Winning the Battle Before the Battle: The Secret Place of the Will
Reflections on Oswald Chambers – December 27
The Real Battle
"If you, Israel, will return, then return to me," declares the Lord (Jeremiah 4:1).
Every spiritual battle is won—or lost—long before we face it in the external world. Chambers reminds us that the real fight happens in the secret places of the will, alone before God.
When faced with a moral or spiritual dilemma, the Holy Spirit calls us to wrestle it out with Him in private. This isn’t a mere moment of decision; it’s often a struggle—one that may take minutes, days, or even years. But it’s in this secret place, where no one else can see, that the battle is truly won.
A Practical Example
Imagine you’re wrestling with forgiveness. Someone has hurt you deeply, and you know God is calling you to forgive them. Outwardly, you may put on a brave face or even attempt to be cordial, but inwardly, resentment festers.
The Holy Spirit tugs at your heart, urging you to meet with Him in the secret place. You resist at first—justifying your feelings, dwelling on the pain, or waiting for the offender to make the first move.
But eventually, you get alone with God. You pour out your heart, admitting your hurt, anger, and inability to forgive in your own strength. It’s uncomfortable, even painful, as you wrestle with letting go. Yet in that moment, the Spirit empowers you to release the offense and trust God to heal your heart.
Once that battle is settled in the secret place, you can walk forward in freedom. Forgiveness no longer feels like an impossible task because the work has already been done between you and the Lord. The bitterness is replaced with peace, and your interactions with the other person flow from a place of grace, not striving.
Abandonment Begins with the Will
True abandonment to God doesn’t begin with emotion or circumstance; it begins with the will. Chambers describes moments in our lives as spiritual milestones, great divides where we are faced with two paths:
One leads to a deeper, ablaze life for God’s glory.
The other leads to stagnation, compromise, and a more “useless” type of Christian walk.
These crossroads require a deliberate choice to abandon ourselves to God—to surrender not just parts of our lives but everything. This act of the will may feel like walking through fire, but on the other side is the freedom and power of living fully yielded to Him.
Winning the Secret Battles
How do we wrestle out these battles in the secret place of the will?
Get Alone with God: Turn off the noise, step away from distractions, and come into His presence.
Face the Issue Honestly: Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of resistance or self-reliance in your life.
Surrender Fully: Lay the issue at His feet, trusting Him to give you the strength and clarity you need.
Walk Forward in Faith: Once the battle is won in His presence, live out that surrender with confidence in the world.
Reflect & Respond
Take a moment to consider:
Are there battles in your life that you’ve avoided wrestling out with God?
How might surrendering your will in the secret place free you to live with greater boldness and peace?
Pray this:
“Lord, thank You for calling me to meet with You in the secret place of the will. I confess the times I’ve avoided surrendering fully to You. Thank You for Your Spirit, who strengthens me to face these battles and abandon myself completely to You. May my life be ablaze for Your glory as I trust You in every moment. Amen.”
A Final Thought
Chambers’ words are a powerful reminder that our external battles are won or lost in private surrender to God. The question is not whether the struggle will come—it’s whether we’ll meet it with full reliance on Him.
Let’s be willing to fight it out before God, allowing Him to shape our will and prepare us for victory. When we do, we walk into life’s challenges with His strength, knowing the battle is already won.