Surrounded By The Garden Of God

By Peter Lundell

I whispered, “Speak to me, God.” And a whippoorwill sang. But I was hurrying between appointments. I shouted, “God, speak to me!” And thunder clapped from the sky. But I dashed inside to escape the rain. When the storm cleared I prayed, “God, I want to see you.” And the stars shone from behind the passing clouds. But my cell phone rang, and I didn’t want to miss the call. As the days passed, I asked, “God, show me a miracle.” And a child was born. But I only took photos and said a quick prayer. Finally, I raised my hands and pleaded, “Touch me, God.” And the wind caressed my face. But I turned away and put on a jacket, disappointed that God did not respond.

When we insulate ourselves from nature, we insulate ourselves from God as well, because God connects with us through the natural world. Earth is another word for God’s garden.

Our souls can become anesthetized. This happens when we drift into the artificial respiration of needing to be constantly busy or when we focus on something electronic.

I watch people all around me so plugged in and so preoccupied that they hardly notice the shining sun or the song of a bird, or the fact that leaves are green and not purple. If we ignore the natural world, we close a window to God. As Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (NET). And safe in the caves we call coffee shops, living rooms, and bedrooms; we turn on our screens or put plugs in our ears.

At any moment we are surrounded by God’s connection. Joseph Girzone, in his novel Joshua, says, “The quiet of nature is God’s tranquilizer.” And it needs no upgrade.

PRAYER: Father, strip away from me everything that insulates me from You. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to feel You all around me. Truly You are always near.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork. Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness. There is no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard. Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth,” Psalm 19:1-4a NET.

Today’s devotion is by Peter Lundell, author of Prayer Power. A rising new voice on connecting with God, he is a pastor, Bible college teacher, and conference speaker. Visit him at www.PeterLundell.com for his inspirational “Connections” and free downloads of articles, parables, short stories, and book chapters.