Walking In The Garden

I grew up going to an older Baptist church. We sang hymns out of the brown hymnal which had the oldest songs available. I don’t know if it is because I am deaf or I tend to think and feel deeply but I always loved knowing the words. I don’t like singing or dancing to songs with words that have no meaning or send a message I have no desire getting behind. I was in my season of seeking God and wanting to understand who He was and who I was to Him. One day we sang a song called, “In The Garden”. Something pulled at my heart that day. This song was written by Charles Miles in 1913 and it goes like this:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. I’d stay in the garden with Him,
    Though the night around me be falling,
    But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
    His voice to me is calling.

As a young girl, reading those words filled my heart with joy. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God. I wanted to do that too. I kept seeking and eventually understood I needed Jesus.

Soon after, I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Later on in my journey, the enemy came to me whispering lies, just like he did with Eve. Those lies led me to doubt whether God was keeping something from me or truly giving me His best. I took the fruit and soon realized I had been decieved.

Recently, I began leading a woman’s small group where we are reading the book, “She’s Still There, Rescuing the Girl in You.” by Chrystal Evans Hurst. We were talking about how we have gotten distracted by life and forgotten who God has made us to be. We have forgotten who that girl is. This study and the bible study I am going through to write, has opened my eyes again. I have always had a passion to know God. I remember when I was younger and I loved to read and write. I would write to God in my journal and talk to Him before bed. He was my best friend.

Just like we have learned in Genesis, God has made us in His image. He has made us with a desire to be known and loved and to know Him and love Him. He created us for that relationship we see in the Garden. Click To Tweet

I look around today and I see believers distracted and busy to the point of breakdown in every area. Marriages and families are falling apart. We have allowed the enemy to whisper lies to us. We work so much so we can provide ourselves and our children the next best thing all the time. We are in every sport and activity to the point there is no time left to build up our marriage or our family. We run after the things we don’t need, yet want at the expense of those things we do need.

We need to take time with God. We need to talk with Him but also time to listen. We need to get in His Word and get to know Him more. We need to seek Him for wisdom instead of every other voice in the world around us.

We need to date our spouses and make time to talk and build one another up. We need to nurture our marriages instead of constantly looking over in other people’s yards.

We need to take time for our children. We need to share with them God’s faithfulness and His love. We need to listen and speak truth into their lives.

We celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection this weekend. Praise God for His love for us!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NASB)

Adam and Eve sinned and broke that unhindered relationship between them and God in the Garden. Jesus mended that relationship and through Him we are able to walk and talk with God here and now.

“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:13 (ESV)

“But the helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26

When we received Jesus, we received the Holy Spirit. He is our helper. He teaches us what God wants us to know and He brings to remembrance all Jesus said to us in His Word. We are not able to walk and talk with God face to face anymore due to sin but God made a way, through Jesus’ sacrifce and by giving us the Holy Spirit. We can walk and talk with God. We can know Him and hear who He says we are to Him.

Are you distracted? Have you sacrificed what is good for what is best in your life? Have you lost the simplicity of walking and talking with God daily? Click To Tweet

I pray as you read those precious words written in that beautiful song so long ago, you take some time to just walk and talk with God today. Be reminded of who He is to you and who you are to Him today.