The Secret Place

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Matthew 6:6

Let’s be honest.  Musicians can certainly live what most of us would consider a “normal” life, but you clearly possess a talent that really does set you apart from the rest of us. 

My Mother was one of the finest musicians I have ever known.  As a child, her passion for music and her talent on the piano just didn’t “take” with me.  Looking back, I missed an amazing opportunity to learn to play from one of the best.  There was a basic problem with that idea of course—I simply wasn’t a musician.

I didn’t realize it at the time but being raised by a musician was God’s way of training me for a lifetime of working with amazingly talented people.  My entire career has provided a front row seat when it comes to the highs and lows that you experience—for more than 50 years so far. 

In my earlier days in the Christian Music Industry, I developed a close friendship with one of the top Christian rock artists of all time.  Our personalities and life experiences were completely different, but we both truly enjoyed working together.  One day I began our conversation by complaining about the difficulties of working with talented musicians like him. 

Very quickly, with tears in his eyes, he said these words to me, “You have no idea what it’s like to go to the secret place, where only you and God can go, and He gives you a song—one of His precious jewels.  Then you prayerfully shape that lyric and melody and hiding them in your heart, fully knowing that at some point, you have to share it with people like you who will decide if it’s worth hearing.”

I could see his sincerity, but at the time, I didn’t really understand the creative process he described.  Of course, after writing a few books, I now understand much better. 

So, let me be blunt:  Don’t give up even when “we just don’t get it.”  Go and do all that God places in your heart.  Take the time to perfect those lyrics and melody.  Then sing and play what you have found in that secret place in every place you can. Deploy those gifts and talent that only God could have placed in you and don’t worry about our response.  We just might need to hear what He has to say through you after all.