Genesis 2 explains that after God created man, he planted a garden in Eden and there he placed the man he had made.  Beginning in verse 9 the Bible says…”The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”  

Even at the very beginning of our story with God, he is a tender caretaker and provider for our needs.  It is easy for us to get caught up in our own self sufficiency—we think that we have everything “taken care of,” and we give ourselves credit, but the truth is that “everything” is and always has been in God’s sweet care-taking hands.  It is the very nature of God to be our provider (a much better provider than we could be for ourselves).  

Today we encourage you to think about the ways that God has and continues to provide for you and give thanks for that beautiful part of your relationship with Him.  Heavenly Father, we recognize it is your nature to be our provider.  Thank you for that tender part of your nature that nurtures and cares for us.  

In Jesus name, Amen.  

The Garden Leadership Team, 
Julie Putnik, Amy Dingle, Susan Hagen