Devotion
Where is your garden?
David Jacobs
As we grow up, many of us turn to certain things as "escapes." Work, exercise, sex, and alcohol can all be used in different ways, some more positive than others.
There is one place where I go when I am feeling despondent: my diary. Writing in my journal is a place where I always feel safe. I can reflect on my day and almost always feel a sense of peace and accomplishment when I write in it. Although it may not traditionally be considered prayer, writing in my journal is a meditative, contemplative, and calming action that helps me focus on the things that are most important to me. My journal, in a way, is my garden of peace.
In these verses, Jesus goes to pray with his disciples by the brook Cedron in a garden. His soon-to-be betrayer, Judas, knew would find Jesus there. Even as Jesus knew of his impending end he remained calm, and surrounded himself with those important to him. What better place for Jesus to spend his final hours of peace! He spent his remaining hours doing what he enjoyed the most with the people that he enjoyed the most. Like my journal, it was a place he could turn to calm down, prepare for what was coming, and focus on what was important to him.
Prayer
What is your "garden" of peace? Is there a place, person, action, or substance that you turn to habitually to try to relax? More importantly, whatever your garden may be, is it a positive one? Does it help or hurt you? Use Christ as an example: be in a setting that you love with people that you love.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
