Walking with God has been a longstanding area of study for the past eleven years of reading the Bible. I have always yearned for the relationship that Abraham, Noah, and Moses had with God. I am still intrigued by their open and interactive friendship but wondered if such relationships are achievable. Most of the teachings that I previously heard on walking with God emphasized human efforts that equated such works in strict spiritual discipline but were unsuccessful in providing practical guidance on the subject. Although a personal effort is required to engage with God, total reliance on human effort will not suffice. The ministry of the Holy Spirit must be fully involved for a successful walk.
My other reason for this blog is in reverence to the modern age that we are in. The world has become and continues to advance in knowledge, technology, and inventions. Societies are being redefined; there are many perspectives and opinions that the modern believer is faced with than before. The question remains, can a born-again believer walk with God in this age? The answer is yes!
Most of us have heard of this statement” walking with God.” Bible characters that are often ascribed to walking with God are Abraham, Noah, Moses, Daniel, David, and Enoch. Enoch is recorded to have walked with God so closely that he never died. God just took him up to heaven; see Genesis 5:23-24. These notable generals of faith had characteristics that we can learn from and mirror to walk with God in this era successfully.
They were called, selected, and chosen by God to accomplish a more significant purpose
The common trend in these generals is that they were called or handpicked by God. God called Abraham to leave his family to become a father of nations. Noah was handpicked to introduce a different generation. Moses was chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, David became the deliverer and king of Israel, and out of His seed, now David’s kingdom reigns eternally through Jesus Christ.
Each born-again believer has been handpicked and called by God- all are called! And we have been called for a specific purpose. Ephesians 1:4 says that that was predestined- called by God, to be holy before him. In 2 Peter 2:9, we learn that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special people that we may proclaim the praise of Him who called us. So salvation, accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, and being baptized by water immersion qualifies every believer to walk with God. Accepting Jesus grants us access to God, but this is only an introduction.
They Trusted God-They Believed in God
The other similarity in these men is that they trusted God. They trusted God’s guidance, and through that trust, God considered them righteous. Abraham and Noah were considered righteous because they had faith in God. Hebrews 11 chronicles all those who walked by faith: Abel, Enoch, Sarah. All were credited as righteous because they trusted God.
Walking with God requires faith in God. One cannot walk in close relationships with another without trust. Without faith, it is impossible to please God-Hebrews 11:6. The Israelites wandered in the desert and perished because of unbelief. Their unbelief contributed to their fear, complaining, rebellion, and idolatry (forsaking God). The root of most sin is unbelief. To walk all-heartedly with God, we must trust Him-have faith in God!
They walked righteously before God
There is a correlation between faith and righteousness. Righteousness in this context means being in right standing with God. Righteousness here also means pleasing God by living a lifestyle of reverential fear of the Lord, and they honored God.
Walking with God requires a commitment to stay in righteousness, according to Psalm 24:3-. Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord? In the Old Testament, the mountain of the Lord was a meeting place where God met and communicated with His Prophets or servants. In most cases, God instructed that the people consecrate themselves before meeting with God. In today’s language, we can reword this to mean who can come into close fellowship or union with God? The Psalm answers that he or she has a clean hand, a pure heart, and refrains from idolatry. Idolatry is anything that you prioritize and give attention to above God. At this age, many things pull us away from God. The quest for wealth, money, and fame; the busyness of life, distractions galore, entertainment, leisure, and hobbies!
Walking with God requires no contamination; we should get rid of anything that contaminates body and spirit, see 2 Corinthians 7:1. Separation and distinction have to occur walk with God. We have examples from Noah, Shadrack, Meshach, Daniel, and Abednego, who lived in corrupt environments by separating themselves to obey and honor God. Great friendship with God often requires a separation or distinction. So when God instructs that you leave, unsubscribe, or delete something, can you still do it? Separate yourself from anything that or anyone who takes you away from God. Job was considered righteous by God, David; on the other hand, was a man after God’s heart. Such examples are an encouragement that we, too, can live righteously before God in this age.
