Walking With God—What Does That Even Mean?

The fact that Noah walked with God is mentioned directly after we are told that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  (Genesis 6:8-9) In other words, God would be sparing Noah in His coming judgment of the world through the flood.

Evidently walking with God is a huge deal.  For if Noah hadn’t walked with God, we wouldn’t be here today!

But what does that even mean…to walk with God?  God is a Spirit.  How can a flesh and blood human walk with the Spirit God?

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I used to wonder about this phrase a lot.  It seemed to be just one of those “spiritual” things that really “spiritual” people would say.  But not something I could do.  Until the Lord helped me realize what it meant to walk with God.

As I thought about how to explain this concept, the Lord brought this thought to mind—walking with God is similar to walking through life with a best friend.  We think of marriage as “doing life together.”

I think of walking with God as doing life together with Him.

Walking with God requires that we exhibit the same qualities toward God that we would toward any earthly friendship that we value—agreement, faithfulness, and priority. 

 

To walk with God, we must be in agreement with Him.

First, for two people to walk through life together, they must be in agreement, at least on the most important matters of life.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  Amos 3:3

To walk with God requires that we also be in agreement.  But in our agreement with God, there is no room for compromise…we must agree with Him.  Period.

Walking with God requires that we learn what He desires, loves, and thinks…and that we change our minds, thoughts, and attitudes to align with His.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Philippians 2:5

But before we can even do that, we must first be in agreement with God about our sin and sins’ consequence.  Has there been a time yet in your life when you agreed with God that you are a sinner in need of His forgiveness?  And believed Jesus died to pay for your sins for you?  Are you saved?  Are you 100% sure?

 

To walk with God, we must trust in His faithfulness.

Next, to walk through life with someone requires a level of trust in that person’s faithfulness to you and to your relationship.

To walk together through life, two people must feel secure in their relationship, whether the relationship is a friendship or a marriage (which, hopefully, is also a friendship).  That security can only come through knowing that the other person is committed to the relationship.  That no matter the hard times, or good times, they will remain loyal and faithful to the other.

God also requires faithfulness in His relationship with us.  To walk with God, we must show Him, when we are tested, that we will continue to love Him…no…matter…what.  That we will not be a ‘fair-weather’ friend to Him.

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.  Psalm 18:1

To be faithful to God also means that we will stay full of faith in Him even during the hardest, most perplexing times of our lives. 

We will trust in His love for us, even when we cannot understand His plans.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  Psalm 18:2

No matter what others around us think, or say, or do, we will stick close to our God, walking with Him through it all.  After all, He is the most important relationship of our lives! 

 

To walk with God, we must value time spent with Him.

Finally, walking with God, just like walking in a close human relationship, requires priority.

No relationship can be considered a best friendship that doesn’t involve much time spent together.

We cannot walk with God if we do not value time spent with Him.  People in close relationships enjoy spending as much time together as possible.  Walking with God is no different.  Spending time in fellowship with Him must be our top priority.

We walk with God when we spend much time in prayer talking things over with Him, seeking His opinion, His will, on things that matter to us.

To have a close marriage relationship, God tells us that each person should seek to please the other.

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.  1 Corinthians 7:33-34b

And…

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Philippians 2:3

To have a close walk with God, we also must spend time with Him serving Him and others in the ways that please Him.  We walk with God when we esteem, or value, Him and what He wants, over what we want.  And don’t go our own way, but rather seek and do His way.

Even when it doesn’t make sense.  Just like Noah did when commanded to build an ark.  Because rain (water from the sky?!) was coming.

Noah’s desire and focus was on pleasing His God.

Noah walked with God. 

You know, I cannot get close enough to the President or to any other earthly ruler to walk with them.  Anywhere.  How much less the God of all the universe!

Yet, God wants us to walk with Him!  And allows us to draw nigh to Him, so that we can walk with Him…if we want to.

Are you walking with our God?  Is He your very best friend? 

 

Drawing nigh to Him,

Teresa

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

Do you sometimes think that your walk with God can’t be that important?  That what you do or don’t do won’t make that much difference?  Remember the impact Noah’s faithful walk with God made on the future of mankind.  I wonder how my walk with God will affect future generations.  Don’t you?

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