Walking with God-What does it look like?

[Connect]

Hello all,

I have a question that I’ve been wondering about for a while and wanted to ask you all. From your personal experience, can you tell me what, in your life or the life of a loved one close to you, what happens when you/he/she are “walking closely with God”? I mean, what does it look like for you and them? In other words, if I met you or them on the street and you were "walking closely with God" what would I observe? What is happening internally and externally? What would I see in your actions? Behaviors? Relationships? Conduct? More prayer? Fasting? Fellowship? Etc. Please do not limit you answers those above but add anything that you can note from your own experiences. Thank you all for your thoughts.

Connections

 

[MadFingerPainter]

i'm not sure how you would be able to see anything that is going on internally.
however externally for me...i am more kind and more patient and more loving. even when i don't want to be like toward someone i view as an enemy. i am more prayerful. i try to behave in a manner that if God were in the room watching he would not be disappointed in me. i try to be helpful to others. i'm not real good with trying to "soul win" so i usually don't get involved in things like that. i just try to let the light of God shine through me and through my actions. that's the best i can give you for now.

 

[General_Peanut]

i think you can tell in their attitude and how they react in certain situations, also like with my friends we are at an age where we start deciding our futures and careers and i can see it in my friends based on their decision making and if they are including God in their decisions.

 

[AJ]

I agree that externally I am much more patient, considerate and kind when I am walking closely with God. When I am more separated, I tend to be shorter tempered and less compassionate.

I don't know that a stranger on the street would be able to notice my being distant from God... My wife is pretty good at it though.

While walking with God I think that it should be clear by our actions and words that we are bearing the fruits of the spirit... Loving our neighbor and loving God.

 

[Connect]

Hi MadFingerPainter,

So you are more living, prayerful, cognizant of God watching over you and behaving as such, helpful, and you let the light shine through by your actions. That is a good start. Thank you for your thoughts MadFingerPainter.

Connect

 

[Connect]

General Peanut,
So, if I’m getting this correctly, you are saying that there is an attitude change. In what way do they “include God in their decision?”

Thank you,

Connect

 

[Connect]

TxAdam,

Hello, Sir. Patience seems to be a big factor for you. When close, more control, when far less patient. How is your wife good at it? What does she see? Fruits of the Spirit is a good response and also loving God and your neighbor. How do you show that love (when walking closely with God)? Which fruits of the spirit are the most developed when close to God for you, Sir?

Thank you,

Connect

 

[arunma]

Hello all,

I have a question that I’ve been wondering about for a while and wanted to ask you all. From your personal experience, can you tell me what, in your life or the life of a loved one close to you, what happens when you/he/she are “walking closely with God”? I mean, what does it look like for you and them? In other words, if I met you or them on the street and you were "walking closely with God" what would I observe? What is happening internally and externally? What would I see in your actions? Behaviors? Relationships? Conduct? More prayer? Fasting? Fellowship? Etc. Please do not limit you answers those above but add anything that you can note from your own experiences. Thank you all for your thoughts.

Connections

Interesting question. Perhaps the best example I've found of a person who truly walks with God is the leader of my small group. He's the same age as me, and we used to go to school together until he graduated last Spring. He and his wife show the love of Christ in their daily lives. Oh sure, they read the Bible, are very active in church, and pray very frequently, but their walk with God is shown in more than just these superficial things. These two are peaceful and pleasant people who regularly lay down their lives for others, they are genuine, and it is easy to see that they are ministers and ambassadors of Christ. I consider them to be great examples of what God expects from all of us.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific, but it seems to me that walking with God is rather subjective, and is difficult to describe in words.

 

[Connect]

Hello Arunma,

You see it as genuine when they “lay down their lives for others.” You see prayer, activity in church and Bible reading as superficial? I’m not trying to twist your words, I’m just trying to be clear about what you are saying. To be a true exemplar of Christ, you must be genuine, peaceful and pleasant. It that correct? I understand your idea of it being “subjective” and that is one of my goals in seeking the help of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to see if there are some objective indicators that can be identified.

Thank you for your thoughts,

Connect

 

[arunma]

Hello Arunma,

You see it as genuine when they “lay down their lives for others.” You see prayer, activity in church and Bible reading as superficial? I’m not trying to twist your words, I’m just trying to be clear about what you are saying. To be a true exemplar of Christ, you must be genuine, peaceful and pleasant. It that correct? I understand your idea of it being “subjective” and that is one of my goals in seeking the help of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to see if there are some objective indicators that can be identified.

