If you are a Christian, you’ve probably heard the term “walking with Jesus” or “walking with God” before. We may not all define it the same way, but I think most believers would agree that it is important (Micah 6:8). Many Christians desire to walk with God, but struggle to do so. It’s one of those desires many people have that they never act on, like going on a diet or… going for a walk. Walking with God is not all that different from walking with your friend. There are three important things you need to do before you can walk with someone, including Jesus:
1. Coordinate your schedule
Most things will never happen unless we intentionally put them on the calendar. God’s got a wide open schedule; so really it’s up to you. If you want to go on a walk with someone, you need to make it happen. If we don’t make time to walk with God, we shouldn’t be surprised when it’s hard to keep this discipline.
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”
—Proverbs 8:17
2. Communicate.
Can you imagine going on a walk with a friend and your friend never acknowledged you or spoke to you the whole time? Your friend showed up and walked next to you, but he/she would never respond. That would be weird, right? Jesus can be found in the pages of his Word. And when we come to his Word to listen, he will speak. But God doesn’t only want us to listen. His desire is that we speak with him through prayer. What you say is less important. The Holy Spirit can help with that.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
3. Walk in step with Jesus.
If you’ve ever gone on a walk with someone, then you know it is important to walk in step with the person you are with. If you are walking at a power walk pace and your friend is walking at a leisurely stroll, then you won’t be walking together for long. Soon you would be so far ahead of your friend that you would no longer be walking together. You might be on the same trail, but the distance between you would prohibit you from communicating with each other. This means we walk as he walked. We examine the way he treated people, and we follow his steps. Jesus said if someone slaps you in the cheek, let him slap the other side, too. If someone takes your jacket, give him your shirt, too. Who does that? It’s so radical. This is what Jesus did for us, and this is how we can walk in step with Jesus.
“The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.”—1 John 2:6