The Garden Of Family
Friday, March 8
Genesis 2:21-22 (NKJV)
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.”
Devotion
Adam stood in the middle of the garden, enveloped in exquisite beauty. The world was there for his delight—succulent fruits, majestic trees, green pastures, sparkling waters, striking animals. He was the master of them all.
Yet as Adam stood gazing at this grandeur, he was overcome with a powerful feeling of existential loneliness. He had everything, yet he was missing something integral to his happiness and completion. He might be the master of his world, but deep within, he was deficient and lonely.
The Story continues with God saying, “It is not good that man is alone. I shall make him a compatible helper.” Someone that would compliment him and help Adam from that moment forward.
This week’s series of devotionals are based on foundational truths rooted in unbreakable laws of nature created since the beginning of time. One of these foundational pillars of our faith is rooted in God's original intent that the institution of marriage should be exclusively between a man and a woman.
This pillar is unbreakable, rooted, grounded, and considered absolute in the eyes of Our Creator.
The next pillar instituted by God is family. The family plays a vital role in God's plans for our lives. Once a man and woman join together, they form a home and family.
God intends that our homes and families become our nest, the center of our lives, the hub from which all our daily experiences extend. Both as children and adults, our home and family are where we should feel most comfortable in the world. They determine how you make your life decisions; they shape your attitudes, your awareness, and your self-esteem. A healthy home life is a vital ingredient in the pursuit of a meaningful life.
In a sense, Adam had it all but he was missing an essential ingredient to make his happiness complete. A life partner and family. Biblically speaking our homes should become a light that illuminates the entire community. In other words, when we have harmony at home, within the structure of the family, it translates into harmony between families, communities, and nations.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I praise You for Your wonderful works and I thank You for the amazing opportunity we have been given to love and nurture our families. I thank You for creating the institution of marriage and the unbreakable bond of family. I commit to preserving this institution. I ask for Your wisdom and guidance to build a firm foundation where Your word and presence are cherished. Help us all to persist when times are difficult and to rejoice when times are good. Above all, keep my family centered in Your plans and purpose for our lives. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
The household is an important unit to God, and He desires that the home be a place where family members are trained and nurtured spiritually as well as physically. Here is a key element in building a peaceful home life: work on the relationships between family members with communication and respect, based on God’s guidelines. Think also about the atmosphere of the home itself. Plan on ways to organize your home and make it a welcoming place where the household and visitors will experience the presence of our wonderful Creator.
Resources:
- As you watch, “Fight for Your Family”, and be encouraged as you battle on behalf of your family.
- Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and gather with your family to discuss all of God’s instructions from these verses. Commit to one another, that each one will do their part in carrying out these commands.