"For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
-Proverbs 2:6
I'm working my way through the book of Daniel right now, and one of the things that hit me is how many times the word secret is mentioned.
Have you ever had dinner or a coffee date with a friend where you're both so comfortable that you can reveal your hearts and souls to one another in a way that makes you feel connected? You are both so completely free to say the secrets within your souls, and isn't it a wonderous feeling? What trust you have in one another! It's so good to find a friend that when you get together, it's like a meeting of the souls. Secrets are revealed and there is no condemnation or guilt for doing so. We should all be so blessed to find a friend like that on earth!
Maybe you're reading these words and you're thinking: "I used to have that once." Or maybe you're thinking: "I've been burned because of this type of friendship." Perhaps your thought is: "I have never had that. I am jealous of those who do!"
Whether or not you have several friends like this, had one in the past, or have never had a friendship like this, there is a way in which we can ALL have this kind of friendship. Today, when you come to Jesus, you can reveal the secrets that lie within in the chambers of your heart. Jesus is this type of friend.
My Bible says, and your Bible says, "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity..." (Jeremiah 29:12-14a)
Jeremiah prophecies about the people of Israel being captured by Babylon, and their sons and daughters would be integrated into a culture of idolatry and wickedness. But, even in captivity, the Lord says call upon Me, pray to Me, and THEN I will listen to you. Seek Me and find Me, search for Me with all of your heart THEN it says I will be found by you.
The way it works with the Lord, is that He never forces Himself on us. Never! He leaves the choice of a relationship up to us completely, and we must make that choice. So, make that choice. Make that choice every day.
Daniel prayed to the Lord and asked Him to reveal secrets of Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him. Daniel asked! Do you want the Lord to reveal secrets and mysteries to you within His Word? Do you want to hear from Him? Then ask!
One evening I was watching Wheel of Fortune, and I was mulling on this concept of receiving secrets from the Lord. As I was pondering this thought, thinking about how God reveals secrets and mysteries in His Word to those who ask, I said to God in my heart, "Lord, reveal your mysteries to me, Your servant. Reveal secrets to me like you did to Daniel. Reveal the amazing wonders within!"
You know what He said to me? "Your Bible must be open first." I laughed so hard! He didn't say it to me in a condemning way. He said it to me the way a friend with a dry sense of humor would: He was being cheeky toward me but serious at the same time.
The next time you open your Bible, pray for the secrets and mysteries to be revealed. When you open the Word, pray that the Lord would show you Jesus, show you His everlasting love toward you, show you Himself. Do you want Jesus to make you laugh? Ask Him to make you laugh!
Usually when we say God has a sense of humor we are saying it ironically. We'll say something like, "I was never a patient person and then God gave me a difficult job/boss/marriage/child/friendship/etc. Now I'm learning to be patient. God must have a sense of humor!" That's not my God. He doesn't give us difficult circumstances because we need to be taught a lesson. Difficult things happen in this life because we live in a fallen world, and we have an enemy that hates us. That's why we need to have our Bibles open. This world is so fallen, and our enemy hates us with such ferocity, we can't afford to not open our Bibles.
But perhaps you have your Bible open all the time, and you want more. I also want more. I'm hungry for Jesus, hungry for His glory. If this is you, then pray this prayer and watch how the Lord reveals the most amazing things hidden within His Word.
Lord, blessed is Your name, the name of God forever and ever.
Wisdom and might and power are Yours.
You change the times and the seasons, and You give
wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
You reveal deep and secret things.
Lord God, I pray for faith and wisdom and understanding like Daniel.
I pray for understanding in all visions and dreams.
Daniel had tact and counsel when he spoke, I pray for tact and counsel when I speak.
Lord God, give me wisdom, power, might and understanding.
Jesus, I am hungry for more of you.
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, I hunger for secrets and for deeper understanding
of your Word. I want to know You in a new and living way!
Satisfy my mouth with good things, my mind with Your wisdom and understanding.
I thank You and praise You.
Amen
Verses mentioned: Matthew 5:6, Hebrews 10:20, Psalm 103:5, Daniel 2:14, 20-21, 22, 23
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For encouraging words and to read what the Lord is saying to me lately