Thursday, February 2, 2017
Last night in our scheduled prayer night, the praise team very appropriately chose for our congregational singing, a favorite classic hymn of many believers, me included, “In The Garden.” It was written in 1912 by C. Austin Miles, who wrote many other hymns. Among them are two other favorites of mine, the equally beautiful “If Jesus Goes With Me” (I’ll go anywhere) and the more lively, “A New Name In Glory.” If you are a Christian music enthusiast, I recommend you check them out on the web. I’m sure you will find them all on you tube.
According to the biography, Miles wrote “In The Garden” as he was searching for an inspiration to write a hymn. Soon after, he had a vision of a garden scene. In it, He saw Mary as she came back to Jesus’ tomb right after His crucifixion. Miles said that, in his vision, he saw himself with them and wrote what he sensed were Mary’s own words. That is why it’s first stanza says: “ I come to the garden alone / While the dew is still on the roses, / And the voice I hear falling on my ear, / The son of God discloses.” I can relate to Miles’ way of thinking because I very often imagine myself in the middle of a biblical account. I also encourage others to try to do the same when delivering certain messages from the pulpit. The chorus is surely the best known part of the hymn and it and has this well known refrain: “And He walks with me, and he talks with me /And He tells me I am His own, / And the joy we share as we tarry there / none other has ever known.” On a lighter note, every time I hear this hymn, I am reminded of the story of the little boy who thought God’s name was Andy. When asked why, he said that his mom was always singing, “Andy, walks with me, Andy talks with me…”
If there was ever a hymn that is perfect when having a quiet, personal time with the Lord, this is it. Perhaps you may want to learn it and sing it to the Lord one of these days. I believe, that in time, you too will feel closer to your Lord and Master than ever before.
God’s promise for today: (Revelation 3:20) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
