Building Your Secret Place: Journaling and Fasting for Spiritual Growth


Today we wrap up our journey through the secret place. This has been about more than just quiet time. It's about building a space in your life where you meet with God, hear from Him, and grow in your relationship with Him. To close it out, we’re diving into two powerful and often overlooked tools: journaling and fasting.

They may not sound flashy, but they’re game changers for your spiritual life.

Journaling: Writing What God is Saying

Journaling is not just for people who like to write. It’s for anyone who wants to remember what God is doing and saying in their life.

Habakkuk 2:2 says, "Write the revelation and make it plain..."

When you journal, you’re creating space to slow down, process what God is saying, and remember what He’s already done. Some days it might be a few thoughts. Other days it could be a verse that hits different. Whatever it is, write it down.

Over time, your journal becomes a record of God’s faithfulness. You’ll see prayers answered, scriptures come to life, and moments you would have forgotten unless you captured them.

What to Journal

  • Scripture that speaks to you

  • Reflections from your quiet time

  • Questions you’re wrestling with

  • Prayers you’re believing God for

  • Gratitude even when it’s hard

  • God’s whisper when He nudges your heart

Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait until it feels deep or poetic. Just write. Let it be honest. Let it be yours.

Fasting: Creating Space for God

Let’s be honest. Fasting is not most people’s favorite spiritual discipline. But it’s one of the most powerful. Fasting isn’t about impressing God. It’s about making room for Him.

Jesus said, "When you fast..." not if. —Matthew 6:17–18

Fasting helps you refocus, remove distractions, and remind your heart that God is your source. Whether you fast for one meal or several days, the purpose is the same. You are choosing God over comfort.

Why Fast

  • It humbles you and reminds you that you’re not in control

  • It clears out the noise and helps you hear God more clearly

  • It softens your heart and renews your hunger for God

  • It makes you more available for His presence and direction

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He said, "Man doesn’t live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." —Matthew 4:4

Fasting teaches your spirit to crave God more than anything else.

How to Start Fasting

Start small. Pick one meal to skip and spend that time reading the Word or in prayer. You don’t need a dramatic plan. You just need to start. Use the time you would’ve spent eating to get into God’s presence.

  • Replace food with prayer, worship, and scripture

  • Listen more than you talk

  • Let the hunger you feel physically remind you to rely on God spiritually

  • Don’t fast to prove something. Fast to make space for God.

 

Let the Secret Place Shape You

The secret place is where your faith becomes real. It’s where you’re reminded that God is close, personal, and faithful. Journaling helps you remember what He said. Fasting helps you remove the clutter so you can hear Him more clearly.

Let these tools become part of your rhythm. You don’t need a perfect plan or perfect words. You just need to show up.

So as you move forward, don’t just have a quiet time. Build your secret place. Be someone who prioritizes prayer, who writes down God’s voice, who fasts to stay close to Him.

When you make room for God, He fills it. And that’s when the real growth begins.

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Discerning the Voice of God: Learning to Hear with Confidence