“Into Thy hands I commit my spirit…”(Luke 23:46, Ps 31:5) and all I hold dear. Again. I just can’t let this concept go—learning to abide in all things. When the pet whose tail used to wag, you’ve laid in the grave, into Thy hand. When the baby you used to rock is now wearing a cap and gown, into Thy hand. When the expenses seem to outweigh the cash flow, into Thy hand. When the body aches and you don’t have the energy to go on, into Thy hand. When you take the leap of faith, and it’s not what you expected, into Thy hand. These are the places where we discover the Secret Place. The place where we learn, He is our Strong Rock, House of Defense, Fortress, and Strength (Ps 31:1-4). In surrender, we discover comfort, security, and peace (John 14:27).
This is My Worship
“If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). The power in abiding; heaven at our fingertips, and the Father is glorified (John 15:8). I need to hear this again: when we abide in Jesus, we glorify the Father. Abiding becomes an act of worship and transforms us into disciples who bear fruit. Real. Genuine. Childlike—and the world around us changes—real-life abiding. The place where I choose to take His words for truth, trusting and sheltered, my identity in Him, the Secret Place of the Most High (Psalm 91:1).
As the puzzle pieces of life resurface, I am learning to hand them back, continually looking to the Father. These places where we anticipate miracles are easier to see at the end of rationalization, the place of Jehovah-Jireh, the Secret Place. The place where my soul is set free from the constraints of worry and the lies from the enemy— is the secret place. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy Presence (Psalm 31:20 and John 14:22), the place the world doesn’t see, but you see, “because you’ve been with me.” (John 15:21 and 14:25). The Secret Place of His Presence, with us, within us, forever (John 14:16). This connection to the Father, through Jesus, has the power to transform our lives, bringing hope and rest (Matt 11:28-30), but we must surrender to receive it.
His Presence, Our Peace
When we repeatedly declare the words of Jesus and the Father in our lives, they become real. When His Presence becomes real, He becomes our Hiding Place and Shield (Psalm 119: 114), and there is no room left for the enemy’s lies. We have to use our everyday experiences to grow our faith. In the hard places, when we choose to step back and surrender, we will see Him. He is closest in the thick darkness (Ex 20:21). I’m learning to lean in. This journey of faith and trust is not always easy, but it is in these moments that we discover He is our strength and resilience.
Learning to Abide
I encourage you to discover the power of abiding by being open, Ephphatha, to Jesus’ words in John 14. If you’d like to dig deeper, I’ve written 31 daily devotionals, Learning to Abide, that I hope will resonate and draw you into a closer relationship with Jesus.