Listen:
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 NRSV
Reflect:
As a little girl, my secret hideout lay down an embankment next to the rural road where I lived. At the bottom, pussy willow trees hid me well as I sat next to a small stream that meandered through marshy vegetation. It was a great place to think and dream or to have a good cry. I always felt better after spending time in my hideaway.
Our hiding place is the Lord who has taken up residence in the inner sanctum of our hearts. At any time, we can slip away from the world and sit by streams of living water, sheltered by his love.
In the presence of our dearest friend, we will not hear harsh words, criticism, or judgmental pronouncements. Instead, his promises inspire hope. With him we can be honest without fear of rejection and be ourselves in ways that others would consider silly or might misunderstand. With him it’s safe to cry tears that we’d be too ashamed to let others see.
Song of Solomon 2:10 says, “My beloved spoke and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.’” What happiness to hide away with Jesus! Let us slip away often to meet him!
Because in this secret place, we find ourselves so utterly and completely loved that nothing else matters.
Prayer of Response:
Lord, the world can be harsh sometimes. Thank you for being my safe place and that you never fail to refresh my heart. Amen.
Questions to ponder:
- What touches you most about the Lord being your hiding place?
- In what ways has the Lord been a shield to you?
- In what ways might you adjust your schedule in order to enjoy more time being intimate with the Lord?
—Submitted by Ruth Wood
Ruth is a US/Swiss citizen and lives with her husband in Oregon. They have two grown sons and one very spoiled grandcat. She works as a Licensed Professional Counselor and loves blogging at EspressoForTheHeart.org
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