Pouring a cup of coffee from my French press, I settled into the armchair and took up my Bible. I turned to Song of Song 8:6-7, one of my favorite passages and the place where I begin many of my quiet times with the Lord. Allowing the Words to wash over my heart, I began talking with the Lord about what it means for love to be like a flame of fire.    

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
    jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
    the very flame of the Lord.
⁷ Many waters cannot quench love,
    neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
    all the wealth of his house,
    he would be utterly despised.

Listening to His still small voice, I felt him impress themes of a heart that is full of zeal for His name and for His Word. It is His desire that our hearts burn with a deep, genuine love. Love’s fire is all-consuming, powerful and passionate to be sure. But this fire is also steady. It does not flicker or go out; rather, is burns mightily and continuously. It’s fervor grows over time and becomes ever brighter and more zealous.    

Sitting in His Presence, I could see the areas of my heart in which tiny sparks of love could be found, but longed for my heart to be ablaze with His fiery, divine love. I want my heart to burn with deep, constant, all-consuming worship and devotion for Christ. There are so many moments, though, where that type of heart posture seems distant at best. But it is indeed possible to have a heart that burns with a constant and steady flame of love.    

This type of heart posture is something that most Christians would like to have. Attaining this heart posture and this lifestyle seems difficult and elusive to many people, though. The answer is relatively simple, and most of us have heard it time and time again. The secret is the secret place. As we authentically, constantly seek the Lord, He is faithful to meet us. Over time the small sparks of adoration and devotion will be fanned into flames of righteousness and holiness fueled by intimacy with His heart.    

Coming before Him again and again and again positions our hearts in humility and dependence. From this, we learn about the character and heart of the Lord. His Word stirs and moves our hearts. We become deeply connected to the Source and abundance of life is ours to walk in. We need only seek Him in the secret place. This can take any number of forms and can have any number of structure. Taking long walks with headphones playing worship music and meditating on scripture, journaling with the Word, reading Bible Study or Reading plans to help guide your time, painting or drawing with worship music; there are so many possibilities for what time in the secret place can look like. The key, though, is to ensure that your heart is passionately, intentionally, and consistently seeking the Lord.    

Through the secret place, Dear Saints, sparks of faith will be fanned into flames.