Have you ever walked down a path leading into a forest in the quiet of the day? Maybe you’ve strolled down a weather-beaten brick walkway leading into a beautiful garden, where the rich freshness of beautiful flowers blossoming surround and overpower you. At times like these, have you ever felt like God’s voice is calling unto you, like a gentle breeze that caressed your face, and a soft voice whispering to your heart, “Where are you, my child?”
“…Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”
Genesis 3:8-9
God’s Voice is Calling, Don’t Hide From Him
How hard we work to try to satisfy the endless desires of our sinful nature in this world in so many different ways. You may be experiencing this in your spiritual life today, like our first parents did when they were in the beautiful Garden of Eden. They hid from the approaching presence of the Lord among the things of this world.
God’s voice is calling. Stop and listen carefully. Listen to the Heavenly Father in the distance saying, “Where are you, my child?” When He comes nearer, you may begin to feel very uncomfortable, like Adam and Eve did, and try to hide behind the things of this world as He draws closer and closer to your spirit and soul.
Why do you run away when He approaches you, hiding from His presence, which brings peace? Could it be because you love the things of this world too much, the things so many others desire to possess?
Are you unaware of the real purposes and uses the Lord has intended them to be for? When He freely gives them to you by His love and grace, then they are yours to be used and enjoyed. Do not seek or value them only for your own selfish purposes instead. They are intended for His glory, not your own. Love for the things of this world draws the heart away from God. The more the love of this world has superior strength or authority in your life, the more your love of God will go downhill.
Are You Experiencing The Wrong Desires?
You may be experiencing wrong desires of the heart—a passion for indulging in what excites and inflames the senses. Maybe it’s the desire of the eyes, which delight in looking at and longing for beautiful material possessions. This can become a main avenue leading to covetousness (strong, envious desire). There is also the temptation toward the pride of life, which involves a passion for honor and applause for yourself.
All the things of the world will fade away, but holy affection is not like these fleeting physical desires.
Ask God into Your Heart — Watch and Pray to Have Victory
If you love the world more than you love God, you will have no root in yourself to overcome the world, but will fall away, or, at best, remain an unfruitful child of God. Vain, empty, and valueless things corrupt worldly hearts. Watch and pray that you will be able to escape the desires of this world and have victory over the god and prince of it. The first step in this victory over the world begins by asking God to come and reign in your heart. His divine, eternal love will never fail.
Are you running away from the Lord, hiding from His divine presence, the only source of eternal peace? Run to Him instead for God’s voice is calling “Where are you, my child?”
Please visit our page on The Way To God to find out more about how to find God.
[Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash]