Walk with God by Knowing Him
A great advantage with our God is that He knows us; in fact, He knew us before He chose or called us. There is nothing like working or being in a healthy relationship with someone who knows you in and out, someone who knows your strengths, weaknesses, and secrets. This makes walking with Him easier on our part because we can be comfortable with Him and be transparent in our walk with Him. However, we have to strive to know Him.
Shadrack, Meshach, Daniel, and Abednego, knew God so much that they were assured of His deliverance from the fiery furnace; (Daniel 3:17). David was so sure of God’s power to strike dead Goliath; a simple stone worked wonders compared to the armor of men (2 Samuel 17:48-54). These giants of faith knew their God, Jehovah.
Walking with God requires that we know Him too. The Apostle Paul’s prayer to believers in Ephesians 3:14-19 and for himself was to know God in Philippians 3:10. Through Paul’s prayers, we learn more to walk with God than He blesses us with or His gift. Paul was mighty used of God in signs and wonders. Through his epistles, he is credited for helping believers understand their new nature in Christ, yet he still prayed for us to come to the knowledge of God while he prayed that He should know Christ. God already knows us; we must strive to know Him to be successful believers. Knowing God’s ways involves study the Bible because God’s ways are in His Word. We also know God’s ways by listening to Him and following His instructions.
They had Close and Frequent Communication with God
Frequent communication and conversations were familiar with those who walked with the Lord. Abraham and Moses have extended periods of either being visited by God or being asked by God to ‘come up for fellowship”. Abraham was so comfortable with that he would negotiate with God, see Genesis 18:16-33. Moses pestered God until God showed Him the promised land; see Deuteronomy 3:23-27. As God led the Israelites through the desert, Moses frequented the Tabernacle of Meeting to talk to God, see Exodus 33:7-11
Likewise, walking with God requires that we communicate with Him. Relationships work best when communication is enhanced or fostered. Some ways of communicating to God are through worship and thanksgiving, praise, prayer, reading the Bible, meditating, and reflecting on His word. Communication is two-sided. We should relate to God with the expectation that He will respond. Walking with God is a dialogue, not a monologue; it a fellowship. You, too, can have a place of meeting- a place where you meet with God daily, it can be your car, basement, a spot in your house, but can you identify an interrupted place where you can meet with God regularly.
The most common hinderances to walking with God at this age are lack of time and distractions. Walking with God requires intentionality in creating uninterrupted time with God. We must silence all noises and disallow all distractions that interfere with our devotionals.
Walk with God by Walking with the Holy Spirit
The other most crucial step in walking with God is to walk with the Holy Spirit. God sent the Holy Spirit for companionship and fellowship too. The Holy Spirit is the representation of the Trinity in us. One of His roles to assist us in knowing God and to guide us in the purposes of God. Such guidance requires trust, intentionality, and reliability on our part. We have the advantage of the Holy Spirit living in us; we have to engage Him in every aspect of this journey.
There is a relationship with the Holy Spirit beyond the power and gifts that He gives. There is a relationship with the Holy Spirit beyond the anointing miracles as signs and wonders. There is a relationship with the Holy Spirit beyond what He can do for us or through us. This is the friendship aspect of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who represents God to us while we are here on earth. God’s ways are channeled to us through the Holy Spirit. Whatever the Holy Spirit hears from God, He tells us that is in John 16. Walking with God requires knowing God’s will; the Holy Spirit is the revelator of that because He leads in truth; according to John 14, The Holy Spirit is also the activator of that will through intercession when He prays for us in Romans 8. Walking with God requires being spirit-led and not led by our flesh, emotions, or intellect- Walk in Spirit, sensitivity to His presence and voice
Walking with God requires obedience
Obeying God is more valuable than the anointing and the gifts He provides us. The Prophet Samuel instructed King Saul and us on this in 1 Samuel 15:22-24. King Saul lost his kingdom because of disobedience which manifested through impatience and the need to please people. Despite having walked closely with God, Moses missed seeing the promised land because of disobedience due to the Israelites’ restlessness and His anger towards them. Never allow another person’s action or perceptive to make you ignore or disobey God.
