To walk the Christian walk is to walk with God. But how do we walk with God? How do we know whether we are walking with God or not? This article will shed some light on the answers to those questions.
How do we walk with God?
To walk with God is to have a relationship with Him. To walk with God is to keep Him at the center of our thinking: in everything we do, everything we say, everything we think, in our relationships, our finances, our plans, and every area of our lives. He becomes the greatest desire of our hearts. Walking with God is the wisest way to walk.
The word “walk” is used in the Scriptures to describe a lifestyle. We can choose to walk with God or we can walk in the world—the flesh. Walking with God is often referred to as “walking in the Spirit” in the New Testament, (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4). When we choose to walk with God we choose to glorify Him in every way we can, regardless of personal cost.
The steps for walking with God
Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior – This is the beginning. If we want to walk with God, it can only be done through His Son, Jesus Christ. As He is quoted in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us so that we may have eternal life (John 3:16) and be saved from eternal damnation. Therefore, the best route to take is to walk with God; if we are going to walk Him, we must accept His Son as our savior.
We must learn to listen to God – We must listen to God to walk with Him and follow Him. Therefore, the time we spend with God is essential. We do this through prayer and the reading and application of His Word, the Scriptures.
We must trust God – To walk with God and be a follower of Him, we must trust Him. Prov. 3:5-7 reads:
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
God frequently requires us to trust Him even though what He leads us to do may not make sense to us. However, if we are going to walk with Him, we must decide that we will trust Him whether we understand it or not.
It is about faith. Scripture says in Heb 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Scripture reads in Heb 10:38, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Walking with God involves having a relationship with Him. A relationship requires trust and faith. This faith and trust is what pleases God and is essential if we are going to walk with Him. Faith is the prerequisite for pleasing God. If we do not believe in God’s Word, we will not please Him. Faith in God’s Word is crucial if we are going to pursue Him and walk with Him.
We must agree with God – We must be in agreement with God in order for us to walk with Him. God may very well require some things that are not agreeable to us. However, God is not required to agree with us. On the contrary, we are required to agree with Him. God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Therefore, it is in our best interest to agree with Him, especially if we are going to walk with Him.
We must obey Him – Obedience to God is essential if we are going to walk with Him. When we disobey God, we indicate that we know better than He does. The thing to remember is partial obedience is disobedience. Therefore, we are to obey Him completely. We are to do what He says to do when He says to do it, and the way He says to do it. Obedience to God should be a lifestyle for those who want to walk with Him.
Jesus said in John 14:21, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” NIV As mentioned earlier, walking with God can only be done through His Son. Therefore, by knowing and obeying the Commands of the Son, we show our love for Him, and both He and the Father will love us, resulting in a spiritual relationship.
We must walk in the same direction with God– God has a different path and direction for everyone. Some ways may seem better than God’s. However, if we desire to walk with God, we must walk in His way. Scripture reads in Prov. 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” NIV
We cannot walk in the ways of the world, hold a close friendship with the world, and walk in the ways of God. James 4:4 reads, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” NIV If we walk in the ways of the world, we will be walking in the opposite direction of God; we become an enemy of God.
We must stay in step with God – In addition to walking in the same direction as God, we must be careful not to walk ahead of God or to walk behind Him, but we must keep in step. To be in step with God is to be together with Him. Living a godly life is a requirement of God in order to walk with Him and receive the blessings He has for us.
We have to love God – If we do not love God, we will not walk with Him. If we love Him, we will obey Him, wait for His timing, and keep an open ear to hear from Him. All of the things listed above we will do if we love Him. This is why Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Loving God is the first and greatest Commandment.
We must forsake sin – To forsake sin, we must keep our hearts clean by turning away from sin (repent) to receive God’s best for our lives. To confess sin is the beginning, but we must also repent. Scripture says in Prov. 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Therefore, we must confess and forsake our sins to receive mercy and continue to walk with God.
We cannot have sin and holiness simultaneously. If we are going to walk with God, we must pursue a life of holiness; a life committed to and surrendered to God.
We must pray to Him – Communication is the fuel for a relationship. A relationship with God is no exception, and we communicate with God through prayer. The Scripture says in 1 Thess. 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”
This Scripture does not mean Christians should spend all of their time on their knees or with their eyes closed when it says, “pray without ceasing.” In fact, Scripture is adamant that everyone should have work to do (vs. 1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6-7, 11). It is feasible, however, for Christians to have an attitude of prayer at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging dependence on God, realizing his presence within, and determining to obey him completely. Subsequently, it will be likely to pray frequent, spontaneous, and short prayers.
