Psalm 91:1-2
“He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.”

How do we enter into the “secret place” of the Lord described for us in this psalm? Jesus was our Pattern Man, thus we look to Him for the answer. Scripture declares that Jesus only did the things that pleased the Father, fulfilling the Father’s will and not His own during His time on earth. The greatest agony in His earthly life was choosing God’s will to die on Calvary’s cross for the sin of mankind, to fulfill God’s plan of redemption for the world. Jesus’ agonising prayer in Gethsemane, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours,” Matthew 26:39. “Nevertheless” Jesus said. He demonstrated by using this word that our will, instead of God’s, is always the lesser way. God’s will is the greater and His best for us.

Our Pattern Man humbled Himself to choose the Father’s will above His own. As we humble ourselves to the Lord, die to our own glory, fleshly desires, ambitions and will, we access the door to the secret place of the Most High. Humility is the key once more. As I walk in the truths He has revealed to me, I will abide in His presence and all the benefits of Psalm 91 will become my experience.

When I remain humble, I too, will desire to “always do the things that please the Father,” just as Jesus did, but if I rise up in pride wanting my own will, God will resist me, (1 Peter 5:5), and I will forfeit His Presence of the “secret place.” Only humility and repentance to the Lord will place me back on track once more.

As I make a right choice under God’s guiding hand, His power is triggered and comes alongside of my choice, to enable me to fulfill His will. God works with me “to will and to do of His good pleasure,” (not His great misery.) Thus in this process I learn the truth of the Psalmist’s words: “I delight to do Thy will, O Lord,” as my life brings glory to God and “His good pleasure” also becomes mine.