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Pride is another major obstacle to having a relationship with God. We lessen our need for God's grace and direction when we get caught up in our own achievements and self-sufficiency. In front of the Lord, we must acknowledge our humility and our need on Him for every breath. We are reminded in The Secret Place of our complete dependence on God and our need for His strength and wisdom to face life's obstacles.

Sin is ultimately the biggest obstacle to a close relationship with God. This puts a barrier between us and God and keeps us from fully feeling His love and presence when we allow sin to take root in our hearts. To get forgiveness from the Lord, we must acknowledge our transgressions and confess our sins to Him. God's grace pours over us and reconciles us to Himself in the Secret Place, where we find regeneration and purification. 

Neglect of the Secret Place has grave consequences on Earth and forever after. In the absence of regular prayer and Bible study, we become spiritually malnourished and open to assault from the enemy. Our lives lose meaning and purpose, our faith dwindles, and our hearts grow cold. From an eternal standpoint, the stakes are considerably higher. Our decisions in this life have enduring consequences, and eternity is at stake. Those who ignore the Secret Place run the possibility of being torn away from God for all of eternity due to sin and disobedience. 

Even in the face of our inadequacies and shortcomings, God's grace is abundant, and He longs for us to get close to Him, to experience the fullness of His presence in the intimacy of the Secret Place. He knocks on our hearts, waiting for us to open the door and welcome Him in. Therefore, let us throw aside everything that stands in the way of us entering the Secret Place, and let us seek God relentlessly through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. For in His presence, we find joy, peace, and eternal life—a treasure surpassed by anything that this world can provide.