Faith & Scripture
What Is the Secret Place? Finding God's Presence in Psalm 91
Psalm 91 promises shelter to those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Here is what that place is, and how you can live there every day.
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1, KJV)
Blessings, family. When we named this podcast The Secret Place, we were not choosing a clever title. We were naming the one place every believer needs most: the hidden, intimate space where you meet God and He meets you.
People ask us all the time, "What is the secret place?" Is it a prayer closet? A church building? A feeling? Let's dive deep into faith and mind and answer that together.
The Secret Place Is a Relationship Before It Is a Location
The Hebrew word for "secret place" in Psalm 91 carries the idea of a covering, a hiding place, a shelter. The psalmist is not describing a room. He is describing a way of living under God's protection.
Notice the verb: dwelleth. Not "visits." Not "stops by on Sunday." Dwelling means you live there. You unpack your bags. The promise of the second half of the verse, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, is connected to the first half. Those who dwell are the ones who abide.
Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 6:6: "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." The secret place is where your private life with God becomes the source of your public strength.
What the Tabernacle Teaches Us About God's Presence
In our episode on the Tabernacle, Bishop walked through how God designed a place in the wilderness so He could dwell among His people. There was an outer court, a Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place, where the presence of God rested.
Each step moved the worshipper closer:
- The outer court was about sacrifice and cleansing.
- The Holy Place was about light, bread and prayer.
- The Most Holy Place was about presence.
Through Jesus, the veil has been torn (Matthew 27:51). You no longer need a high priest to go in for you once a year. Hebrews 10:19 says we can enter "with boldness." The secret place is open to you today.
Why the Secret Place Matters for Your Mind, Too
Here is where theology and psychology intertwine. Dr. Noemi often reminds us that the brain was designed for connection and safety. When we feel unsafe, the body stays on high alert: racing thoughts, tight shoulders, shallow sleep.
Psalm 91 speaks directly to that fear response: "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day" (Psalm 91:5). Spending unhurried time in God's presence is not only spiritual. It calms the whole person. Prayer, worship and meditating on Scripture slow us down, redirect our attention and remind us that we are covered.
We are not saying prayer replaces good care for your mind and body. We are saying God designed you as a whole person, and His presence touches every part.
Four Ways to Dwell in the Secret Place This Week
- Set a meeting time. Choose ten minutes, the same time each day. Treat it like an appointment with the King.
- Shut the door. Put the phone in another room. Jesus' instruction to shut the door is practical wisdom for a distracted generation.
- Pray Psalm 91 out loud. Personalize it: "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High. I abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
- Listen before you leave. End your time in stillness. Ask, "Father, what are You saying to me today?" and write down what comes to mind.
You Were Made to Live Covered
Family, the secret place is not reserved for pastors or the super-spiritual. It is your inheritance as a child of God. Whatever you are facing, whether anxiety, grief, a hard season or a heavy decision, you can run into that shelter today.
That is why we do this podcast. Every week we open the Word and the science of the mind side by side so you can grow in faith and flourish in life. Welcome to The Secret Place.
Go deeper at The Secret Place. Listen to the full episode, Exploring the Tabernacle: A Journey into the Presence of God, where we go deeper into this topic.
Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 7 PM CST on YouTube and Facebook, and if this stirred something in you, send us a prayer request. We would be honored to stand with you.
Blessings, Bishop Gary Oliver & Dr. Noemi X. Oliver