It was Monday morning. I meditated on Scripture for a few minutes, sang a Psalm, and said some prayers. As I was finishing my breakfast I felt the pull to get going on my work. But I also sensed Jesus was calling to me: “Come to me in my garden of delights.”
So I stepped outside to listen to God in prayer. I went out to the garden to meet with Jesus. Maybe the words I sensed God whisper to my heart will bless you too:
Listen to Jesus in the Garden
“I speak in the stillness of the morning. On a cool and quiet summer morning before the heat of the day and the hustle and bustle I speak words that refresh and give perspective.
“In my garden where flowers are blooming in my gentle rays of morning light to show forth my glory I speak words that beautify. In my garden where trees are standing tall in my sunshine and lifting their branches in praise to me I speak words that enliven.
“The birds know my voice. I put the song in their mouths and they sing happily from branch to branch, each in its own beautiful voice. The butterflies know my garden. I put the flutter in their flight and they dance playfully from flower to flower, each in its own beautiful way.
“Come to me in my garden of delights. Don’t hurry into the day’s work. Don’t try to get a head start on your To Do List. Linger with me in my garden awhile. See how the birds and butterflies find refuge in my garden. Listen how they sing for me and for you. See how they play with me and with you.
“I am with you always but here in the garden I am present to you in a special way in the stillness of the morning. Join in with the birds and butterflies that delight to find refuge in the beauty of my garden. Sing and dance with me and many others will join our garden song.”
Scripture Meditations
God still speaks today. What a blessing it is to listen to God in prayer!
Ordinary people like you and I can listen to God in prayer. As I experienced this morning it helps to be in a quiet nature setting when we’re listening for God’s voice.
To hear God is simply to discern his thoughts that he’s impressing into your minds. When the Holy Spirit speaks to us it will always be consistent with the Bible. Here are some teachings from the Bible that are similar to what I sensed God saying to me this morning (all Bible verses are from the NIV84 unless indicated otherwise):
“In the morning, O Lord… I wait in expectation of what you will do” (Psalm 5:3, paraphrase)
“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
“Let all the earth be silent before [the Lord].” (Habakkuk 2:20)
Jesus said, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” (John 5:24)
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” (Genesis 3:8)
“My lover has gone down to his garden.” (Song of Solomon 6:2)
“All the trees of the field will clap their hands… for the Lord’s renown” (Isaiah 55:12-13)
Jesus invites us to “take time to listen to the birds and look at the flowers” (Matthew 6:26, 28, paraphrase)
“[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
“[The Lord] put a new song in my mouth.” (Psalms 40:3)
“Then Jesus asked, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.’” (Luke 13:18-19)
Jesus said to Martha and to us: “Stop being so bothered and busy. The one thing that’s needed is to sit at my feet and listen to my words” (Luke 10:40-41, paraphrase)
“Praise the Lord… Praise him with dancing.” (Psalm 150:1, 4)
You’re Invited to Join us in the Garden!
We seek to facilitate your intimacy with Jesus. We invite you to join us at our monthly gathering of Thirst!, our special seminar on “Jesus Heals Anxious Hearts,” or our day retreat, “Still Waters.” (You’ll find these under Events.) If you don’t live in So Cal we have Audio Messages available online.
