In the Cool of the Day With God (#1)

Adam and Eve heard the "voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day." (Genesis 3:8) But they were afraid and hid from Him. They had just given in to temptation. Their loving Creator had not asked of them much, but still they had managed to fail Him.

As they hid in fear and trembling, they must have remembered how it had been when they walked and talked with God in the cool of the day. What joy they must have shared as they observed the garden blossoming and the animals playing together ... as they explored this thing called love that flowed so fully from God and spilled over into their own hearts. What pain came upon them as they remembered and yet knew that joy was no more. They had been tricked into throwing it away!

What they threw away, Jesus has restored to us! We can once again walk and talk with Him in the cool of the day. We can ... if we don't throw it away. We can if we don't let the world distract us. We can ... if we don't let the enemy steal what is ours!

There are giants in the land. There are tares among the wheat. The devil is roaming about as a raging lion seeking whom he may devour. In the cool of the day as God walks and talks with us, we hear Him say, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

In the Cool of the Day With God (#2)

God came to walk and talk with His creation in the cool of the day, but Adam and Eve hid themselves for they knew they were naked. They had done the one thing God had forbidden. They had eaten of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The serpent said it would make them "as gods, knowing good and evil". (Genesis 3:5) God called unto Adam and Adam said that he was afraid because he was naked. God asked, "Who told thee that thou wast naked?" (Genesis 3:11) God knew how Adam knew of his nakedness for God followed His initial question with another, "Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat:"

Yes they had eaten! Yes they had knowledge of good and evil. Yes God said, "the man is become as one of us" (Genesis 3:22) The serpent made it sound glorious to be as gods, but oh the painful reality that it made man naked before God. It made man responsible toward God. It destroyed the purity of innocence man had enjoyed! Now Adam saw evil as well as good. He would spend the rest of his life trying to hide from the evil he had found within himself!

So what about me - what about you? I have been where Adam was. I have fallen prey to the deception that opened my eyes and took away my innocence. My problem is not what Adam did or what anyone else does for those actions are only of this world. My problem is the evil within myself that I try to hide from. That alone will keep me away from God. Who told me there is evil within me? I know it the same way that Adam knew he was naked.

It is written, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1:15) I am not naked because I am covered with the blood of Jesus Christ! But neither am I pure because all things are not pure in my mind. I am in the process of renewing my mind unto the salvation freely given unto me.

As I walk and talk with God in the cool of the evening, He reminds me that He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He tells me to take heed to my mind for in it is purity lost .... in it is relationship with Him hindered or fulfilled! So what about you? How pure is your mind?

In the Cool of the Day with God (#3)

Lord, You walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. You are the same now as then. Would You walk with me, please? I have some questions. Will You teach me, please? Oh, thank You! Your Spirit is with me. Now what are my questions?

Well, right now, Lord I keep thinking of a recent experience. I sat in a group gathered for a sales presentation. As we listened to the salesperson bubbling over in the world's wisdom, he eluded to You several times. Did You draw him into his line of work? Is it his ministry? I didn't feel You in his words. Was it just me or was he speaking of You to endear himself to those of us who love You? Was it a sales tactic or does he really have a "walk and talk" relationship with You? When I hear people speak of You, how do I know if they really know You?

Unto my heart, Lord, You are speaking, "It is written ... believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (I John 4: 1-3)

Yes Lord, I hear Your words. I receive Your message. I remember that the kingdom of heaven is like unto a wheat field in which the tares grow side by side with the wheat until the harvest. In this world, we grow together. Lord, You know who is wheat and who is a tare. I remember that You said unto Peter when he questioned You about the one who betrayed You, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" (John 21:23) It is Your business, Lord, just how You work with the wheat and the tares, with the just and the unjust. So what do I need to know about the trying of the spirit? Once again You speak, "It is written ... by their fruits ye shall know them ... every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (Matt. 7: 17 & 20)

It takes time for fruit to develop. We have time to watch and wait while we walk and talk with You, Lord. We have time to allow our brothers and sisters to grow while we struggle with our own faults and failures. We have time for You to teach us. We have time because our time is Your time and Lord, it is written that You will provide.

In the midst of golden opportunities, there are hurtful disappointments. In the midst of wonderful friendships, there are insensitive reflections. I know You understand Lord. The writer of Hebrews knew the intensity of Your experience when he wrote, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

Why do I have these moments, Lord? My blessings are abundant, but there is a quiet pain within. Something is missing. It's You, Lord. I don't want to wait til the cool of the evening to walk and talk with You. Please, let's talk early this morning, Lord. I feel like the psalmist who wrote, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." (Psalm 42:1) or as Mary proclaimed, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." (Luke 1: 46,47) As Mary proclaims, so Lord do I. "How excellent is thy name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1); yet in all Your majesty, You are my very best friend. You are gentle and kind, yet your strength and wisdom are infinite. You are still the "I Am" who brought your people out of slavery. You did it then, You are doing it today, and you'll be doing it tomorrow. Thank You, Lord, for the quiet peacefulness of this morning for it is a golden opportunity to be still and know that You are God and in this opportunity is found no disappointment.

"My child, you have so many questions today. Surely you are just a babe, but it is good in my sight that babes might have understanding beyond the wise and prudent. (Luke 10:21) As a mother gently holds her child for his first steps, I cover you with my lovingkindness as you learn to move with me. You walk among ravening wolves. (Matt. 7:15) They would direct you unto destruction. Listen, for you will know my voice. I will teach you of the way that leads to life. Commune with me and you will learn of eternal life. I love you because you are mine. I know the depth of your possibilities. I have preordained your walk and I know what you are becoming. The faltering steps you take along the way are simply reminders of how far you have come. Overcome, my child. I am an overcomer and you are as I. I have known you from the beginning and I have authored your eternity. I share in the joy of your discoveries. I rejoice in every new link in our relationship chain. My lovingkindness multiplies as it is reflected in your life."

"Did I see it, my child? Surely I loved watching you and your husband enjoy it. Why do you suppose that I put it there?"

Of course you did it, Lord. You do everything that is good and beautiful. You said, "Let there be light" and there was light. How many times have You said "Let there be" and there was? How many rainbows .... how many sunsets.....how many snowfalls....how many times have You prepared our surroundings to touch our hearts?

"Every day, every hour, every minute I provide a touch for you, my child. The things the world calls beautiful get in the way of the natural beauty I provide. Sometimes the beauty I prepare is seen as ugly by the world. Look with your heart, my child, as well as with your eyes. There are hidden rainbows all around your life. Seek and you shall find them. I put them in the times of your life when you need them most."

Thank You, Lord. I could never thank You enough. I know the rainbow is a sign of your promise to Noah. You have made promises to me and I see their signs at the sweetest moments. You are sure and stedfast, Lord. You don't plant seeds in our lives to cause us frustration. You plant them so You may bring them to pass in your own time. I'll wait, Lord. I'll wait and watch for You are able to do all things well.

"I will provide, my child. I will bring to pass that which I have planted in your heart. I will provide "both to will and to do" of my good pleasure. (Philippians 2: 13) I am your provider. Watch always for the beauty I plant all around you."