Day 14 - Turning Within

What do I mean by this continuous inner abiding?
To be continuously turned deep inside simply means that, having turned within to God—by a direct act—you have remained in His presence. You have no further need to keep turning to Christ; you already abide with Him in the chambers of your spirit. The only time you need to make a point of turn-ing again is when your abiding is interrupted for some reason.
At this point in your spiritual life, you should not concern yourself with trying to turn to the Lord by any outward means. You will even find it difficult to make a deliberate, outward act of turning when you have begun this inner abiding.

You see, you are already turned within to the Lord; any outward activity will only draw you away from your union with Him.

To form the act of turning within, that is the goal! When this act has been formed in you, it will express itself as a continual abiding in your spirit and a continuous exchange of love between you and the Lord. Once this goal is attained, there is no longer any need to seek after it by outward acts. You may forget the outward act of trying to love the Lord and to be loved by Him. Instead, just continue on as you are. You should simply remain near to God by this continuous inner abiding.

In this state of continually being turned to God, you are abiding in the love of God, and the man who abides in love abides in God. (See First John 4:16.) You rest. But what does that mean? You rest in the continuously inward act of abiding.

Now, in this state of rest, is your soul active or passive? It is active! You are not in a passive state, even if you are resting. But what activity could there be in resting? You are resting in the act of abiding in His love. Can that be activity? Yes! Inside your spirit there is an act going on. It is a sweet sinking into Deity.

The inward attraction—the magnetic pull—becomes more and more powerful. Your soul, dwelling in love, is drawn by this powerful attraction and sinks continually deep-er into that love.

So you see, this inward activity has become far greater than it was when your soul first began to turn inward. Under the powerful attraction of God drawing you into Himself, the inward activity has increased! - Jeanne Guyon

Jeanne Guyon (1648–1717) was a French Christian writer whose life and teachings have shaped believers for more than three centuries. She wrote extensively about prayer, surrender, and living in continual awareness of God’s presence, emphasizing a simple, inward devotion to Christ. Because her teachings challenged religious performance and control, she was imprisoned for her faith, including years spent in the Bastille. Even in suffering, her writings reflect deep joy, trust, and a quiet confidence in God.

The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.

Day 13 - Abandonment and revelation

Some have asked the question, “If I utterly abandon myself to the Lord, will that mean I will have no new revela-tion of Jesus Christ?”

Does abandonment end revelation?

No, it does not. Quite the contrary, abandonment is the means that the Lord will use to give you revelation. The reve-lation you receive will come to you as reality rather than knowl-edge. This is made possible only by abandonment.

You must remember to whom it is you are abandoning yourself.

It is to the Lord Jesus that you abandon yourself. It is also the Lord whom you will follow as the Way; it is this Lord that you will hear as the Truth, and it is from this Lord that you will receive Life. (See John 14:6.) If you follow Him as the Way, you will hear Him as the Truth, and He will bring life to you as the Life.

As revelation comes to you, something happens; Jesus Christ actually makes an imprint of Himself upon your soul. Each time He comes to you, He leaves a new and different impression of His nature upon you.

Soon there are many different expressions of His nature impressed into your being.

Perhaps you have heard that you should think on the dif-ferent experiences of Jesus Christ. But it is far better for you to bear, to carry, these experiences of Jesus Christ within yourself.

This is the way it was in the life of Paul. He did not pon-der the sufferings of Christ; he did not consider the marks of suffering on the Lord’s body. Instead, Paul bore in his own body the experiences of his Lord. He even said, “I bear in my body the marks of Jesus Christ” (see Gal. 6:17). Did he do so by considering such marks? No. Jesus Christ had personally imprinted Himself upon Paul.

When the Lord finds a believer who is completely aban-doned to Him in all things without and in all things within, He will often choose to give that person special revelations of His nature. If such should be your experience, accept these revela-tions with a thankful heart.

