What does it mean to walk with God? What does walking with God involve? How does walking with God benefit me? Does it put food on my table, clothe me, protect me and bring me favor and good things? Is there any benefit in walking with God? What if I do my own thing and never walk with God’s instructions? These and many more questions will be addressed in this teaching.
God is the author of life and the creator of all humans. He made the first man and made the woman out of his ribs and gave her to him to be his wife. He blessed and empowered them to be fruitful and fill the Earth. Billions have walked on this earth from Adam and Eve. The Bible also reveals that God created man for a purpose – for God’s pleasure.
“Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure they are and were created.”
Revelation 4:11, KJV
The Bible also teaches us that there is a destiny for every man on earth. God has plans and purposes for all He has made. To fulfill purpose, one has to walk in partnership with God to get to his God given destiny.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'” Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV
“This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”
Isaiah 14:26-27, NIV
“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7, NIV
God created man for His own pleasure and has made plans for each person on the earth leading to the total fulfillment of all His purpose for each person and His general purpose for the whole earth. For a man to succeed, he has to get close to God and identify His plan and purpose for his life and make sure that he plugs into the plan and purpose of God for his life and fulfill it.
What It Means To Walk With God
- Walking with God is partnering with God to become what God had originally planned for your life.
- Walking with God is acknowledgement that one cannot live life successfully without the help of God.
- Walking with God is connecting to the source of power, wisdom and inspiration to live life to the fullest.
- Walking with God is believing in and living by the words of God.
- Walking with God is cherishing and giving attention to learning the ways of God and walking in them diligently
- Walking with God is living in and walking by faith in God and His word.
- Walking with God is loving and revering God with the whole of your heart, soul, and strength.
- Walking with God is trusting God and not leaning on your own understanding and abilities.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
- Walking with God is not being wise in your own eyes, shunning evil and fearing God.
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8, NIV
Requirements For Walking With God
Consecration
Any man who wishes to walk with God must consecrate, that is, dedicate, himself to living and pleasing God with his life. Consecration is an act of appreciation of the love and mercy of God shown us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Consecration is a resolution, determination and diligent pursuit of a close and intimate walk with God and faithfulness in following God and His principles in every area of life. This is very essential to a successful walk with God on a daily basis.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-3, NIV
Daily fellowship with God through reading, meditating on the word of God and fervent prayers.
Strength is drawn daily in the presence of God through constant and vibrant fellowship with God. In the presence of God, our fears die. In the presence of God our weaknesses are exposed and dealt with by God. In God’s presence, sin gives way for righteousness to reign. In God’s presence greatness is built into us so we can manifest it to the world. In His presence we receive instruction and direction for our life purpose. In His presence we become stronger and tougher than the challenges of life. In His presence confusion gives way to light and clarity of plan and purpose. In His presence ideas that will make us great and get us out of a tight corner are received. Great men are not made in the open but in the presence of God.
Elijah was made in the presence of God. In the presence of God he received the mandate and boldness to close the heavens refusing rain to fall for three and a half years, and to confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth at the expiration of the three and a half years period.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, ‘As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.'” 1 Kings 17:1, KJV
Joshua who took over from Moses was given the secret of successful living by God. It is reading, meditating and acting on God’s word.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of they mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make they way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
After Jesus spent a whole night alone with God, he chose his Apostles from His disciples. He got direction and clearance on whom to choose from spending time in God’s presence.
“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” Luke 6:12-16, NIV
Diligent application of the word of God in every area of life.
Walking with God involves a diligent application of the word of God in every area of life. We are not to be hearers only, but doers of the word of God. It is in the application of the word of God that we activate the power of God to make good His word in our lives. No application, no fulfillment of the word.
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22, NIV
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22, KJV
Humility and a contrite spirit.
Humility is the pathway to greatness. Humility goes before honor. Anyone who wants to make it with God, must be humble. Humility speaks of you accepting that you are who God’s word says you are, and never claiming you are not. If God’s word says you are a sinner, you accept it, go on to make correction. If it condemns your thoughts and actions, you don’t deny it, but repent immediately. You don’t argue with God. You just believe Him and repent when it is required.
A contrite heart is a repentant heart. A heart that is always willing to turn away from an evil behavior and correct a wrong in his life. A contrite heart does not drag his feet in making amends and correcting his ways.
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.”
Isaiah 66:2, NIV
Prompt response and obedience to the instructions of God.
God wants His people to always obey Him and promptly too. If you are to walk with God, you need to have a listening ear to whatever He will be saying to you, and be quick to obey. He loves and will esteem those who tremble at His word – those who are quick to obey Him.
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.”
Isaiah 66:2, NIV
Self-discipline and holy living.
Self-discipline is all about self-control in manifestation. Self-discipline is the ability to bring your thoughts, emotions and life under control so the Holy Spirit can dominate and fully manifest the life of God that is inside you already. Never submit to any negative emotion or habit. Break all evil habits and live holy and you will experience the power and love of God in full. Train yourself to say “no” to what God condemns and say “yes” to what God wants.
“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.” 1 Timothy 1:18-19, NIV
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12, NIV
Benefits of Walking With God
- Walking with God secures God’s support and partnership in the journey of life and fulfillment of purpose.
- Walking with God guarantees guidance and accurate direction in life.
- Walking with God procures God’s favor and abundant blessings upon a man and his pursuits.
- Walking with God keeps the heaven over a man’s head open for life, for wisdom, inspiration and blessings to keep flowing.
- Walking with God keeps a man’s life clean and free from sin, and all that angers and puts God off from a man, and causes the prosperity power of God to keep working in a man’s life.
- Walking with God brings joy, happiness and fulfillment.
- Walking with God makes a success out of every man who practices it.
Scriptures on Prosperity and Walking With God
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Proverbs 28:13-14, NIV
“A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.”
Proverbs 28:25, NIV
“For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12, NIV
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8, NIV
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
3 John 2, NKJV
Conclusion
Walking with God is a necessity if joy and fulfillment is on your mind. Love the Lord enough to walk with Him. It takes love to walk with God. It takes understanding to have love for God. It takes reading, studying and meditating on God to love Him. Let love well up in your heart so much that you cannot but walk with Him with the whole of your heart, soul, and body. Walk with Him every day and do it with joy and dedication.