Then the Lord God planted a garden in the East, in a place called Eden. He put the man He had formed into that garden. Genesis 2:8
You enjoy a close bond with nature and find peace in the Great Creation. You have discovered the elusive tranquility that many others seek, by walking in harmony with the earth and its inhabitants.
You enjoy tending gardens and working with plants. You also find a deep sense of satisfaction from sharing your harvest to nourish others. You delight in feeding birds, animals, and fellow human beings.
Growing plants from seed and watching them mature into life-sustaining trophies of God’s goodness, is an assignment you willingly accept.
To you, the privilege of sharing the abundance of your harvest is one of life’s most enjoyable experiences.
You function in harmony with the earth, finding both spiritual and physical nourishment from this connection to the Creator.
1 Corinthians 2:7 I speak God’s secret wisdom, which He has kept hidden. God planned this wisdom for our glory before the world began.
The secret wisdom of God’s Kingdom is revealed in nature. Many may find it difficult to comprehend the magnitude of what they are witnessing, when viewing a starry night or a blazing sunrise. However, you are fully aware that each element of nature contains vital information about your Creator.
You have a persistent drive to push past surface layer facts to discover the deeper secrets hidden behind them. You have a curious mind which seeks to comprehend the secrets of God concealed in the world around you.
You remain keenly aware that all understanding comes from the Creator, and you derive great pleasure discovering the intimate secrets of His character revealed in the beauty of nature.
You deeply and fully appreciate a belief in intelligent design. Profound revelations that you encounter, while observing the world around you, unlocks a supernatural enlightenment which reaches far beyond human understanding.
You are enamored by the evidence of God sprinkled throughout the universe. You possess great wisdom and understanding when sifting through the clues to uncover hidden mysteries.
As each layer is peeled back, through scientific research and discovery, the wonder of the universe reveals the magnitude of its Creator.
You easily make the connection between Creator and Creation. You have been given a gift of divine understanding which enables you to live life in both the natural and supernatural, simultaneously.
A life of dual loyalties to both the scientific and religious communities is rarely an easy path to walk. These two entities are often perceived to be in opposition to each other.
However, you have the gift of divine wisdom, so you perceive it much differently. You find insurmountable evidence to the contrary.
You see a spectacular harmony between both the spiritual and the scientific realms. You can quickly detect synchronized cooperation between these two dimensions and are equally comfortable in both worlds.
This is an exciting lifestyle that few can understand. You comprehend it well because it has been your reality for as long as you can remember.
Luke 1:30 “Don’t be afraid,” the angel said. “You have found favor with God!”
Your life is filled with the favor of God. He has chosen you to be the recipient of His goodness.
Some believe your life is easy, but like Mary, you also hide many things in your heart.
God’s call isn’t always an easy road to walk, even though it may appear easy to those who watch you move quietly and methodically through difficulties.
Like Mary’s experience, the blessings of God may not always appear as blessings at first.
There are things God asks of you that may not seem possible or even rational. Your destiny is a path which some may question. This is because God has revealed plans to you that no one else could ever understand.
Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.”
You care deeply about animals, and you understand their fundamental value to the ecosystem of this planet.
You sometimes prefer the company of animals to humans because you appreciate their non-judgmental acceptance.
You realize that the human connection to animals is a deeply spiritual bond.
Medical breakthroughs and scientific discoveries are dependent upon the animal kingdom to guide the way.
Animals play a vital role in the development of life-saving medical procedures.
Throughout the centuries, animals, both domestic and wild, have been the inspiration for countless human inventions and technological advancements. By studying and mimicking the unique traits of other species, humanity was able to survive.
You are intrigued by the interconnectedness of the ecosystem. You hold a deep sense of honor and respect for conservationists. You admire people who preserve the natural habitats of untamed creatures who reside on this planet.
You live in harmony with creation and the Creator, because you hold deep reverence for the wild world.
Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings in His image.
The relationship you enjoy with God as your Father creates an aura of warmth and light in the atmosphere surrounding you.
This glow of God’s reflection in you, illuminates spaces which were once dark and gloomy. People are drawn to your light and seek to experience it for themselves.
The wonderful thing about the radiance of this light, is that it can be shared freely without losing its intensity. The glow of God’s likeness radiating from you is like sunshine. There is no limit to the number of recipients who can receive the warmth and comfort it brings.
And as the sunshine persuades spring flowers to emerge, you too carry the ability to encourage the colorful expressions of God’s creative design to blossom in the lives of those you influence.
You carry a big responsibility, for without the image of The Father shining through you, some of His wandering children who are searching for the light might never find their way home.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
As it turns out, these times when we feel spiritually depleted or disinterested are not red flags for us to fret over. They are simply tests. These temporary times when we lack inspiration or get caught up in life’s drama have no bearing on our position in Christ or our commitment to His work.
