The first part of the verse in Genesis 3:8 says, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” My pastor calls it sanctified imagination, but go back with me to the beginning, before the first sin, and imagine what it must have been like walking with the Lord God in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. This verse suggests there must have been times like this between God, Adam, and Eve. What was it like walking in perfect weather and enjoying the absolute, uncorrupted beauty of the garden? Oh to have had an uninterrupted, uninhibited relationship with their creator? What questions might they have asked of Him?
They say a picture paints a thousand words. At the moment this picture was taken of my two youngest grandsons, Zeke and Jax were thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. They were walking hand in hand. It was a beautiful day. They have their own unique language they share. They look comfortable with each other. At the moment this picture was taken their relationship was untainted. They were at peace with each other, the world, and where they were headed.
Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be in our relationship with God? Unrestrained, uninhibited, and peaceful. Shouldn’t we enjoy His presence? I know He enjoys spending time with us.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
I have a confession. I’m guilty of treating my quiet time with the Lord as a checklist or a book report that is due. I must finish this chapter so I can complete reading the Bible in a year.
I’ve put a pin in that for right now. I’ve paused. “Lord I want to hear Your Voice. I want to be an effective disciple of Yours. I want my life to count for something.”
My verse today:
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV
I need to take a few supplements. I need to add knowledge to my faith and virtue. Self-control would be good and add some steadfastness to it. That would be good. Godliness and brotherly affection never hurts. And the organic outcome of this effort; I will become effective and fruitful for the Lord.
I feel like I’ve been striving with the Lord looking for the next big thing.
My verse:
“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”
Psalms 145:4 ESV
I have 4 grandsons that need me to declare God’s mighty acts to them in these days before time slips away and they become grown men.
Now how simple is that. Again going back to Priscilla Shirer’s bible study, “Discerning the Voice of God,” she writes, “Many Christians – and I’m talking about the active diligent ones – while well-intentioned in their pursuit to hear God, are living tense lives. They nervously look high and low for spiritual specifics, then grow dismayed when they can’t find the answers in their own timing.” Page 149. “All you can do is fully engage in the task before you,” “take into account the probability that your current activities and responsibilities are already part of the path that leads you toward His purposes.” Page 143.
See all God wants is a photograph of us walking hand in hand with Him down a path in the cool of the day. He wants to lead us and teach us in this moment, but if we are always asking, “What’s next on the agenda?” We miss His present.
God’s whisper to me today, “Stay In the Present.” SIP
“Sip your tea Kellye and enjoy.”