instead, a method two people learn over a period of time to communicate without words, and hopefully around whatever words are spoken. We can pick up on subtle queues, expressions, or reactions and know what the other is feeling, even when the words don’t match up. There is a “secret of a presence” we have learned in just being together.
In Psalm 31, David illustrates “the secret of His presence”, introducing a very similar concept of knowing the Lord through our relationship with Him. David writes,
“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the scheming of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.” (Ps 31:19-20)
David is showing us how we learn about the Lord by being with Him, just as my wife and I learn about one another by being together, but David is also pointing out the strength which comes from only His presence. To paraphrase:
“All true strength comes from drawing near to the Lord. The measure of our strength is proportionate to our nearness to him!”
I think this is something we learn over a period of time in our relationship with Christ, but eventually we begin to figure out the closer we are to Jesus, the stronger we are in life. All the strength we are ever going to need will only come through “the secret of His presence” in our lives.
This is really not a secret at all, as Scripture repeatedly tells us to draw near to Christ and He will draw near to us, giving us a fresh supply of strength daily.
The devil despises the Lord’s presence in our lives. And why not? The enemy wants us as weak as possible and Christ is our power source! I believe Satan trembles at the very thought of a believer’s nearness to Christ. This is why the devil will do everything in his power to rob you of the Lord’s presence in your life. He will lie to you. He will cause you to doubt Scripture is true. He will make it easy for you to skip through passages of Scripture without actually reading the words. He will fill you with fear of mockery and bolster your independence to make you think you do not need God. He will even give you the appearance of strength to keep you weak.
He will use anything he can, even “good” things, to keep you away from spending time alone with Jesus. He knows your time with Christ makes you victorious over the fears and anxieties of this crazy world.
The Word of God tells us we should pray without ceasing. This is unspoken prayer, anywhere, any time. Just as my wife and I communicate throughout our day without saying a word, this is the same sort of communication with God, our source of power and strength. This is “the secret of His presence” in our lives, a continual communication without having to speak. I have learned my most important prayers are those quiet whispers of thanksgiving and unspoken acknowledgement of His presence. This keeps me in the aware of Him and keeps me in “the secret of His presence.”
Are you strong enough for this secret?
Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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