Prayer is not to be exercised by the church or church leader only, nor is it carried out only in worship services. Rather, prayer can be a part of every believer’s daily walk, and Paul noted how important this would be for one’s spiritual life (Rom 12:12; Eph 6:19). As Jesus told his disciples, “they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1 NIV). Christians should pray together in worship, spend time alone with God in prayer, and pray to God each day as the desire to rejoice or the need for help arises. Prayer should be a lifestyle, not a life jacket. For more detailed information on prayer, please read the article, Christians and Prayer, on this website.
This ties in with listening to God (addressed earlier). When we pray, and we ask and make our requests to Him, we must listen for His direction and answers. So often, we pray, but we fail to hear the answer. Effective communication involves listening as well as requesting.
Conclusion
The Christian walk is a battleground.
The road to eternal life is always under construction; we all are a work in progress. The Christian walk is not easy, and it takes tenacity and patience. This virtue is one ingredient of the fruit of the Spirit. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we effectively walk with God. Scripture says in Phil 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God works in us through His Spirit.
Again, walking with God is the wisest way to walk.
Amen
Any questions, comments, concerns, or experiences walking the Christian walk can be left below.
Your article is amazing, blessed are you who have the will and wisdom to share the walk with God. Sometimes, we people forget about HIM, that He alone is the source of life, blessings, grace and salvation. In my experience during the difficult times in my life,I pray and let God control my life. God is hope and He is never late, sometimes he did not answer what we pray because there is more good things that will come. Thank you for this article worth my time reading.
So glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for commenting!
Have a blessed day!
I love the way you spelt the procedure for walking with God out. The first is accepting Jesus as our lord and saviour. Without accepting him as your lord and saviour, you cannot work with God. It is the key to bringing us to his presence. After we can now begin the journey of learning and obeying his words. Listening to his words and following him closely
For Sure! Accepting Jesus is first and foremost. It is the only way to the Father and the only way to walk in His ways.
Thanks for commenting!
The Christian Walk is indeed something all should want to do, however, many people find it difficult to walk the walk. If they were to spend more time in prayer and less time worrying about the world and its worthless solutions, they would find more peace. A person should always seek to find harmony with God, which may be difficult at times but it is possible. Taking everything to Him and allow Him to work in you will bring you more peace than you can imagine.
Jerry
Yes, Jerry, Jesus encourages us to seek first His kingdom and not to worry. Scripture also tells us to pray and we will have “peace that surpasses all understanding.”
Thanks for commenting!
Not many Christians realize that the Christian walk does not end with accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Rather, it is a lifestyle. The moment we decided to give our life to God is the moment we acknowledged that He knows what is best for us., Therefore, we will obey Him, trust Him, agree with Him, love Him, and walk in the same direction as Him.Sadly, many people who are self-confessed Christians are not walking in the way they’re supposed to. They still insist on doing what their flesh desires and living a life that does not glorify God. I call these people nominal Christians — Christian in name only. I heard some people say that it’s hard to be a Christian because they cannot do what they want to do and this is why they delay accepting Jesus as Lord.Indeed, the Christian walk may not be easy but we can do anything through Christ. nothing is impossible because we have Jesus walking with us.Thank you for this challenging yet inspiring article.God bless you!
Greetings Alice – Your words are “spot on.” There are so many Christians in name only who want to continue living as they always have. For those who are delaying accepting Christ need to heed the Scriptures that warn, Matt 24:36-39
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
We don’t know when Christ’s return will be, and just as in the day of Noah when they were living life without any regard for the Word of God, they were swept away. It will be the same situation when Jesus returns. We must take heed!
Thanks for commenting!
Keeping God in the forefront of our lives is so important, but sometimes difficult in troubling times. One thing that we can rest assured of is that he is faithful doing both the good and bad times. As I attempted to look for a new place to live, I am trusting that God will touch the hearts of the individuals that hold my applications. I have less than 2 weeks to secure a place. But I keep telling myself that everything will work itself because I am believing that God is working behind the scenes on my behalf.
Sure Faye, keeping our focus on God can be difficult during challenging times. But we must remember that when Peter took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink (Matthew 14:28-31). So, keep the faith; the Lord will come through for you!