Walking with God requires even obedience in things He instructs us that we may not understand. At times our intelligence, logic, and people get in the way. When you know for sure what God has instructed you, stick with it even if it does not make sense to you. Purpose to obey God promptly.
Walking with God requires dying to self
I self-sacrifice is the highest level of sacrifice that can be given. Jesus Christ exemplified this by leaving heaven’s comfort and coming on earth to die for in our place. Although part of the Trinity, He humbled himself that the will of His Father (God) may be accomplished.
Likewise, walking with God requires humility and personal sacrifice. We must allow God’s will in everything we do. Such includes submitting to God’s timings, schedules, and agenda. There are times God wants to move amongst fellowships or us, but we miss Him by either ignoring Him, not noticing His presence or voice or by making no time for Him. At times we rush Him; oh, how much we have grieved the Holy Spirit! Pray for increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Purpose To create and give the Holy Spirit ample time to minister.
Dying to self involves total submission and reliance on God. When we die to ourselves, we create room for Christ to be magnified in us. This death may come in the form of that loss. God may ask you to let go of some things. He may ask you to leave or change jobs, relocate, disconnect from some people. Just remember that when God asks you to let go of something, He often rewards you with greater and better.
Ascend Beyond Intimacy to Habitation with God
There is a place beyond the secret place, beyond intimacy with God called Habitation. This is where Jesus Christ and God come and make their home in you! I believe this is the pinnacle of walking with God! There is the greater dimension of walking with God, which is loving God, but our love for God is demonstrated by doing or following His commandments. John 14:23- says Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Walking with God requires that we become doers of the word, not hearers only. It is in doing that the will of God is manifested to us and humanity. It is in doing that the love of God is manifested first to us them to humanity. When this love is demonstrated through our actions, we become the Habitation of the Lord! This Habitation then transcends to constant transformation into God’s image, like Moses, from glory to glory. The overflow of this glory and presence changes atmospheres resulting in miracles, breakthroughs, wonders, the unseen and unheard. Overflow stems from His Habitation.
The Effects of Walking with God
Like most relationships, there are effects of walking with a person. God though is unlike humans, He is faithful, dependable; the impact of your walk with Him is visible and impactful.; Here are some of them based on the study of the saints of old; fulfilled promises– most promises are conditional to obeying God’s instructions. As with Abraham and David, the promises God made to them came to pass. God’s promises are yes, and Amen! Watch Good fulfill His promises towards you. Peace, protection, and prosperity- Throughout the Bible, God guarantees the righteous blessings of peace, abundance, protection. God fights for those He loves and walks with Him. The commonly quoted Scripture “Be still and See the Salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13) was first stated by Moses when they were about to cross the red sea. Also, see Psalm 46 about God’s defense, see similarities of the same verse in Psalm 46:10. Psalm 104 has great promises of God’s defense; Jehovah Sabbaoth. God later guided the Israelites with His presence, glory, and Jesus Christ Himself as the Angel of the Lord guiding them; see Exodus 23;21. Despite the darkness, Isaiah 60:1-2, “the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.”
When you walk with God, expect His presence to wear on you. Expect to be a glory carrier. Expect a response from God to this relationship. Like Moses, You get to wear His presence and glory. Like Jesus, on the mountain of transfiguration, you will be transformed. The abundance of His presence is what will deliver miracles, signs, wonders, and the supernatural that we all long for!
Lastly, God will expose secrets and plans to you. When we become His Habitation, He will confide in us. In Genesis 18:17, we see an intimate relationship between God and Abraham; God was uncomfortable hiding information from Abraham. The information God disclosed to Abraham allowed Abraham to intercede on behalf of his family. From this, we learn that when God exposes evil, we have the power to intercept danger through intercession. God can also expose great things concerning our destinies as well. He did this with David, Solomon, and even Abraham. When God disclosures positive things, we can engage the Holy Spirit to help us steward the promises so that they manifest. Psalm 25:14 says, “friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone, he shares the secrets of his promises” (TLB). The Passion Translation of the same verse says there’s a private place reserved for the devoted lovers of Yahweh, where they sit near him and receive the revelation-secrets of his promises (TPT). The New King James Version says the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant (NKJV)