Always receive everything from Him with a thankful heart, no matter what it is He chooses to bestow. - Jeanne Guyon

Jeanne Guyon (1648–1717) was a French Christian writer whose life and teachings have shaped believers for more than three centuries. She wrote extensively about prayer, surrender, and living in continual awareness of God’s presence, emphasizing a simple, inward devotion to Christ. Because her teachings challenged religious performance and control, she was imprisoned for her faith, including years spent in the Bastille. Even in suffering, her writings reflect deep joy, trust, and a quiet confidence in God.

The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.

Day 12 - The Path of Christ

God will eventually test you in all areas of your life, but He will not let your trials become greater than you can bear. Let God use trials to help you grow. Do not try to measure your progress, your strength, or what God is doing. His work is not less efficient because what He is doing is invisible. Much of God’s work is done in secret because you would not die to yourself if He always visibly stretched out His hand to save you. God does not transform you on a bed of light, life, and grace. His transformation is done on the cross in darkness, poverty, and death.

What valid questions do you have about the truth of Christianity? You really fear having to submit to someone beside yourself. You also fear having to walk the difficult road toward becoming conformed to the image of Christ. You see clearly the sacrifices you will have to make to follow Christ completely and you are shrinking back.

Christ did not say, “If anyone will come after me, let him enjoy himself, let him be gorgeously dressed, let him be drunk with delight.” He never even said, “Be glad that you are per-fect and that you can see how well you are doing.” No, Jesus said, “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” His path winds up the side of a steep mountain where death will be present on every hand.(See Matthew 16:24.)

You do not yet see the lovely side of following Christ. You see what He takes away, but you do not see what He gives. You exaggerate the sacrifices and ignore the blessings.

Paul tells you that you desire to be clothed, but it is nec-essary that you be stripped before you can put on Christ. Allow Him to strip your self-love of every covering so that you might receive the white robe washed in the blood of the Lamb. You need only His purity.

Listen to what I have to say. It is not easy to hear, but it will feed your spirit. Do not listen to the voice that suggests that you live for yourself. The voice of self-love is even more powerful than the voice of the serpent. If the world never asked for anything more than what you could give out of love, wouldn’t it be a better master?

Christ leaves no emptiness within you. You will be led to do things which you will find enjoyable, and you will like them better than doing all the things which have led you astray. How happy you will be when you do not possess any-thing of your own but give yourself completely to your Lord. Bride of Jesus, how beautiful you are when you no longer have anything of your own, but seek only His beauty. You will then be the delight of your Bridegroom, and He will be all your beauty! He will love you without measure. He will put His own life in you. - François de Fénelon

François de Fénelon (1651–1715) was a French pastor, teacher, and spiritual writer whose life and words invite believers into a deeper, quieter walk with God. As Archbishop of Cambrai and a trusted mentor to young leaders, Fénelon was known for his gentle wisdom, pastoral heart, and deep commitment to spiritual formation. His Spiritual Letters continue to guide readers toward a life of prayer shaped by attentiveness, obedience, and inward renewal.

The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.

Day 11 - Prayer Requests?

As you continue in this venture with Christ—this venture that began as a simple way of prayer—yet another experience may await you. It is this: Do not be too surprised if you find you are no longer able to offer up prayers of petition.

You may find that prayers of request become more diffi-cult. Yes, it is true that in the past you offered up petitions and requests with complete ease. Until now, praying this way was never difficult. But in this new relationship with your Lord, it is the Spirit who prays! And as the Spirit prays, He helps your weakness. He is making intercession for you. And He is pray-ing according to the will of God.

For we do not know how to pray as we should; but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (See Romans 8:26.)

There is your will; there is God’s will. There is your plan; there is God’s plan. There is your prayer; there is His prayer. You must agree to His plans. He takes from you all your own workings so that His may be substituted in their place.

Therefore, yield. Let God do in you what He will.

