The Invitation
April 2026
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6). I love this scripture. Often the emphasis of this scripture is on how God our Father will reward us openly even though we pray in private. This is a beautiful truth but what I love is that it assures me that my Father in heaven is IN the secret place and when I go there He WILL meet me.
The secret place can be explained simply. It’s when you are intentionally alone for the purpose of meeting with God. I, like most Christians, have had amazing times in the secret place where I can feel the presence of God or have had powerful times of intercession where I feel the power of God praying through me. But I, like most Christians, have also had times where my prayers seem to be falling flat and I just don’t feel anything. It’s in those times that it is so important for us to remember that God says He IS in the secret place with you whether you feel Him or not.
Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie…” which means if the Lord God Almighty says when you go into a room and close the door to meet with Him, He will be there, then He is there! What an invitation for us! Most of us wake up with schedules, to-do lists, and chores waiting to be done but I want to encourage you to remember your loving, good, faithful Father is waiting for you in the secret place. His heart yearns for you.
Song of Solomon 2:14 says, “O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” I don’t think it is an accident that the same language, “secret place”, is used by the beloved in this passage. I believe this is a reflection of our Beloved. He longs to meet with you face to face, to hear your voice in prayer and worship, to have you take time to gaze upon Him because His gaze is ever on you.
I implore you today, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, don’t miss out on what should be the best part of the day: time with your heavenly Father in the secret place. Pray to Him, sing to Him, or just sit with Him. He’s deeply in love with you. Accept the invitation and meet Him in the secret place.
The Relationship of Prayer
March 2026
Sometimes when there are important and consistent practices in life, they can tend to become routine or ritualistic in nature. Routine elements, such as showering or brushing your teeth, don’t require much thought in the process. Once you start, it’s just daily routine.
There are many scenarios that contribute to something becoming a mindless routine. As kids, many of us, were taught specific prayers that we pray before bed or before we eat. Some of us, as adults, still pray the same prayer over our food three times a day.
But prayer is not a ritual and it’s not a routine. It’s a relationship. In John 15, Jesus compares the relationship between God and believers is that of a vine and its branches. He says “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
God desires to hear from us and He desires to speak to us. It’s a conversation, a dialogue between a father and a child. Both sides speaking and both sides listening. It doesn’t always happen at the same time each day, and it’s not always the same duration. Sometimes it’s relaxed and casual, and sometimes it’s intense and with a specific purpose.
I know this isn’t a new revelation to most of us, but it’s a good reminder. As life provides many responsibilities and distractions that have us putting prayer into the role of routine, let’s fight to keep it in its proper place as a relationship.
Tending the Fire on the Altar
February 2026
In a world where our phones and tablets organize our schedules and remind us of every task, time can slip by quickly; days, weeks, months, and even the year can leave us longing for a deeper and more consistent prayer life.
Personally, I have needed regular check-in’s with the Holy Spirit. From a youth heading out to high school to an adult leading prayer ministries - the challenge has been to keep the fire burning on the altar through an active prayer life.
Moses was given clear instructions from the Lord for Aaron and his sons to follow. Leviticus 6:13 “Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.”
Thankfully we are not required to keep a physical fire burning in the temple yet we are instructed in I Thessalonians 5:17 “Never stop praying.”
No matter what may come our way, nor the pressure of ministry, or the demands placed on us by ourselves or others, may our prayer life burn greater than ever before.
During National Week of Prayer, many of you held extended prayer times and a number of our churches hosted a TEND24 prayer gathering (24 hours of continual prayer). We are believing with you for much fruit to come from these times of prayer.