The Secret Place Was God’s Idea First
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor Lee Cummings’ sermon from January 11, 2026
One of the greatest misunderstandings about prayer is the belief that we have to get God’s attention. But Jesus teaches us something radically different.
When He speaks about praying in secret, He reminds us that the Father already knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:5–8). God is not reluctant. He is not distracted. He does not need convincing.
The secret place is not where we summon God—it’s where we meet Him. He arrives first and waits there. Prayer is not us pursuing a distant God; it is us responding to a present one.
As much as we desire to know Him, God desires to know us even more—the real us. And meeting God in the secret place requires honesty.
So many of us enter prayer wearing masks:
Formality, where prayer becomes tradition without heart.
Familiarity, where reverence is replaced with casual distance.
Inferiority, where shame convinces us we don’t belong.
But God isn’t looking for perfect prayers—He’s looking for authenticity. The secret place invites intimacy and gives us permission to stop pretending.
The secret place is not about praying longer; it’s about going deeper.
When Jesus told Peter to launch out into the deep (Luke 5:4), it wasn’t simply about catching fish—it was about encounter. The miracle reshaped Peter’s confidence, revealed God’s power, and sustained what Peter could never provide on his own.
This is what happens in the secret place. When we truly meet with God, our fears, false satisfactions, and self-sufficiency begin to dissolve. We are drawn deeper into dependence on Him, transformed not by effort but by encounter.
“The measure of our desire for God becomes the measure of our experience of God.”
To the degree that we hunger and thirst for Him is the degree that we come to know Him. The more we seek Him, the more we find.
God does not invite us into the secret place for transactional prayer. He invites us into relationship. He wants to be our Father, not just our provider.
And as we learn this, the secret place becomes less intimidating and part of our everyday lives. If God Himself is life, then prayer becomes our daily inhale and exhale—the breath that sustains us.
Tap to watch Pastor Lee Cummings’ full sermon on Youtube.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: The Thirst of the Soul
Reading: Psalm 42:1–5
Like a deer searching for water in a dry land, our souls were created to thirst for God alone. This longing is not a flaw—it is evidence of how we were designed. Too often, we try to satisfy this thirst with temporary things: achievements, distractions, relationships, or routines. But none of these can truly fill what only God can. Today, simply acknowledge the thirst within you. Stop striving to satisfy your soul with substitutes. Return to the living water. God is not hiding from you—He is waiting for you in the secret place, ready to meet you.
Day 2: God Desires You More
Reading: John 4:7–14
The Gospel reveals a powerful truth: God does not merely tolerate you—He desires you. Jesus initiated the conversation with the woman at the well, showing us that God always moves first. When we come to Him, we discover He has already been waiting. Prayer is not about convincing God to care. It is responding to a loving Father who invites us into relationship. Let go of performance and religious pressure. God is not after polished prayers; He wants your real heart. Even your simplest, most honest prayer brings Him joy.
Day 3: Dropping the Masks
Reading: Matthew 6:5–8
Jesus warns us against approaching prayer with false coverings—praying out of routine without heart, treating God casually without reverence, or coming in fear and shame. God is not looking for impressive words or perfect posture. He is looking for honest children who know their Father. You don’t need special language to be heard. You don’t need to clean yourself up before coming to Him. Your weakness does not disqualify you—it invites you closer. When you enter the secret place, remember this: God arrived first. He is waiting with love, not disappointment.
Day 4: God Is Already There
Reading: Romans 11:33–36; Ephesians 3:14–19
In prayer, we are never the first to arrive. God is already present. We are not reaching for a distant God or trying to get heaven’s attention—we are stepping into depths where our Father is already calling us deeper. As we draw near, His presence begins to reshape us. Fear loses its grip. Independence fades. False security erodes. Prayer becomes less about asking for things and more about knowing Him. The greatest reward of the secret place is not answers—it is intimacy.
Day 5: Launch Out Into the Deep
Reading: Luke 5:1–11
Peter had done everything right and still came up empty—until Jesus told him to go deeper. In those deep waters, everything changed. Nets broke. Boats sank. And Peter encountered the holiness and power of God in a way that transformed him forever. God is inviting you deeper—not by striving harder, but by trusting His word. Don’t settle for shallow moments with Him. Step into the depths of prayer, worship, and His presence. Let His waves wash over you. What you’ll find there will be far greater than anything you could produce on your own.
There’s an opportunity for you to grow in your spiritual journey, build meaningful community, and truly get connected. At Radiant Church, we’re passionate about helping people grow in faith, encounter the Presence of God, and be part of a church grounded in Spirit and truth.