In His prayers, which He prays, there is also His will. Let Him pray. Give up your own prayers; give up your own desires and your own requests. Yes, you have a will; yes, you have desires and requests. Nevertheless, let Him have the will, the desire that is in the prayers He prays.

But this relationship goes even deeper.

In order for God to have that which is found in His prayer, then you, the one praying, must give up your attachment to everything. This means you must live a life in which there is nothing you want! Be attached to nothing, no matter how good it is or appears to be. - Jeanne Guyon

Jeanne Guyon (1648–1717) was a French Christian writer whose life and teachings have shaped believers for more than three centuries. She wrote extensively about prayer, surrender, and living in continual awareness of God’s presence, emphasizing a simple, inward devotion to Christ. Because her teachings challenged religious performance and control, she was imprisoned for her faith, including years spent in the Bastille. Even in suffering, her writings reflect deep joy, trust, and a quiet confidence in God.

The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.

Day 10 - From the Shallow to the Depths

As you pick up this book, you may feel that you simply are not one of those people capable of a deep experience with Jesus Christ. Most Christians do not feel that they have been called to a deep, inward relationship to their Lord. But we have all been called to the depths of Christ just as surely as we have been called to salvation.

When I speak of this “deep, inward relationship to Jesus Christ,” what do I mean? Actually, it is very simple. It is only the turning and yielding of your heart to the Lord. It is the expression of love within your heart for Him.

You will recall that Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). The Lord also invites us to “watch and pray” (Mk. 13:33, 37). It is apparent from these two vers-es, as well as many more, that we all live by this kind of expe-rience, this prayer, just as we live by love.

Once the Lord spoke and said, “I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire that you may be rich” (see Rev. 3:18). Dear reader, there is gold available to you. This gold is much more easily obtained than you could ever imagine. It is available to you. The purpose of this book is to launch you into this exploration and into this discovery.

I give you an invitation: If you are thirsty, come to the living waters. Do not waste your precious time digging wells that have no water in them. (See John 7:37; Jeremiah 2:13.)

If you are starving and can find nothing to satisfy your hunger, then come. Come, and you will be filled.

You who are poor, come.
You who are afflicted, come.
You who are weighted down with your load of wretchedness and your load of pain, come. You will be comforted!

You who are sick and need a physician, come. Don’t hes-itate because you have diseases. Come to your Lord and show Him all your diseases, and they will be healed!

Come!

Dear child of God, your Father has His arms of love open wide to you. Throw yourself into His arms. You who have strayed and wandered away as sheep, return to your Shep-herd. You who are sinners, come to your Savior. - Jeanne Guyon

Jeanne Guyon (1648–1717) was a French Christian writer whose life and teachings have shaped believers for more than three centuries. She wrote extensively about prayer, surrender, and living in continual awareness of God’s presence, emphasizing a simple, inward devotion to Christ. Because her teachings challenged religious performance and control, she was imprisoned for her faith, including years spent in the Bastille. Even in suffering, her writings reflect deep joy, trust, and a quiet confidence in God.

The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.

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Day 9 - The Secret Place of Identity

Great are You, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Your power, and of Your wisdom there is no end. And man, being a part of Your creation, desires to praise You—man, who bears about with him his mortality, the witness of his sin, the witness that You resist the proud—yet man, this part of Your creation, desires to praise You.

You stir man to take pleasure in praising You, because You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.

Grant me, Lord, to know and understand which is first—to call upon You or to praise You; and likewise, to know You or to call upon You. But who calls upon You without knowing You? For he who does not know You may call upon You as something other than You are. Or is it rather that we call upon You in order that we may know You?

Now let me call upon You, my God, my mercy, who made me and did not forget me when I forgot You. Let me call upon You into my soul, which You prepare for Your reception by the desire You inspire. Do not forsake me now as I call upon You, You who sought me before I sought You.