Thanks for commenting!
How are you, Nathaniel? greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. You have awoken me from my spiritual slumber. I have been making excuses about reading the bible and praying. If you have any youtube videos please let me know. I have not been walking with God of late. Everyone has issues I know. I really find it difficult to forgive those that provoke me. this really shows how much I have to walk with God again. I need him to restore my soul again. Now I am listening to Roy fields because of your article. are you a preacher? let me know.It is true that God frequently requires us to trust Him even though what He leads us to do may not make sense to us. When the lord’s bell toils it toils for me. I should also do what you are doing. may God bless his children and the reading of his word. Jesus is a kind man.
Greetings, Dominic – Well, we all are a work in progress, so keep praying for the leading of the Holy Spirit, and you will grow. I am happy to know that the article has encouraged you to seek more of the Lord.
I have not produced any youtube videos at this point, nor am I a preacher, but I’m involved in ministry as needed. If I can help you in any way, do reach out.
Thanks for commenting!
Hello Nathaniel, I like how you speak about praying and being also able to listen as also to place requests to God. Do you have a method of silencing noise from the world? Because one can not just shut out the world so easily, it takes time to hear God’s words, and yes I agree by reading the word of God is a way to silence the noise! There seems to be an art to prayer! A certain patience is required. But as I read your article again, and follow your article on Christians and prayer, I see you describe this further. Thanks kindlyErica
Hello Erica – Shutting out the world can be challenging, depending on one’s circumstances. If you can make time to be alone, even for five minutes, that’s a good place to start – no phone, television, radio, or computer, only you and the Lord, and pray what’s on your heart.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
After reading your blog post though very scripturally sound and seeming to be the pattern to heaven you left out the part about the the Holy Spirit. The problem christian leaders have is that we think we have to ONLY follow what the Bible says and with that we are given a ticket to paradise.God will tell us sometimes to do things that we think is against the Bible when it is not. Why? Because we are judging on our understand of what the Bible says and not what the Holy Spirit inside of us is telling us. The Bible is only the gateway to God through Jesus Christ and not the sole instrument that God uses to fulfill his purposes.
Greetings, JR; for starters, there is a complete paragraph in the article addressing the need for the Holy Spirit to walk with God. I have included it below.
“The road to eternal life is always under construction; we all are a work in progress. The Christian walk is not easy, and it takes tenacity and patience. This virtue is one ingredient of the fruit of the Spirit. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we effectively walk with God. Scripture says in Phil 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
God works in us through His Spirit.”
Second, it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to understand the Scriptures and does not conflict with them – Ever. The Scriptures clearly state, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Cor 14:33). God’s Spirit is not going to work against His Word. Anyone experiencing this conflict is not allowing the Spirit to work in them as they study the Scriptures.
The Bible may not be the sole instrument to fulfill His purposes, but it is undoubtedly the sole way to completely know Him and His will. We will never go wrong following the Word of God. As the Scripture reads in Ps. 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.“ It is the “sole instrument” to keep us on track from sin—if we follow it.
Thanks for commenting
Hello Nathaniel Thank you for sharing your article on the Christian Walk. Being a person who was raised in the church, we were taught about forgiveness of sins and prayer without ceasing. How you must trust and obey God and walking with him does not mean walk behind him or in front of him as you explained.The life of a Christian is not easy and as you said you are constantly under construction but it takes patience and listening to what God wants you to do. I enjoyed reading and will share to my social media.
Amen, April – I am glad to know that you enjoyed the article.
Thanks for commenting and sharing it on social media.
Blessings!
Walking with God is definitely a life style and we can only grow closer to Him if we draw near to Him. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you is a verse to show us that He is always there. Sometimes, people feel far from God simply because they have taken no steps to draw near. You have demonstrated that it is a process that is needed throughout our lives. Thanks for a great post about walking in a relationship with God.
For sure, Toplink, we must draw near to him for “…he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).
Thanks for commenting!
I love how you start the article and emphasize that walking with God is not just about things like praying before we go to sleep, but also about having a real relationship with Him and keeping Him at the forefront of our everyday activities. I think we often forget to include God in things like our finances and jobs, even though it is so important.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For sure, Marissa, we must include the Lord in everything we do. As the Scripture reads in 1 Cor 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Thanks for commenting!
When I read the titles To Walk with God, I somehow thought it was referring to a specific pilgrimage where one would walk or travel to a specific destination, rather than the spiritual way of life of following in His footsteps. But after reading your post, you have clarified what you mean and it makes so much sense.
