Do you remember about a week back when I shared the teaching, A Mountain of Strength?
It was a teaching of how Jesus would separate himself from the daily hustle and go to the Mount of Olives where He would spend time talking with His Father. It was His place of solitude and strength.
I truly find strength in that very same way. Being quiet, being still. Shutting out the distractions and listening to the Father speak to my heart.
It’s wonderful to have time with family and friends. There’s a deep sense of compassion that arises during those times – times of learning their stories, the joys and the pain. It’s a time of strengthening the bonds of love that we share.
Do you know that desire for intimacy and fellowship comes from God?
“ And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:” Genesis 3:8 AKJV
From the very beginning God came to the garden to meet with mankind. A place of solitude.
I want to encourage you all to find that place. For me, it’s my living room in the early hours of morning. Cup of coffee on the side table, blanket wrapped around me, Bible in hand and quiet. We are God’s house.
” We are the house of the living God. God has said, “I will live in them and will walk among them. I will be their God and they will be My people.” II Corinthians 6:16 NLV
Looking out the window, I see the full moon lowering its position in the sky. It’s just another reminder of the faithfulness of God. The sun rises and sets, the moon follows course. Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. The seasons change; the heavens rotate but the love of God remains the same.
Jesus met His heavenly Father in the garden, God the father met Adam and Eve in the garden. We all need a “garden” where we meet with God.
One of my favorite old hymns says just that, “In the Garden”.
“I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.”
“The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. ” Psalm 23:1-3 NLV
This weekend Dave and I will be getting away, spending time together and time alone in a garden. I’ll be back to blogging on Monday. I pray that you make a special time where you are alone with the Father this weekend. Listen for His voice, sense His presence, tarry there and experience His peace and joy!