Episode Details

We use the terms "breathing" and "eating" to describe the most basic functions of physical life. If you stop breathing, you die in minutes. If you stop eating, you starve over a season. In the spiritual realm, the equation is exactly the same: Breathing is prayer, and eating is the Word of God. Many people ask me how much of the Bible they should read. I don't like to pontificate, so I give them a simple guideline: Eat until you are full. You don’t need a manual to tell you how many cheeseburgers to eat; you eat until you are satisfied. For your spirit, I suggest the 2-2-1-1 plan—one Old Testament chapter, one New Testament chapter, and for "dessert," a Psalm or a Proverb. This simple discipline ensures you are consistently feeding on the wisdom of Solomon and the life of Christ. However, even more urgent than eating is breathing. Prayer is the breath of the Holy Spirit operating within you. Without it, your spirit withers. But prayer is not a religious obligation or a one-sided grocery list of requests. It is a two-way conversation. I have been married to my childhood sweetheart since 1973. For over 50 years, our relationship has been built on communication. I don't need someone to tell me to be nice to my wife or to spend time with her; I do it because I love her. Marriage is the ultimate biblical illustration of Christ and His Church. If we want that level of intimacy with the Father, we must find what I call "The Secret Place." The Secret Place is a dedicated time and location where you and God meet. It is a place where the noise of the world is shut out, and the voice of God becomes clear. In my own life, I have found that this place is where the real work happens. It is where God takes someone who might have been a "dirtbag" by the world’s standards and begins a six-step transformation. First, He redeems us. Then, He restores us and reconciles us. Once we are right with Him, He refreshes us. But then comes the hard part: He re-fires us. Like metal in a forge, He uses heat and pressure to make us pliable. Finally, He re-tools us, equipping us for eternal kingdom work. God is not a distant, silent figure. He is a real God who wants a real relationship. When you read the Word and a verse "jumps off the page," that is the Holy Spirit giving you a Rhema word—a direct, revealed message for your life. I challenge you today: find your secret place. Make it a daily habit. Stop playing at church and start engaging with the living God. He is waiting to meet you there. Scriptures for Further Study -- Luke 18:1 -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17 -- Ephesians 6:18 -- Colossians 4:2 -- Romans 12:12 -- James 5:16 -- 1 Corinthians 13