I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 9th of November, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

We start in the Book of Psalms 91:1: 

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

Then we go to Psalm 46:10: 

"Be still, and know that I am God;…" 

Then the last scripture is Luke 21:37-38:  

"And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him."  

First the mountain and then the ministry. You have heard me say that many times - first the mountain and then the ministry. The quiet time before the battle is absolutely critical. The battle is won or lost in that quiet time place. So many well-meaning people offer their advice before the big meeting, but it is vital that we hear from God. John Wesley, the great reformer, said that God would light him up in the vestry, in his quiet time place, and then he would go out, and the people would watch him burn for Christ. It's where the battle is won or lost. 

I want to say to young people, before you have to write that major examination, spend time quietly waiting and hearing from God. Before you have to make a life-defining choice, when the doctor is advising you to have the operation, you need to get aside with the Lord and ask Him, "Do I take the operation or not take the operation?" It is a life-defining choice. You need to be quiet, and you need to hear from God. Next to giving your life to Jesus Christ, the next greatest decision in your life will be the person that you marry because you will be with them until the day they die. You need to spend time in the presence of God before you accept the invitation or not.

You know, many a time before going on to the platform, when I have to speak to a multitude of people, I need to spend time on my own, and there is a major battle that takes place. The devil is trying to rattle me, and the Lord says, "I am going with you." It's an important time to be in the secret place of the Most High. Jesus spent the night in Gethsemane before He went to the Cross. It was such an important decision that He was sweating drops of blood. I believe the victory took place at Gethsemane, not on the Cross. Jesus could have accepted or denied the choice. He accepted it and because of that, you and I are alive today. 

God bless you as you spend time in the secret place of the Most High,
Goodbye.