Heavenly Father, I think about how difficult it must have been for You to drive Adam and Eve from the garden that had been their home from the beginning. I know You probably grieved over their sin in so many ways. Probably more than they did, because You knew how much blood would be shed over this sin. You would kill animals to cover their nakedness, which is a reminder of their sin, and forever they would need some kind of covering. Then Jesus would have to die to cover their spiritual nakedness. How many billions of gallons of blood has been shed to cover our nakedness, whether physical or spiritual? I know You are completely sovereign, perfect and full of grace and mercy. I thank You that You were willing to put up with so much disobedience from us for so long. I am grateful that You were willing to sacrifice Your Son so we had a chance to choose You through His sacrifice. I thank You that You sent the Holy Spirit to help us stay focused on You. I thank You for all You are! In Jesus...

Was it a big deal that God made Adam and Eve garments out of animal skins? If so, why? Why did God send them out of the garden? What might have happened if they had stayed in the garden that God couldn’t allow? April 22 Verses: 20  The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.  21  And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. 22  Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever—”  23  therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.  24  He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:20-24 ESV  

Heavenly Father, we try to blame everyone but ourselves for sin in the world, but I know that even if Adam and Eve had held it together, the next generation wouldn’t have been able to stay in the garden. Why are we so prone to give up the wonderful mercies You give us every single day for life in the pit of sin? I know I do it as much if not more than most. Not only am I not immune, I lead the charge and am certainly not proud of it. I try, but I know that I can do nothing worthwhile in my own power. Help me to be a light to others today. Not a light on my own, but a light for You. I do not matter, only You matter. Help me to not react when things go sideways in my life, as that is showing the world who I am. Help me prayerfully respond as You guide me to respond. Help me show the world that You can do the impossible. Help me show them that You can take a sinner like me, and show the world Your glory, Your grace, Your mercy, Your love! In Jesus name! Amen!

What consequences do women have today because of this disobedience? What consequences do men have today because of this disobedience? What consequence did Adam and Eve immediately suffer as well as those we still suffer today? April 21 Verses: 16  To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to[ f ] your husband, but he shall rule over you.” 17  And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:16-19 ESV

  Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your word that You give us so we can know You and hear You speak to us. I thank You that You and Your word are unchanging. I thank You that You brought Jesus into Your word so early so we can know that the Trinity was in place from the beginning. I don’t always understand how things work, especially the Trinity, but I know they do because I know Your word is faithful and reliable. I thank You Father, that You are always the One I can count on. You will never let me down. Help me have my joy and happiness in You and You alone. I know there have been times that I have made my happiness dependent on people, circumstances or my own abilities and I know that none of those things are sustainable or reliable. Help me keep my eyes on You and listen to You for guidance. When I mess up, help me to see that and make the changes I need to make to give You the glory. Thank You for loving someone as unlovable as me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

  Heavenly Father, as I’m thinking about how Adam and Eve’s disobedience impacted the entire world, I’m also seeing how much I am like them. When they knew they had disobeyed and then heard You coming to spend time with them, they hid from You. How often I hide when I feel I want to avoid Your truth. I will find something else that needs to be done so I can continue pretending I don’t know I have disappointed You. Then, like Adam, how often we try to blame someone else, even You, God, for times we have made decisions that have been wrong. Thank You for not letting me get away with it. I know I disappoint people often, but the only one whose opinion really matters, God, is You. Help me to act in a way that even if I let people down, even people I care about, I won’t let You down. Keep me focused on You and what You have for me to do. Help me point to You in all I do. Thank You that in every verse of Your word there is more to learn than we ever saw before. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

  Oh Father, as I read about Adam and Eve taking the fruit and disobeying the one instruction You gave them, I think about how easily we as people are swayed. It doesn’t take much of a promise for us to turn our eyes off of You and onto whatever “seems” to be prettier, more fun, more popular, and we don’t even consider You. Recently I saw a scene in a movie that really struck me with the truth that when we sin, we not only hurt ourselves and whoever was hurt by the sin, but we hurt Jesus because He died for our sins and I so easily forget that each sin I commit drove a nail into Jesus’ flesh. When I think about who crucified, I have to remember I am one of the people who but Jesus on that tree. How easy it is for us to blame others. Help me keep my eyes focused on You and You alone. I always get into trouble when anything else is allowed to creep in and take up space. Let me think about You and what You have for me to for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen