The Nature of God’s Presence
The nature of God’s presence is one of the most important realities a believer can understand. God is everywhere because of His omnipresence, yet Scripture shows that there are specific moments and places where people encounter Him in a deeper and more personal way.
Apostle Joshua Selman teaches that God is everywhere, but He does not meet with people everywhere in the same way. Throughout Scripture, divine encounters were often connected to specific places, moments, and atmospheres.
The tearing of the veil through the death of Jesus Christ gave believers access to God, but it does not mean that fellowship with Him should become casual or unintentional. A believer must still cultivate an atmosphere and lifestyle that welcomes communion with God.
Understanding God's presence therefore goes beyond knowing that He is everywhere. It involves intentionally seeking Him, making time for Him, and developing a heart that is sensitive to His voice.
What Is the Secret Place?
The secret place is not simply a physical room or location where someone prays. Although having a dedicated place for prayer can help create consistency, the secret place is primarily a personal posture of fellowship and intimacy with God.
It is the place where faith becomes personal and a believer moves beyond merely hearing about God to knowing Him personally.
Apostle Joshua Selman teaches that believers should not depend entirely on pastors, prophets, preachers, or spiritual leaders to know God for them. Every believer must develop a personal relationship with God through prayer, Scripture, worship, and consistent fellowship.
What God builds in a person privately often becomes the foundation for what is expressed publicly. The strength people see in public is often developed through unseen moments with God.
Six Dimensions of the Secret Place
1. The Secret Place Is a Place of Brokenness
Apostle Joshua Selman teaches that brokenness is one of the major dimensions of the secret place. Biblical brokenness is not weakness or defeat. It is the willingness to surrender self-dependence and acknowledge one's complete need for God.
In the secret place, there is no need to impress anyone. A person can come before God honestly, allowing Him to expose pride, wrong motives, unhealthy attitudes, and areas that need correction.
David demonstrated this posture when he prayed:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” (Psalm 139:23)
David was willing to allow God to examine his heart. This is an important function of the secret place: God works on the person before He works through the person.
As Apostle Joshua Selman emphasizes, consistent fellowship with God produces humility, surrender, and a heart that is teachable.
2. The Secret Place Is a Place of Mercy
According to Apostle Joshua Selman, the secret place is also where believers continually encounter the mercy of God. Everyone needs God's mercy, it is not only the beginning of the Christian journey, but throughout every season of life.
The Bible says:
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalm 86:5)
God's mercy reminds us that our relationship with Him is not sustained by human perfection. His compassion meets us in our weaknesses and gives us the opportunity to rise, learn, repent, and continue walking with Him.
Lamentations 3:22–23 further reminds us that God's mercies are new every morning.
The story of blind Bartimaeus gives us another picture of this dependence. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried:
“Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” (Mark 10:47)
His cry demonstrated his recognition that he needed the intervention of Jesus.
The secret place teaches believers to approach God with humility rather than self-righteousness. As Apostle Joshua Selman teaches, mercy does not make obedience unnecessary; instead, it reminds us that our journey with God is sustained by His grace.
3. The Secret Place Is a Place of Rest and Comfort
Apostle Joshua Selman teaches that the secret place is where the heart can find rest in God's presence.
Life can become overwhelming. There are burdens that may be difficult to explain to other people and moments when human encouragement does not fully address what is happening within.
The secret place provides an opportunity to bring those burdens before God without pretending to have everything together.
Psalm 62:1 says:
“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.”
Waiting on God creates room for the heart to become quiet. In His presence, believers can receive peace, strength, comfort, and renewed courage.
The secret place is therefore not only a place of prayer; it is also a place of spiritual rest where the believer remembers that they do not have to carry every burden alone.
4. The Secret Place Brings Revival and Restoration
According to Apostle Joshua Selman, there are seasons when what a believer needs is not more activity but restoration.
A person can remain active in church, ministry, work, or other responsibilities while becoming spiritually tired. The secret place provides an opportunity for the heart to be refreshed and restored.
David expressed this truth when he said:
“He restoreth my soul.” (Psalm 23:3)
God can restore spiritual hunger, passion, strength, vision, joy, and love for Him.
This is why fellowship with God should not be treated as an optional activity that is only pursued when life becomes difficult. The secret place is a place of continual renewal.
As Apostle Joshua Selman teaches, ministry, service, and purpose should flow from fellowship with God rather than replace it.
5. The Secret Place Is a Place of Illumination
Apostle Joshua Selman teaches that the secret place is also a place where God brings clarity, wisdom, and direction.
There are questions that human knowledge cannot answer and decisions that require more than general wisdom. Believers need God's direction for specific seasons, assignments, and decisions.
Daniel provides a powerful example. When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded the interpretation of his dream, Daniel and his companions sought God. God eventually revealed the mystery to Daniel.
The Bible records:
“Then the secret was revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” ( Daniel 2:19)
Daniel's experience shows the importance of seeking God when human ability reaches its limit.
The psalmist expressed a similar desire:
“Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.” (Psalm 25:4)
The secret place helps believers develop sensitivity to God's direction. As Apostle Joshua Selman teaches, general biblical principles are important, but personal fellowship with God also helps a believer receive specific instructions and insight for their journey.
6. The Secret Place Is a Place of Power
Apostle Joshua Selman teaches that true spiritual strength is developed through knowing God. It is not produced by popularity, public recognition, or outward activity.
Daniel 11:32 declares:
“The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing God personally. A person can listen to sermons, attend Christian meetings, read books, and study Scripture without developing deep personal fellowship with God.
These activities are valuable, but they should lead to genuine intimacy with Him.
Apostle Joshua Selman emphasizes that time is essential to intimacy. The more consistently a believer spends time with God, the more their character, faith, discernment, and spiritual strength are developed.
The secret place therefore becomes a training ground for spiritual strength. What is developed there eventually influences how a believer responds to challenges, makes decisions, serves others, and fulfills God's purpose.
Why is the secret place important?
The secret place is important because it is where God works on the inner life of a believer.
It is where:
- pride gives way to humility;
- weakness encounters mercy;
- weary hearts find rest;
- spiritual hunger is restored;
- confusion receives direction;
- and intimacy with God produces strength.
The secret place reminds us that public results should have a private foundation. Before a person becomes effective publicly, God often develops their character, convictions, understanding, and spiritual capacity privately.
How to return to the secret place
Returning to the secret place therefore means intentionally making room for God again. It means setting aside time for prayer, studying Scripture, worship, reflection, and fellowship with Him. It means learning to value God's presence beyond public recognition, religious activity, and the opinions of people.
Many people do not intentionally walk away from God; they simply become distracted by the demands of life. Gradually, prayer becomes less consistent, Scripture becomes less important, and fellowship with God becomes secondary.
The way back is simple: return, make time for God. Seek Him consistently, allow Him to examine your heart, restore your soul, give you direction, and build your
spiritual strength.
What God builds in the secret place becomes the foundation for a life of spiritual growth, lasting purpose, and kingdom influence.