Journey into Lightl

I have tended to view God as the commander and I his soldier who follows his orders. Nothing wrong with this – but I don’t think this metaphor fully captures the relationship God wants with me.

Let me explain.

A couple of months ago I sensed that God wanted me to organize a neighborhood potluck in a nearby park. I agreed with him that I thought that a potluck would help build relationships between our neighbors that were vitally needed in our Long Ranger culture. I also thought that having closer relationships might have prevented a couple from not being missed for two weeks after they had been murdered in their home.

However, I balked at the idea of being the organizer. “I don’t want to be stuck doing all the work”, I said to God. “You will haven’t to provide me with an energetic team of neighbors who can help me plan and promote this event or I won’t do it”, I said.

But I begin to move in the direction of organizing the event – and God provided an energetic team of seven people. I asked God to help us pick the right day, the right time, and the right stated purpose – and that we would all would have a good time.

The planning group got along great and each did their part well. The police department even offered to give a brief report at the potluck on the status of the murder investigation.

The picnic was considered a big success. Eight-five people came. The weather was great. Many relationships began or were deepened, the police were informative, the kids had a good time playing volleyball and other games, and the greatest miracle of all, and I had a good time. (Usually being in charge stresses me out).

Many people thanked me for organizing the potluck. But I knew the truth. God was the true organizer. He had impressed me with the need and provided an energetic and talented crew of neighbors to do what he wanted done.

I believe I walked with God in organizing this potluck. It wasn’t so much doing something for God, but doing something with God. I grew closer to God with far less stress than when I try to serve God in my own strength.

What Is Walking with God?

Walking with God is leaning on the Holy Spirit within us to live through our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. We have the power to do as Jesus would do because his life is living through us. “Whoever says he [lives] in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6, ESV).

Walking with God is living in the reality of his intimate love for us. He wants our fellowship, and as we include him in our day to face the challenges, we grow in intimacy with him.

Some people object to the belief that God wants to walk with us. They would say that he wants us to follow him, not walk side-by-side with us. Yet, the Bible is full of statements about God walking with his people (Micah 6:8; Genesis 6:9; Genesis 5:22-24; Isaiah 41:10)

I would agree that he wants us to follow him, but in the context of an interactive and intimate partnership where he takes the lead and we cooperate.

I don’t think we can adequately partner with him if we are following ten paces behind. This false picture lends itself to the practice of “Just give me my orders God and I will follow them the best I can in my own strength.”

How Do We Walk with God?

One way we walk with God is to discover what he wants done and join him in doing it. This is what I did in organizing the potluck. I sensed that this was something that God wanted done and wanted me to be a part of it.

So, I stepped out in fear and trembling, relied that he would guide and support, and watched him put on a potluck that was beyond natural explanations. And I grew closer to him in the process.

How we walk with God is to rely on him. We often don’t do this as indicated in this statement from Paul, “After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (Galatians 3:3, NLT). We forget to rely on God to make things happen and to accept the humble role of walking with him as he meets our challenges.

Finally, talking to him throughout the day is a wonderful way to walk with him. “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). God yearns for intimacy with us. When we share with him our joys, struggles, and disappointments in prayer throughout the day, he gives us the power to walk with him.