Jesus knew the importance of removing himself from the distractions of our world, so that he may focus his attention on our Father in heaven. He often withdrew to a solitary place to pray and spend time with our Father in heaven. The practice of the secret place is a challenging model but the fruit of it are evident. Coming out of his secret dwelling with God, Jesus knew what our Father was doing and did all that our Father did. This is an astounding statement. Jesus knew the mind and will of God without doubt!

 

The spiritual dynamics of the secret place with God are also demonstrated in the calling of Nathaniel. Nathanael meditated on the law of God under a fig tree. Figs trees usually grew away from busy places, away from distraction. So when Jesus told Nathaniel that he saw him under the fig tree, Nathaniel understood that Jesus was present with him in spirit, under the fig tree. Chances are, no one else was around, so Nathanael understood Jesus was God, able to be present everywhere in spirit.

 

Sometimes knowing the voice of God is as simple as recognising the truth of God and his nature. Just as Nathaniel knew God was with him, as echoed in a psalm of David: “examine my heart ... search me, know my innermost being...” So in knowing the scriptures and principles of God, we can measure experience against scripture, to determine what aligns with God’s Kingdom.

 

As we cultivate time spent with God in our secret place, away from distractions, so overtime our spirit attunes into alignment with God, and so we will find it easier to distinguish “spirit voice” to determine the voice of Jesus.