What does it mean to "walk with God"

Three people stand out in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, as having “walked with God”: Enoch, Noah and Abraham. They were not perfect; yet this notable expression was used to describe them in the Holy Bible.

Before them, Adam and Eve enjoyed God in the Garden of Eden. However, Genesis 3:11, describes the results of their disobedience to God, “. . . they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God.” Their loss was beyond words. No more could they enjoy their former existence with God; they had a consequence to face that was deadly. Their fall meant everything would change. Disobedience wiped out the perfection God had intended for the earth.

It was Enoch, Noah and Abraham who were specified in Holy Writ as having “walked with God,” although during their  given time of living on earth they did not have a Bible to read—and no church to attend--but reading about them shows their intimacy with God was enviable. Keep in mind, though, they had faults not unlike our own. Still, they found the love of God and His forgiveness, lived prayerful lives and allowed Him to lead them. Therefore, these three affected world history in ways that were nothing short of amazing.

Many people were born, lived life and died before another man, Joseph, an outstanding, Old Testament patriarch came. We could call this amazing man worthy of imitation. He was seen as having “walked in the ways of the Lord.” Pharaoh, his “master,” saw that and said, “The Lord was with him, and the Lord made all that he did to prosper . . . ,” (Genesis 39:3).

Those who hope to walk with God by reading the Bible as God’s Word--and following the promptings God places in their hearts—can also reach heights--even beyond those imagined. Through the Bible we can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the Lord is blessed as we change our ways and grow into the people He alone knew we could become.

Isn't it wonderful that God lets us choose! We get to choose whether, or not, God is going to be our “main squeeze,” the one in whom we place our total allegiance, our complete trust . . . the One we put first in our lives.  If this is our choice, the Spirit of God will be with us and prosper what we set out to do. It may take hard work. It will take stretching ourselves. But God will greatly bless each one who honors His principles and listens for His directions, step by step. This venture of walking with God brings challenges, yes, but day-by- day we grow and God is glorified as our gifts and talents are strengthened.

God beautifully uses our gifts and our talents. We will not be perfect in the literal sense of things, for we are human beings. We make mistakes. But it is through those mistakes that we learn what works well and what does not work. We are perfect in the eyes of the Lord when we keep correcting our steps.  When we stumble, we get up and put our feet right back onto the straight path. The key is to quickly ask to be forgiven and strengthened. This is how we walk in perfection in the eyes of the Lord.

If only one thing could be said about your life, what would you want that to be? Many read the Scriptures. And we pray. Yet, for sure, we slip up; our talk and our walk sometimes do not align so well, but . . . “never giving up” is woven into our souls. It is God’s perfection that we  keep leaning on.

Micah 6:8, states what it takes to “walk with God”: He has shown you . . . what is good, and what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humble with your God.” This is about conscience. We know in our hearts what is right and what is wrong. Neglecting our conscience finds us going our own way . . . seeking what we want, not what God wants.

It takes courage to do this walk. We learn to believe that we can trust what is spoken within our hearts. And, that we will hear, “this is the right way to go” (or not). Once we choose this journey and set our feet upon it, we are walking in faith, faith that we will indeed be given direction, our human errors are forgiven—and God joins us, in fact His Spirit lives within us when we place our faith in His son Jesus the Christ. And life becomes all about our walk and being in relationship with Him.

This journey of faith, enjoyed by many great people throughout the ages, brings peace with God and peace with one's own self.