https://www.ispeech.org/text.to.speech

We come face-to-face with God in a hallowed spot on our spiritual journey, when His voice resounds in our hearts and His presence permeates our spirits. It's the Secret Place, a community and sphere of communion set apart for those who really pursue Him. As we set out on our journey to strengthen our connection with God let's recognize and address the obstacles that lie in our way. Together with God's assistance, let us recognize the lures and diversions that keep us from the Secret Place and work to conquer them.

The quest for material wealth is one of the main obstacles to entering the Secret Place. John 6:27 tells us that spiritual poverty results from working for food that perishes rather than seeking God's provision. It's simple to lose sight of what really counts —our connection with the Creator in a society where financial wealth is the focus. Furthermore, a major obstacle to connection with God is the enticement of worldly pleasures. In John 10:10, Jesus forewarns us that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. We expose ourselves to spiritual theft and disaster when we put the pleasures of this world ahead of our pursuit of God. This idea is echoed in Matthew 6:24, where it is said that we cannot serve God and money. However, a lot of people fall prey to the false promises of prosperity and sacrifice the treasures of God's presence in order to find fleeting fulfillment. 

The love of money is another hindrance; according to 1 Timothy 6:10, it is the source of all evil. We become enslaved to greed and move farther away from God's presence when our hearts are overwhelmed by the desire for money and belongings. Materialism creates walls between us and the Secret Place by encouraging idolatry and unhappiness. Moreover, James 4:4 forbids friendship with the world, saying that anybody who seeks to befriend the world turns against God. We distance ourselves from God's presence when we adopt the norms, attitudes, and interests of this world. The temptations of this world may look appealing, but they only result in emptiness and spiritual alienation. 

Being overly busy is one of the crafty obstacles. There is little time for introspection and prayerful connection with God in our fast-paced society since we become overwhelmed with demands and diversions all the time. Our calendars are jam-packed with events and responsibilities, with little time set out for the most crucial connection of all. However, we are commanded to put our time in the Secret Place above everything else as followers of Christ. Amidst the craziness of life, we must intentionally and purposefully carve out times of isolation in order to seek God's presence. 

Fear frequently impedes our intimacy with God. Our environment is rife with many concerns and worries, surrounded by a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. However, we are commanded to put our faith in Christ's omnipotence and supply. It is necessary for us to set aside our worries and uncertainties, laying them at Jesus' feet and accepting His unwavering calm. The Almighty's protective wings provide us with a haven from life's storms—the Secret Place. 

...to be continued