It seems to me that many of us are facing some sort of trials and testings in our faith in the Lord.  I've received a couple of e-mails telling me that they are going through times of trials and needed prayers. The devil is working doubly hard because he knows he's running out of time on earth.  Who can deny the fact that we are living in the last days?

Let me start by asking you this question: "Do you have a secret place where you can go and have a personal encounter with God?"  Let me share mine.  I have a few secret places where I go to when I need to be alone with God.  During my University days, I had a spot by the    Brisbane River where I could be alone.   Just across the river, there was  a church building and a big Red Cross sign.  That was really ideal because it reminds me of Jesus.  Most of the time though, to get back my "sanity," I would take a ride to Gold Coast and find a quiet spot by the beach, and have a chat with God.  For this reason, it helps to take a compact/small/pocket bible wherever you go.

In my office, well, which better place to have an encounter with God than in the toilet? =) I can sense some of you are smiling already (okay, the toilets in my office are well maintained).  Nonetheless, that's where I pray when things don't turn out right in my office.  And at home, of course, behind closed doors, my room.

Wherever our secret place may be, that's where God wants to meet with us. The Psalmist wrote in Psalms 91:1, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of  the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Great security and comfort is guaranteed to believers in 
the midst of trials,  problems and difficulties. He knows it's not easy living in this world, that's why he promised Psalms 81:7,  "Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of  Meribah."

Perhaps one verse that keeps us going is Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  Many times when we feel like giving up, it is 
because we are having lack of strength--physically and mentally.  We are drained out, squeezed every inch by our employers and we just feel like quitting.  Do you? I do, many times.  All of us go through several stages in life.  Each stage has it's own challenges of its own.  It's a fact of life, I guess.

There are many promises in the bible and I'll list some for you to read and mediate:

[Samuel 22:2-4; Psalms 27:5; Psalms 91; Isaiah 
40:30; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9]

So, where is your secret place?  If you don't have one, find one today, and have a personal encounter with God. Our weapon in those still and quiet moments is prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13). To those who e-mailed me, you are remembered in my prayers.

                          Grace and peace,
                                   Elaine