The Garden of Eden

Fruitfulness has been a part of life since the beginning.

My prayer response:

God, May my life flourish and produce much fruit, I pray. May it serve You.

Biblical touchstones:

And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east… Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9

For God will comfort Zion; God will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of God; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. Isaiah 51:3

Thus says God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the towns to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. The land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined towns are now inhabited and fortified.” Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I, God, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, God, have spoken, and I will do it. Ezekiel 36:33

Invitation to prayer:

Imagine or pretend that you are a fruit tree. Enjoy being alive, flowering, and growing fruit.. How are your emotions, thoughts, and senses inspiring you to pray?

Photo:

The garden of Eden with trees full of round fruit as depicted by thirteenth century sculptors. The outer left voussoir of the central bay of the north porch at the Chartres Cathedral in France.

Related posts on the creation sculptures at the Chartres Cathedral:

God Creating the Garden of Eden

The Animals Created by God (Day 6 of Creation at Chartres)

God Creating the Animals (Day 6 of Creation at Chartres)

God Imagining Humanity (Day 5 of Creation at Chartres)

Imagining Humanity and Creating the Bird and Fish (Day 5 of Creation at Chartres)

The Sun and the Moon (Day 4 of Creation at Chartres)

God Creating the Sun and Moon (Day 4 of Creation at Chartres)

Vegetation (Day 3 of Creation at Chartres)

Creation Plants and Trees

The Firmament

Envisioning Creation