Planted by Water

As promised, I am continuing with some thoughts on Psalm 91, and specifically on how we can learn to stay in the secret place. Of course, you can’t reduce such a spiritual lesson to a list of ‘how to’ steps. Arthur Wallis once wrote that the answer to every how to question of the spiritual life is - the Holy Spirit. If we can learn everything from a simple list then there would be no need for the fellowship of the Spirit - he wants us to learn within an ongoing relationship with him; we are apprenticed to the Holy Spirit.

Having said that, the Spirit can and does highlight some clues for us from the Word that he inspired. I would suggest that there are some such clues about remaining in the secret place, in Psalm 91. I suggest:

1. Although we are placed in Christ by God, we have responsibility to maintain it as a living experience. We are to ‘make the Most High our dwelling’ (v.9). We deliberately and consciously choose to cultivate and maintain fellowship with God throughout the day.
2. We must understand alongside that, however, that we are already in Christ, and have been brought into a relationship with Jesus by God the Father throug the Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of us desperately trying to get ourselves in, but trusting in what God has already done in putting us there. Trust (v.2) or faith is the fundamnetal attitude, the default condition of the heart, that we will find in the one who stays in the secret place. It is based not on our condition or effort, but on God’s character and grace.
3. The Psalmist declares ‘I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge…..’ (v.2). What you say, what you confess with your mouth - especially when the pressure is on and trouble surrounds you - is so important. Your mouth can keep you in the secret place!
4. The AV translates v.14 ‘Because he has set his love upon me…I will deliver him.’  The word ’set’ indicates a determined attitude, a focused setting of the heart and mind, a radical forsaking of all other things things that compete for our affections, our preoccupation and time.
5. Finally, the AV continues in v.14 to say. "I will set him on high because he has known my name." The name of God indicates his nature, and the word for ‘known’ includes not just mental knowledge but affectionate commitment; to know God, to have a revelation of his nature, to meditate on that nature and to respond in worship and commitment to that revelation keeps us near to God in the secret place.

These are just a few things tha I have learned from this Psalm. Hope theY help. Look again at the Psalm and praise God for all the promises that are guaranteed for those who learn to live in the secret place with God.