Walk, Don't Run

Sometimes walking with the Lord can become burdensome. We are busy. We want control. We want to choose our own paths. We want to go at our own pace. We even want to impress God with our own performance. The truth is, walking with the Lord is the only way we can become more like Him. And the more we become more like Jesus, the more complete our life will be. 

From the very beginning, in Genesis 17:1, we are called to walk before God. You have probably heard the phrase "Walk with God", but have you ever thought about what walking entails? First of all, this command does not include any of the following activities: running, standing, jogging, or racing. Walking means we are moving and involved with a purpose.  Walking allows us to go further distances. Walking is a long obedience in one direction.

Just as Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 5), so can we accompany God on a walk. We stay on His path, never going down roads that He does not intend for us. We also stay at His pace. God has a set speed that he wants us to settle into. We cannot run ahead or lag behind or we will miss out on the gifts and opportunities God has for us. Walking with the Lord means staying with God for every step of our lives. We stay on the path because we trust Him with the destination He has for us. We stay at his pace because we trust Him with our itinerary. 

Walking with the Lord affects our direction. Give God a blank slate and ask Him to fill it. Wake up every morning and say, "Here I am, God. Use me TODAY!". Get excited for the unimaginable places the Lord can take you on your walk with Him. Life with God is never boring or routine. The pit stops around every corner may be unexpected so, remember that no matter what He is always with You. And because we are in Him, we know where our final destination will be.

{ And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 }

Walking with the Lord affects our attitude. We walk with our eyes, keeping our gaze on what is important. If we look behind us or beside us for too long we will stumble. Walking with God is being in conscious awareness of His presence. We must adopt His desires. He knows what we want more than we do. Be content with where you are on the path. God knows where you are, what to do, and how to get in touch with you.  

{ Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord,    and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37 }

Walking with the Lord affects our actions. We are blameless in the eyes of the Lord. This means we are whole and complete in Him not that we are a sinless perfection. Walking with God means we are living a life unified in honoring Him. Focusing on who God wants us to BE enables us to DO what pleases Him. The more we do what pleases Him, the more we become what God designed us to be. Do your best even in the smallest things. You know God's calling for today. Honor Him in the ordinary routines of life. Living with integrity means doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well. In doing this, we are preparing to handle great privileges without pride. We are also preparing to handle great disappointments without despair. Be faithful with the little things. 

Walking with the Lord is how we experience the fullness of joy! Enjoy God's delight!  Be confident in Him because he will make your paths straight! Experience the happiness of companionship with our Savior. 

{ You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 }

The Bible reveals many ways in which our godly walk is expressed. 

Walk in the Spirit. The only way we can overcome the unfruitful works of darkness and produce the fruits of the Spirit is to walk in the Spirit. We cannot do it on our own. We need the Spirit's help to stay close with God on our Christian journey.  Commit yourself to letting God change you. 

{ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 }

Walk in the Light. The fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. Do not even speak of the dark things done in secret, but instead expose them! For anything that is exposed by the light becomes visible (Ephesians 5)! Be open about your sin in all humility. Confess your sin after you commit it. Admit you need the Spirit's help then breath in His grace and forgiveness. 

{ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 }

Walk in Love. Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5). We can love others best when we eliminate sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. Love is not being nice to someone in exchange for a "good standing" with God or love and attention from others. Love is doing good to another just because they are God's creation. It has nothing to do with how they treat you. Now that we are in the Lord we must reflect Christ by loving others. 

{ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love Ephesians 5:1-2 }

Walk in Unity. This includes unity of the Spirit. We are one body and we have the one Spirit inside of us. We also have one hope in the Lord for His return. While on earth, we are called to be one with the church by building them up. We are all members of the faith, one body growing in the Lord. 

{ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.  Ephesians 4:15-16 }

Walk in Wisdom. Proverbs gives us all we need to know about how to walk as wise people. Walking in wisdom is understanding what God expects of us, His will. We are called to ponder the path we walk on. Make sure devious talk or crooked speech is not distracting you. Your heart is easily captivated by the lies of this world. 

{ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15 }

This last passage offers some final advice on making the most of your walk with the Lord. Remember, this is something that should be enjoyable, not a burden. In the presence of the Lord you will find fulness of joy and treasures forevermore.

{ Keep your heart with all vigilance,  for from it flow the springs of life.  Put away from you crooked speech,  and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.  Ponder the path of your feet;  then all your ways will be sure.
 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4:23-27 }

☎︎

The Girl Next Door