Your “Go To Place” - message by Steve Martin

The “Go To Place” - the place you go to be alone with the Lord

 

“After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23, NASB)

 

When I sat in the large tannish brown, upholstered chair that had become my “go to” place here in Jerusalem, before the sun came up over the eastern horizon, I was asking the Lord a few things. As the Bible says, “Jesus went alone to pray.” David also often inquired of the Lord.

 

So do I as I have learned over the decades.

I realized, as I relished this quiet and alone time, that my spirit needed refreshing, a “re-charge” as some used to say. The days had been long as Laurie and I have served at Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem these past row months (which I love), but the spirit, soul and body needed time alone with the Lord.

Service for the Lord is one thing. Spending time alone with Him is another. We need both in order to fully walk out His plans and purposes for us. Jesus did it with His a father. So must we.

David got alone with the Lord daily. He needed that encouragement, that renewed strength, that time to again see things from the Lord’s perspective, in order to get his perspective right.

In this world of lies, those railing against the truth, the meanness, greed and all things that go against the Lord’s ways and His written Word, we definitely need His perspective daily. We will be buried underneath the same rubble if we don’t.

As I sat waiting in that chair, I realized I was missing my favorite worship songs, due to the lack of Internet and WiFi on my phone in the apartment. I needed that spiritual jolt, that “energy” that He provides for us through praise and worship music, connecting us even more to Him. My spirit was longing for that “hidden place” where I could be in His presence through the senses He has given each of us.

As Don Moen sang in my mid-adult years, which I know I wore out the CD (if that is possible, or maybe it was on cassette then, if you remember those days), the song “I Just Want To Be in Your Presence” (Integrity Music, was coming back to me.

“Lord, I just want to be in Your presence, dwelling daily in Your presence. Take me to the place where You are.” (Integrity Music, https://youtu.be/MydWQgUOPH4?si=jeLEoHSjoO-l5mDT)

My daily time with the Lord usually includes listening to songs of praise and worship. If I had my way, and when I do, I turn the volume up loud and let my spirit soar into the heavens, filling up my spirit as it lifts Him up with my being.

And as I do, His love and refreshing brings renewing, restoration, recreating that which has been given out, or lost, stolen, or destroyed by the works of our enemy.

In His presence He brings to us what we need once again.

Whatever your “go to place” is - the latest believing song to repeat over and over from your playlist; the daily devotional bringing inspiration from those who have faithfully walked the walk and made it; that time of day when you know you just “need to be with Him” - be sure you make it a daily priority. I need it. You need it.

 

He wants us to be with Him in that “go to” place.