In the Garden and Under the Shade of His Love

If you’ve ever taken a walk in a beautiful garden, you are in no haste to leave. You slowly pace your steps, as you take time to gaze in wonderment and touch the flowers. You might occasionally stoop to move some twigs out of the way.

As we walk in the light of God’s Word, He reveals the glories of His garden—His perfect will for our lives is manifested, as we grow in the grace and the knowledge of Him, who atoned for our sins and brought us into His glorious kingdom.

In the garden, we find our calm repose away from the cares of life. We cast our doubts and fears aside and believe on His name. Being formed in us, His sweet fragrance is diffused to the glory of His name.

In His presence, we have peace and liberty. Come, walk with the Lord, in the shade of His love. Come and know His unspeakable joy. His desire is to have fellowship, as He did in the beginning, before the fall. If you have never experienced His grace and forgiveness, His arms are opened wide. Whosoever will may come.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16 & 17)

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11)

Inspirational Thought

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

Inspiration For Our Daily Christian Walk

A Truly Liberated and Fruitful Life Brings Glory to God

The one, true and living God, the everlasting King, made the heavens and the earth and everything in them, by His great wisdom and power. Not the gods that are a lie and shall perish. 

All God's works are done in truth; He is the truth. In Him, there is no falsehood or margins of error.

Being enticed by the devil, the first man and woman sinned and sin led to death, physically and spiritually. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, the second Adam from above, to reconcile us to God.

Jesus declares in John 14 verse 6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

To follow Christ, is to walk in truth and be set free. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed. (See John 8:31-59)

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:7 & 8)

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regards to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)

For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (The Third Epistle of John, Chapter 1:3 & 4)

A truly liberated and fruitful life, brings glory to God. Abide in Him and eat His words.

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

Related Bible Readings: 

John 1:14 & 17; John 4:23 & 24; John 7:14-29; John 8:31-59; John 14:6 and John 14:15-17; John Chapter 15 in its entirety; John 16:12-15; John 17:3 & 17; John 18:37; First Epistle of  John in its entirety; 1 Corinthians 13:6; 1 Corinthians 5:8; Galatians Chapter 5; Ephesians 6:10-24; 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2; 1 Timothy Chapter 4; 1 Timothy 6:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:15-19; Hebrews 10:26 & 27; James 5:19 & 20; Second Epistle of Peter in its entirety; Epistle of Jude; Genesis Chapter 3; Psalm 25:4, 5, 10; Psalm 33:4; Psalm 43:3; Psalm 85:10-13; Psalm 86:11; Psalm 89:14-18; Proverbs 3:3 & 4; Proverbs 23:23; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah Chapter 44; Isaiah Chapter 61; Jeremiah 10:1-16 

Today's Bible Reading: Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. 

The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Related Bible Reading: Ezekiel Chapter 17 & Psalm 16:11

Monday Inspiration | Walking With Jesus

God's Righteous Judgments Are In All The Earth, His Salvation To The Ends Thereof

God who in times past, commanded that His people walk in His statutes, keep His judgments and do them (recounted in Ezekiel Chapter 20), is the same God today. He changeth not. As it was then and is now, our faithful Creator desires to have a people who put their trust in Him and walk in His ways. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)

There was not much rejoicing, as the people of God sojourned in the wilderness some forty years, but rather much complaining, and a desire to return to the land of their captivity. Many forsook the Lord for idols, the work of their hands, and they and their descendants did likewise in the land of promise. Yet, our God who is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, extended His grace, and sent His prophets to deliver His word, with the expectation that a rebellious people would acknowledge the error of their ways, repent and turn back to God, for their own good.   

There is not an arm like the Lord's, Creator of heaven and earth. He is mighty to save. Relying on a mighty army will not deliver any. "For the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is from the Lord." (Proverbs 21:31; see also Ezekiel 17:15.)

God's righteous judgments are in all the earth; His salvation to the ends thereof.

Thus says the Lord God: "I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell."

 "And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it." (Ezekiel 17:22-24)

A Prayer: 

Thank You blessed Shepherd and Savior, for Your cleansing fountain. For the power to live a holy life. For taking away the stony heart and giving us a new heart and a new spirit within. For putting Your Holy Spirit within us, and causing us to walk in Your statues, to keep Your judgments and do them. To You alone wise God, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and forevermore. Amen.

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

Devotion for Today: Healer and Restorer of Broken Lives

Merciful and gracious God, is He who stands ready to forgive, pardoning sin and purging iniquity. Oh, that men would serve Him and worship Him only, the Healer and Restorer of broken lives. He delights in the beautification of His people, whom He has called for His glory. 

Bible Reading:

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:5-9)

A Prayer:

Plant Your Word in our hearts, Lord God. Let it find good soil and sprout; grow and produce an abundance of fruit of the Spirit. Lead and guide us in the paths of Your righteousness. Be thou glorified! In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions