As I looked to my side, a sensation of excitement and wonder grabbed me. I found myself intrigued by what could be down that narrow path, but I felt so distracted. I was distracted by the gorgeous, large trees looming over me and the fact that I was alone on this unknown trail. Distracted because I only had about 30 minutes before I had to get back to my important task list for the day, and distracted by the fact that I hadn't had lunch yet. Maybe I should wait until a different time my husband could join me down this trail?
Still I kept looking at the trail that went off into who-knows-where. Like a magnet I was pulled toward the trail-head. My heart was racing and I felt both excited and anxious at the same time.
But I knew that I knew that I knew that I had to go down this trail. It was as if the trail knew my name. In some way it actually beckoned to me. And my heart longed to go down it, even though I knew I had a short list of reasons to put it off until another day. Yet I took a step toward it...and then another...and I was hooked. An invisible Force pushed me along as my heart raced faster and faster with excitement and wonder.
I COULD NOT STOP. And the deeper I went down this unknown trail the more my heartbeat somehow begin to sync with what was around me. I stopped at one point to have a look at a flower and a cute little bird landed on my shoulder and whistled a happy little tune before fluttering off. What a gift! Continuing down the trail I then came across two dear. My eyes locked with one of them for a second and I just knew that there was something else very special down this trail that I was yet to discover. I started to think clearly and slowly again. And I went DEEPER STILL. At one stage I noticed that I was on the bank of a canal. The bank was splashed with living colors - tropical green, lovely lavender, brilliant yellows and soft pinks rustling in the wind. I could barely breathe because of the beauty of it all, but I felt more ALIVE and RESTORED than I had felt in what seemed like ages. The trail rejuvenated me. It gave me life. I felt at REST and at PEACE and I was overjoyed at the little surprises along the way. Everything else faded away and for that moment in time it was just me chasing after purple butterflies and continuing to explore this beautiful trail that made somehow made my heart alive with songs of Praise. I felt SO secure and overwhelmed by the GOODNESS of my JESUS.
I came to a spot where the sun shined down on my face, and all I could do was stand completely still with eyes closed and arms raised and take it all in... And then the Lord spoke to me.
He said this trail is like His INVITATION into the SECRET PLACE with Him. There will always be distractions and tasks to get done, and there will always appear to be reasons that we should put it off....but NOTHING makes us more alive or at rest than being in that Secret Place with Him.
My friend Lana released a word in March this year about Psalm 23 and REST, and ironically enough I have been meditating on this Psalm for about a year now. I was reminded today on the trail of verses 2-4 (TPT): "He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss . That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near."
Y'all..... we NEED this time in the Secret Place with Him. Our world needs us to live FULLY ALIVE. Our children and loved ones and neighbors and friends need us REVIVED. We MUST fight for our intimacy and rest so that we can slow our ever-racing brains, breathe deeply and really HEAR FROM HIS HEART. We need the Presence of God more than anything else - it's His Presence that TRANSFORMS. We need to know how FOR US God really is so that we can show the world His great LOVE.
Whatever your trail looks like - He beckons you to it. He calls your name. His love is luxurious, and He has an oasis of PEACE for you. THIS is where He will RESTORE AND REVIVE you. He has so many surprises to show you!
YOU WERE CREATED FOR THE SECRET PLACE.
