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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