What relaxes you? What quiets your soul before the Lord? My garden is the answer for me! Life can be so busy, distracting, and noisy. I am one of those people who never stops thinking. Even in my sleep, my mind is wandering all over the place! How do some people have a nothing box in their mind? I just don’t understand that.
However, when I step into my garden, I find myself stepping away from life’s distractions. My world stops for the morning or the day. My hands start pulling weeds, planting seeds, harvesting some plants or fruit, restructuring a garden section, trimming, thinning, or whatever the next thing my hands find to do in the dirt.
This year I’ve been going barefoot outside a lot. This is quite the achievement for someone who hates touching bugs. I wrap my hair up in a bun away from my face. I forego the gloves and opt to feel the dirt with my fingers. As I work I can sing and pray. Often the words cease and the thoughts crowd in until they go away. Then all the words cease in thought and speech. All this while I am lost in the quiet I am praying until the words dissipate and all I have is a quiet mind.
That quiet is so peaceful. Finally, I am done talking and ready for God to speak to me, to teach me something. Then I’m learning, not some mystical thought or hyperspiritual emotion, but practical analogies that are based out of scripture. There is no new revelation outside of the Bible.
When God teaches us personally through His Holy Spirit, it will always be backed up by the Bible. There are no extrabiblical truths.
These times in my garden are special for me. I talk to God, he stills my soul, and teaches me how to grow and rest in him. There I relax and rest in the chatter of singing birds, lush greenery, and colorful flowers. There I relax with a soul that is quieted before my Father in heaven whom I can call Friend.
Music can be so distracting. It is easy to stifle our thoughts by drowning them out along with the still small voice of God. It is a scary thing to be left alone with our thoughts. If we face our thoughts, we might face a sinner full of wrong motives, selfishness, pride, and a lack of faith and trust in God. When we face our thoughts, we face ourselves for who we really are. There is freedom in that.
While music can have a valuable place in life, it seems not many are able to handle silence. Silence is a wonderful blessing. In quietude we can learn, if even for a moment in time, to hear God better, to slow down, and to rest from all care. We can address our thoughts and develop a better perspective on life.
Some of my favorite times with God are in my garden thinking about what he is teaching me from the Bible, acknowledging struggles and frustrations, gradually silencing all my petty judgments and opinions, and renewing my mind according to scripture to think a little more like Christ.
Does everyone need a garden to get alone with God? I like to think so! In reality, garden or not, we do all need a time to take up our Bible in hand and spend some time with God. Each season of life is different, but even just 5 minutes a day to get alone with God and seek him for a fresh spirit through each day can go a long way.
I don’t always get out in my garden, especially in the winter. That is okay. While I miss those times when I don’t get them, my days always flow sweeter when I take some time some where to be with my Savior in the morning with my Bible in hand. That time with the Lord, reading my Bible and praying- I am stronger with it, and noticing how my day isn’t quite right when I miss it.
Did you read your Bible yet today? Did you plant the seed of God’s word in your heart? Are you learning to rest in the loving care of our Father in heaven who loves you? He wants to spend time with you and love on you. But you have to seek him. Take some time today to seek the Lord, and embrace silence in your day.
Resting in Christ,
Samantha
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