Let me seek You, Lord, by calling upon You, and call upon You by believing in You; for You have been preached to us. My faith calls upon You, that faith which You have given me, which You have inspired in me through the humanity of Your Son, through the ministry of the preacher.

How then shall I call upon my God, my God and Lord, since when I call for Him I am calling Him into myself? And what place is there in me into which my God can come? Where can God come into me—God who made heaven and earth?

Is there, indeed, O Lord my God, anything in me that can contain You? Do heaven and earth, which You have made and in which You have made me, contain You? Or because nothing which exists could exist without You, does whatever exists contain You?

Since, then, I exist, why do I ask You to come into me, who would not exist if You were not in me? I do not yet exist in hell, and yet You are there also. Therefore, I would not exist at all unless You were in me.

Or rather, I would not exist unless I were in You, of whom are all things, through whom are all things, in whom are all things. - St. Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo (354–430) was a North African early Christian pastor, theologian, and bishop whose writings have shaped Christian faith for over sixteen centuries. After years of intellectual pursuit and moral struggle, Augustine experienced a profound conversion to Christ, which he later recorded in his spiritual autobiography, Confessions. His life and work explored themes of sin and grace, restlessness and redemption, and the deep longing of the human heart for God. Augustine reminds the church that repentance is not merely turning from sin, but turning toward the God who alone can give true rest.

Day 8 -Purifying The Soul

God wishes to make your soul pure. He purifies it by His Wisdom just as a refiner purifies metal in the furnace. Fire is the only thing which can purify gold.

Again, the fire that consumes us—utterly—is His highest wisdom.

This fire gradually consumes all that is earthly; it takes out all foreign matter and separates these things from the gold.

The fire seems to know that the earthly mixture cannot be changed into gold. The fire must melt and dissolve this dross by force so that it can rid the gold of every alien particle. Over and over again, the gold must be cast into the furnace until it has lost every trace of pollution. Oh, how many times the gold is plunged back into the fire—far, far more times than seem necessary. Yet you can be sure the Forger sees impurities no one else can see. The gold must return to the fire again and again until positive proof has been established that it can be no further purified.

There comes a time, at last, when the goldsmith can find no more mixture that adulterates the gold. When the fire has perfected purity—or should I say simplicity—the fire no longer touches it. If the gold remained in the furnace for an eon, its spotlessness would not be improved upon nor its substance diminished!

Now the gold is fit for the most exquisite workmanship. In the future, if the gold should get dirty and seem to lose its beauty, it is nothing more than an accidental impurity which touches only the surface. This dirt is of no hindrance to the use of the gold vessel. This foreign particle which attaches itself to the surface is a far cry from having corruption deep within the hidden nature of the gold.

Rare would be the man who would reject a pure, golden vessel because it had some external dirt on it, preferring some cheap metal only because its surface had been polished.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not excusing sin in the life of a person in union with God. Such an idea never occurred to me. I am referring here only to natural defects; defects which God deliberately leaves even in His greatest saints, to keep them from pride and to keep them from the praise of men who judge only from outward appearance.

God allows defects to remain in the dearest of His saints so He can preserve that saint from corruption and “hide him in the secret of His presence” (see Ps. 31:20). - Jeanne Guyon

Jeanne Guyon (1648–1717) was a French Christian writer whose life and teachings have shaped believers for more than three centuries. She wrote extensively about prayer, surrender, and living in continual awareness of God’s presence, emphasizing a simple, inward devotion to Christ. Because her teachings challenged religious performance and control, she was imprisoned for her faith, including years spent in the Bastille. Even in suffering, her writings reflect deep joy, trust, and a quiet confidence in God.

The daily devotional readings shared during our consecration are drawn primarily from 100 Days in the Secret Place, compiled by Gene Edwards, and a select number of other rich essays and writings. These excerpts are shared for devotional and discipleship purposes, with gratitude for the rich spiritual heritage preserved in the work. We encourage anyone who is helped by these readings to explore the full book for deeper reflection.