“While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.” —Maya Angelou
“People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.”
“I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.”
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1 King James Version of the Bible via Bible Gateway
I encourage you to read the entire 91st Psalm. This is a beautiful and comforting Scripture passage. I prefer the beauty of the words of the King James Version for the Psalms.
So what does it mean to dwell (or live) “in” the secret place of the most High? Is it even possible?
Living in the Presence of God
For me living in the secret place is living and walking in the conscious awareness of the presence of God. Is it possible? Absolutely? Do I always live there? Well — to be totally honest — no.
There are moments of complete and total surrender to the presence of God. These are mystical experiences that are beyond explanation. Then there are moments of quiet awareness that God is here, now, walking beside me.
Slipping Away
Then there are times of complete and utter chaos complete with wailing and gnashing of teeth. Those are the times I get caught up in the business of daily life and trying to plan, organize and just generally make things work.
Running Back
Do I regret these when I realize what I have done and the mess I have created?. You bet. Do these experiences send me running back to that secret place? — Do I even need to answer that one?
The Secret Place
The shadow of the almighty is a cool, calm, peaceful place to rest, renew and be protected. We can live in this secret place, but being human we often think we can do things on our own. But when we learn, once again, that we can’t we return to God.
Perhaps in time those ventures into the chaos of the world will become fewer and fewer. Perhaps in time, when we feel ourselves beginning to slip away from the presence of God, we will remember that perfect union with the Divine and we won’t want to follow the world.
What is dwelling in the secret place for you? Please leave your answer in the comment section and let’s talk.
“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am. “
– Michelle Obama, American lawyer, writer and former First Lady of the United States
“My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.” — Robert Smalls, Slave who went on to serve in the South Carolina State legislature and the United States House of Representatives
“I truly believe that everything that we do and everyone that we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers – if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door.”
Born a slave, Isabella Bomfree (or Baumfree) gained her freedom with the help of an abolitionist family. She later took the name Sojourner Truth and became a public speaker, itinerant preacher and advocate for abolition, temperance, and civil and women’s rights in the nineteenth century. I first learned about Sojourner Truth in school. Then as a your adult I became interested in her for her role in the Suffrage Movement. Her “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech especially moved me.
I have decided to let Sojourner Truth speak in her own words. What follows are several quotes attributed to her, beginning with her explanation for her change of name. For more information on Sojourner Truth please see the links below.
Now Sojourner Truth in her own words:
“The Lord gave me ‘Sojourner,’ because I was to travel up an’ down the land, showin’ the people their sins an’ bein’ a sign unto them. Afterwards, I told the Lord I wanted another name ’cause everybody else had two names, and the Lord gave me ‘Truth,’ because I was to declare the truth to people.” — Sojourner Truth
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/sojourner_truth_802921
“Won’t it be wonderful when black history and native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” —Maya Angelou
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/black_history
espirational.com 