Walking with God

It’s a New Year. It’s a time of new beginnings. Just like the dawn reminds us that God’s mercy, loving-kindness, and compassions never fail and are fresh every morning . . . a New Year prompts our spirit to “begin” again. It’s a time of renewal—letting go of the past, cherishing the present, and grasping hold of the future, as God reveals it.

Long ago, “In the beginning,” Adam and Eve had a “fresh” start, and although we all are thoroughly familiar with the story, the most important part of their “beginning” is that they “walked with God.”

“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden . . .” (Genesis 3:8 NASB)

They were in the garden and so was God. They heard His voice and He was with them because they had to hide from His presence. They were in perfect harmony with God.  The question is, “Are we?” As we start the “beginning” of a New Year, the most vital step we can take in “beginning” anew is to make sure we are walking with God. In order to do so, we must follow these 3 steps:

1)     1)  Surrender our sin. We cannot begin something “new” until we gain repentance for the old. We need to come before God’s throne of grace and repent of any and all sins that keep us from moving forward into all that God has for us. There may be sins that we are readily aware of, and there may be sins that God must reveal to us. We can pray as the Psalmist did, “Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 AMP)

2)      2) Get to know God. In order know someone, you must spend time (quality time) with them. You can’t get to know God “on the run.” We must “acquaint ourselves with His attributes and His promises. “Submit to God and be at peace with Him; then things will go well for you.”(Job 22:21) Be determined to seek out a “Word from God” each day. Be diligent in immersing yourself in God’s presence and seeking after His heart. If you’re staking every step of your life on God’s Promises, you’re assured that God is with you. And if He is with you, who or what can be against you? (Romans 8:31) Make time to concern yourself with God and He will make time to concern Himself with you.

3)      3) Be patient and persistent. Walking with God is NOT an easy journey. There are MANY valleys, but there are also unforgettable mountaintops. We must keep searching after God . . . our faith walk is a journey, not a destination. “Search for the Lord and His strength; continually seek Him.” (Psalm 105:4 NLT) Along the way, we must walk in HIS strength, not our own. We can’t walk with God without God. “I will go in the strength of the Lord.” (Psalm 71:16 KJV) In His strength, you can do all things. In Him you will run and not grow weary, walk and no faint. (Isaiah 40:31) God knows our difficulties, He knows the flesh is weak, so He’s told us to “walk with Him,” to enter into His presence in prayer, and not give up. (Luke 18:1)