We have come to understand that the testing of our faith can never happen during good times when inspiration flows freely, we are highly motivated, and praise songs play on a loop in our heads. Times of high spiritual energy and passion are thrilling, but they can’t do the work of generating patience. Only the testing of our faith can do that.
What is the Testing of Our Faith?
When our feelings betray us and tell us we don’t love God like we should.
When our behavior slips into an old pattern and makes us believe we have not changed.
When the excitement and enthusiasm we once had for God seems dull and muted.
When we just don’t care about trying so hard, because it’s too much work.
Previously, these difficult times had been dark and made us doubt our relationship with God. We were frustrated to find Him so distant when we needed Him the most.
However, when we begin to view these events as a process which increases our patience and equips us for the next level, we start to see their value. We no longer need to feel frustrated when God goes silent. A good teacher is always silent during a test.
Sometimes we make really good progress and are pleased with the distance we cover in such a short time. We feel that our relationship with God is in great shape, and we are motivated by our sense of accomplishment.
At other times, however, we feel as if we were trudging through mud, putting one foot in front of the other, lacking any drive or inspiration. We feel inadequate, overwhelmed, and disinterested. During these times, we don’t feel so great about our relationship with God. We assume He is disappointed with our lack of energy and enthusiasm.
These times are rare, but they happen often enough to make us question our stability and resolve. We wonder if one of these periods might last so long that we will just give in and give up.
We don’t want to lose what we have gained, and we don’t want to miss the joy of the journey, so the thought of trudging through the marshy swampland of doubt, discouragement, and disagreement feels very threatening.
We love the mountaintops and the flowery meadows, but we must face the fact that dry deserts and muddy bogs are also part of the expedition. We must make peace with both if we want to get where we are going.
The Lord cares deeply about you. He surrounds you with compassion when you are going through times of discouragement and exhaustion.
Although these experiences may feel like endless nights of the soul, you rest assured that morning will come. You know that when the light breaks through the darkness, and you have had some rest, you will see things clearly once again.
God sees that some of the things you go through are difficult. He is there to help you endure the darkness. He keeps you safe when the shadows fall and brings you through the lonely nights. As the darkness passes, your soul is refreshed by the dawn of a new day.
Knowing that God has designed nature with the assurance of a sunrise, you rest assured that after the darkness passes, the light of a new day will drive it away.
Assured that the Creator of the universe is interested in your emotional well-being and is willing to listen as your pour out your heart, you are able to move through the stages of melancholy with calm acceptance. You know that God keeps you protected in the darkness and it will always pass.
One might wonder, “If God’s word is true, why are there people living without hope? Why wouldn’t His promise apply to everyone across the board?’
The answer is deeply complex. The reason God’s promises are not fulfilled is because His words rely on someone laying claim to them. These fantastic promises of God are often hard to believe for ourselves. Sure, we believe God is good, but we also know that we aren’t. We believe He does great things for good people, but it seems a bit presumptuous to expect the same blessings as someone who was busy doing great things for God while we were selfishly making a mess of our lives. We know the Bible talks about penalties for bad behavior, so it seems that if we believe in the blessings, we must also fear the curses.
That may have been a valid statement before the cross. But we live under Grace, not Law. Jesus broke the power of the curse, so we can all live in the blessing if we choose to believe it. We need not fear the curse or the consequences of our own mistakes. Those issues have been resolved. We are in a continual state of cleansing, like standing beneath a waterfall. Even a sin committed one second ago, is already washed away in the living water. We live exclusively in the blessings and enjoy firm standing on the promises. Curses do not cling to us. Blessings chase us down.
Joshua 1:9 Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. So don’t be afraid. The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.
When faced with questions and uncertainty, you sometimes doubt your own ability to fend off the forces of fear.
However, the Spirit of God resides with you and around you. His protective bubble creates a force field which keeps you safe and unharmed while angel armies fight for you.
As you encounter the icy chill of a society which applauds greed, violence, and distrust, you are warmed from within by the Holy Spirit’s flame.
Like a crackling fire on a cold winter night, the presence of God permeates the atmosphere and brings comfort to your soul.
God’s sovereignty is undisputed. His angels stand ready to rise on your behalf. You are therefore able to claim victory over any doubt, conflict, or difficulty which threatens to distract you from your true purpose.
Your soul is at rest, and your mind is at peace because you know the power of your position in Christ. Since God is for you, and has promised to defend you, there is no need to defend yourself.
Since God fights for you, the fear of inadequacy or personal failure has no place in your future.
Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, "It is Finished!" 