Devotional: Hidden in Christ

Hidden in Christ

There is place where, although storms rage all around you, you are safe and secure. Your mind wonders how it can be that you are untouched by the chaos and threats swarming about, but your heart rests in perfect peace. It is a place in Christ.

David said, "For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock" (Psalm 27:5). King David spent many days "hidden" in the Lord. It was his secret place; where his enemies could not touch him and his faith was strengthened. The Prophet Isaiah agreed: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3). This is one of the benefits of being hidden in Christ... perfect peace.

Perfection can make some people think of hard work or toil, but Webster defines it as excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement, to exactly fit the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose, entirely without flaws, defects or shortcomings. We can have this kind of peace when we refuse to spend all our time meditating on the storm, but instead meditate on God and His faithfulness. Perfect peace (or the lack of) is the result of our meditation. In fact, we can know for sure when we are worried, anxious, or fretful, our meditation is in the wrong place. Knowingly, or unknowingly, a lack of peace means we've left the "secret place" of His shelter.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19). Satan would have us focus on the many "afflictions" instead of God's faithful deliverance. But it's our choice. Just recently a large and very low, threatening thunderstorm loomed outside and my children were nervous. When the lightening struck nearby and the thunder boomed loudly, one of them said, "Did you hear that?!" I said in response, "Yeah, was that your stomach growling?" It was a light joke, but the point was to redirect their meditation. And that is what we must do as believers in order to stay in the secret place. Redirecting and controlling where our thoughts wander is key to perfect peace.

I love the Twenty-Seventh Psalm. I read it often as a reminder of God's provision. The Psalmist said, "THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me]. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me; they breathe out cruelty and violence. [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord" (Psalm 27:1-8,11-14, Amplified).

The Lord IS the strength of our lives. We can never muster up enough strength on our own, but hidden in Him (in the secret place of His presence), there is an abundance of strength and a lack of fear. The "false witnesses" that rise against God's children are the reports that we won't make it through the storm. When those kind of thoughts or talk arise, we must confidently declare, "I will believe the report of the Lord." The Apostle Paul stated during one of his great trials, "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS which are written in the Law and in the Prophets" (Acts 24:14). Just as he did, we must be firm that if the Bible says it... we believe it.

So if the Bible promises perfect peace to those whose mind is stayed on Him, you can believe it. "For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).