Thank you for sharing the easy steps to follow to walk in faith with God.
Hello, LineCowley – Yes, the word walk in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament, is used figuratively to denote life conduct. For example in, Romans 8:1 it reads, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Those in Christ are under no condemnation whose life conduct is such that they don’t live to satisfy their fleshly desires but live according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for commenting -as always!
I really enjoyed your article related to the walk with God. When you walk with God, it means that you have a constant relationship with Him and that you obey His commandments. Nowadays, we are in the days of Noah where the society is very worldly and immoral. But a remnant continues to walk with God, even when it’s challenging. We just have pray, obey, and trust Him. Great post!
Amen Angelce! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Nathaniel,I had a look over your website and I was born again, like yourself, back in 2015 and never looked back. My life has never been the same since I met Jesus and if this makes me “conservative” then I’ll accept it. I can relate to your posts. Jesus is Love and all that we do for others must be done with love – this is my motto anyway. God bless!M
Hi Mala – Yes, Jesus is love, and I accept conservative also. Congratulations on your rebirth!
Thanks for commenting!
Walking with God is not easy, even though you know it is the right thing to do. Many of us strive to have a relationship with God but we fail at it as our daily lives get in the way and God ends up taking a back seat.
It is amazing that he keeps forgiving us over and over again. Thank you for your lovely article and helpful advice that you have given to help us in our spiritual lives.
Hi Michel – Yes, we must strive to keep God in the front seat with us as He is the best co-pilot to navigate us through these troubled times facing us. I’m glad to know that you enjoyed the article.
Thanks for commenting!
This walk is a walk of faith that is holy, Jesus said that man cannot live on bread alone but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God. Once we follow what God says in His word or the Teachings of Jesus we will be on the right track to doing God’s will. It’s all about spending time in prayer and studying God’s word.
Amen, Norman – Thanks for commenting!
I have been a Christian since 1976 and a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 10 years. I really enjoyed reading your article. I find it fascinating that people think that all they have to do is “go to church on Sunday morning” or on Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day and they are all set for heaven. While our salvation does not require any “works” from us, once we accept Christ as our Savior, we must walk with Him, obey His commands, and live the life possible, allowing the Father to shine through us. Thank you for your message.
Hi, Mike – Glad you enjoyed the article. Yes, many feel they can float into heaven without making any changes to their lives. They may be in for a big surprise! The times are indicating that our Savior will be returning soon, so we’d better tighten things up.
Thanks for commenting!
Hi, Nathaniel, Thank you for this article about walking with God. I agree with all the points you raise on how the one who is walking with God should exhibit. One additional point, in my view, which you may add is that we are not the ones who draw ourselves to God, it is the other way around. God stretched out His hand and looked for us. “For God so loved……….. that whoever believes in Him……..” John 3:16. Those of us who hear the call and respond, have to leave the old ways and walk in the new way, which you have ably provided. Thank you so much for this post.
Thank you, Hawumba – Thanks for commenting!
Hi Nathaniel, Your site is very informative for Christiana and those who may be curious. The scripture is very accurate in the topic of knowing God and walking with god. I also like how the Amazon banner is not overtaking the purpose as well as not force-fed as some sites are prone o be. I can see your purpose first and foremost is what all Christians should od. Spread the word and walk like you talk.
Amen , Dao – I promise to do my best to walk like I talk!
Thanks for commenting!
I appreciated you spelling out each piece of our journey with deciding to walk with our Lord. I truly appreciated the fact that you pointed out that simply confessing our sins is not enough, but we must repent as well and forsake those sins. I always understood repenting of our sins as a process with steps: Repenting is acknowledging the sin (admitting it, confessing it, recognizing it, etc.), then fixing it if possible (ex: steal candy from a store – return, apologize, and pay for it), pray about it with God, and then doing your best to never do that again – improve as we move forward from that repentance.Too many times, I hear people say, “Yes, I did wrong, but I confessed it, and prayed for forgiveness.” They then do the same thing again and again, and feel they have repented for their sin, even though they continue to do it. It’s not my place to judge, but I do appreciate you pointing out that forsaking it is an important part of our walk with God.Have a blessed day!
Hi Merry – Yes, for sure, repenting is as equally crucial as confessing. Otherwise, we won’t grow.
Thanks for commenting!