The Secret You

Proverbs 23:7
As he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Ever wonder why we should take that time to pray in secret?  That "alone" time?

If we look back at the life of Christ, we can see that time and again He retreated to a place alone to pray.  Naturally, we should do the same.

Why?

Let's face it, we all enjoy being loved and respected.  To know that those we surround ourselves with, think well of us.  But being valued by others should always be second to humility and sincerity in our service to God.  We should always remember that God is our audience of One.

While we are striving to be dead to self and pleasing God, sometimes we can get caught in wanting that acknowledgement that we are doing well, making right choices, living what we say.  But we should take a step back and realize that prayer is never meant to spotlight the person praying but to place the focus on God alone.

When we retreat to our secret place and we bow before the King, it helps us stay humble, be real, and to seek no other reward for our time with Him other than knowing, loving, and glorifying Him more.
Powerful statement I read in today's study stated, "Your true heart is best revealed in secret.  In other words, the secret you is the real you."  HARSH!  There are so many times that I would like to believe myself to be better than I am.  A better Christ follower.  A better wife.  A better mother.  A better employee.  A better leader.  But the secret me, the me that only God knows fully, knows that all too often I seek my will above His.

As I sit here, determined to not let this day stray away from a focus on service to God above all and others above self, I know that I will fall short.  That saddens me!!  But I also know, with full assurance and no doubt, that Father God will meet me as I fall, lift me up, and He will strengthen me to continue on.  After all, "faith of a mustard seed."

So as I leave to begin my day - I leave you with this:

The secret to your success will come from your secret place.  And the secret to your failure will come from your failure in the secret place.

Pull up those boots and keep walking friends... together we have accountability, together we have strength, and in our secret places, we will find victory!!

me