The Garden Of Love – A Word by Steve Porter

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… (Genesis 3:8a)

Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Genesis 5:24)

Come close to the Lord and walk with Him awhile for He cherishes you and wants nothing more than to spend time with you. His voice is soothing, His countenance is lovely, and His words feed your spirit like nothing else ever could. They refresh your soul and call you deeper into His presence. Oh, the depths of His love for you!

Did you know that you can spend time just walking with your friend Jesus and beholding Him in His glory without saying a single word? Just to open your heart to Jesus and love on Him (Psalm 62:5). The truth is that you can take walks with Him just admiring and cherishing His presence. On a personal level, some of the most powerful times I’ve spent with the Lord have occurred while I was outdoors, spending time alone with God. During those times, the Lord comes and reveals Himself to me. The reality is that He will respond to those who deeply love Him without distraction—those who have no agenda but His.

Just as Enoch walked with God in close intimate fellowship, sharing his heart with his best friend Jesus, I realized that I too could walk with Jesus and share what I am thinking and feeling. I call these times “Enoch walks.” I imagined Enoch embracing his kids and family and then picking up a walking stick as the sun was setting and going for a walk with God. I also picked up my stick and took long walks with the Lord every evening just before the sun went down. These “Enoch Walks” transformed my prayer life. In fact, I could picture the Lord walking with me on that beach or in that forest. I sensed He stood right beside me in all His beauty and splendor. His eyes that blaze with fire were burning with the increasing passion inside me.

We come to God just as we are, hang ups and all, and quietly walk with Him in His divine presence. In that special place, our heart is still and we know that He is our God. As we walk with Him day by day, He is changing us even though we sense nothing changing. We continue to hold our hearts open before Him, resting in His loving presence. Intimacy grows slowly at times, but we dare not judge it by how we feel. Rather, we must choose to trust Him for He is at work in our hearts during those times together. Enjoy anointed worship and let your heart respond in humble adoration. You don’t have to say anything, just enjoy walking with Him there in your secret garden. You can do this for hours, knowing He is there with you. I sometimes set out two chairs, one for me and another for Him. There I rest in His tender love. If you lie at His feet on the floor, you may sometimes fall asleep there, but don’t worry, beloved, because He loves it when you relax enough to sleep in His arms. As you continue to spend time together, intimacy grows, and you are changed into His likeness.

THE SECRET GARDEN OF THE LORD

Recently in my spirit the Lord gave me a vision so powerful it literally changed my life. It stirred me so much that I commissioned an artist to paint a portrait of it. It hangs on our wall and we take it with us to meetings where we minister, eager to stir the bride to a more intimate walk with God.

In my vision I saw the beautiful Bride of Christ standing at the gate of a beautiful secret garden. The garden was lush with greenery and sweetly scented beautiful flowers. As the bride walked through the gate, the sweet Master was already waiting there for her. He was standing there with such love in His eyes, bidding His bride to come closer, in order to walk with Him in the cool of the evening. It was powerful to watch their affectionate interaction as they walked together. They also had a special bench where they sat together just enjoying each other’s presence. Then I heard the lyrics of the beautiful hymn “In the Garden” written by Charles Austin Miles in 1913 (public domain).

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him

Tho’ the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go; thro’ the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

Can’t you feel the sense of peace in the holy garden of God?

THE INVITATION TO WALK

The sweet Heavenly Bridegroom will wait until He finds someone who is willing to walk closely with Him. As we walk with Him, He shares the deep things in His heart, the deep secrets reserved for only His closest friends.

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… (Genesis 3:8a)

The voice of the Lord walking is not a mistype. This speaks of the Lord coming for fellowship in the cool of the evening. He comes when the sun is setting and the air is now cool and comfortable. Isn’t He considerate? Such a good God we serve that He looks out for us this way. The voice of God is “walking” expresses that what He is speaking today is beyond the Word that He spoke yesterday, and that which He will reveal tomorrow will be far beyond that which He speaks today.

In our walks with the Lord, we are downloaded with divine revelation that takes us deeper and higher than where we started, but there is still more to come. As we walk with the sweet Master He teaches us the mysteries of God, sharing both His deepest longings and His dearly held secrets.

Can you see the Lord bidding you to come and walk with Him? He has been walking in this garden for thousands of years. The sweet Bridegroom will wait until He finds someone with whom He can walk and share His secrets. The ancients of old walked with the Lord through the lush garden. Enoch and Noah knew the secret of walking with God (Genesis 6:9), as did Abraham (Genesis 24:40). David walked there in the garden where he discovered the courts of the Lord. John the beloved was in the holy garden of intimacy where he leaned on His Lord. And so can you, but only if you’re willing. The door is always open if you choose to enter. There is deep healing for wounds and hurts as you walk with the Healer Himself. As you walk together, He will declare over you, “Behold, I make all things new!”

In this garden of the Lord, the heavenly Bridegroom is waiting for you, His bride, while the dew is still on the roses. As soon as you enter, the Master speaks with such love and tenderness that your heart is moved with pure worship. You walk together and smell the intoxicating scent of flowers as you enter this garden where, with tears, your Bridegroom declares that you belong to Him. You are His dearly beloved, His spotless bride, His beautiful one. His voice is soothing, His countenance is lovely, and His words are like honey to your heart. They refresh your soul and call you deeper into His presence. Oh, the depths of His love for you! Time stands still as even the birds are suddenly quiet, sensing that it is a holy moment. Then the sweet Master sings a song over you, a song of rejoicing over the day you were born. You are moved, you are undone as you linger in such a divine appointment. Your joy is indescribable; in that season your wounds are healed, and your sorrow is turned into dancing! You continue to walk and share heart to heart. You gaze on His beauty, realizing that He is your safe refuge, and you never want to leave that incredible place. Come, dear friend, and walk with your Beloved Savior—you will find Jesus waiting for you in the garden of love where the door is always open just for you.

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