Thank you for your thoughts,

Connect

Sorry if I was unclear. When I say that prayer, study of the Bible, and church activity are "superficial," I mean to say that these are the things that others can outwardly see. The inner peace that comes by faith in Christ can't so easily be detected, which is why I thought that it was important to mention it. But yes, I do believe that those who are in Christ will tend to be more peaceful. As it says,

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14)
​

 

[JPPT1974]

Even though God is invisible
We know that He is there watching
Over all of us and that we can
Walk and talk with Him
24/7 365 days a year!

 

[mlqurgw]

Walking with God is simply living a life of faith. There is no such thing as a super spiritual person. We simply look to Christ in all our circumstances and events in our life. We see in Him all that we need and all that we hope for. The more we trust Him the more we find Him faithful and we learn to trust Him more. Folks always want an outward thing to grab hold of to prove their faith but faith isn't in a show of spirituality. Faith is daily recognizing your need of mercy and finding it in Christ. Faith isn't about things it is about a Person.

 

[Connect]

Hi mlqurgw,

Thank you for your initial thoughts. You said, “Living a life of faith” is walking with God. OK. Please understand that I am not weighing someone as more or less spiritual in our discussion. I am merely pointing out the fact that at times, people exhibit more of a closeness or a distance from God in certain ways. As a simple example, those that are walking closely with God tend to be in constant conversation. Through prayer, believers tend to communicate incessantly. On the other hand, when people are not walking closely with God, they may tend to only talk to Him when they are in peril. Would you disagree with the notion that people exhibit more/less faith/trust in God during their walk? My question is looking into this “faith.” Why do some people recognize their need for mercy and acknowledge Christ while other become complacent in this? What is it about the person that brings someone close or not so close? Do you believe that God reaches out to some people on a consistent basis and not others? God sees value in us all, He wills that none should perish, He values us so much that He sent His Son to die a painful death for us, wouldn’t you agree that God reaches out to all believers at the same intensity? Because of this thought, it seems that here is, in fact, a human component to this relationship that we can start to identify as internal/external. My question is “what is it?” The best way to start thinking about this is by exploring our own experiences. That is why I’m asking for your personal thoughts about your experience with this.

Thank you,

COnnect

 

[MadFingerPainter]

Connect...
What does your walk with God look like? ~Smiles~

 

[Connect]

Hi MadFingerPainter,

It is very late and I'm tired. I'll post a quick reply for now. When first becoming a Christian there was a transformation in my life. "Behold, all things are new" type response. I had many of the same reactions/characteristics as described above. I had a constant smile, was approachable, read scripture like crazy, had great fellowship. Behaviorally, I was constantly in prayer, I wanted to share Christ with everyone, I sang praises, found a Bible study, identified sinful behaviors and asked God for a way out, etc. I have never been perfect and never fully reverted. I have gone through phases where I am "not as on fire as I was" initially. That is why I am seeking insight into what behaviors we know that actual set the stage for a better walk with God. I'll have to write more later. Time for bed. Night all.

Connect

 

[colossiansgirl]

Hi MadFingerPainter,

That is why I am seeking insight into what behaviors we know that actual set the stage for a better walk with God.
Connect

The times of refining. Stay in the Potters Hand!
Behaviors...routines...prayer, bible study, fellowship,
are all necessary to grow, but with out the heart set on seeking Him, those would be in vain. When I remove self..seeking a heart like Christ's... trust Him and obey I find this is my avenue to growing closer to Him.

What others may see in me, may be hidden from me.
What I find is that when I am walking close to Him, I find adversary rise in different places --- along with comfort and encouragement provide along the way.

 

[MadFingerPainter]

what do you mean by never fully reverted Connect?

 

[Dmckay]

As Arunma indicated this is a difficult question to ask, but not to experience. We are enjoined to Abide in Christ as a branch to the Vine. If we are doing this, and the more closely we are doing this, the more what people see when they look at us is Christ. When we are moment by moment walking with Him, and with an awareness of His presence, we can't help but reflect His divine nature and attitudes.

AS I have said on the Forum many times, we can't trust someone more than we know them. The more we know Jesus, the more His image shines through us for others to see.

 

[arunma]

As Arunma indicated this is a difficult question to ask, but not to experience. We are enjoined to Abide in Christ as a branch to the Vine. If we are doing this, and the more closely we are doing this, the more what people see when they look at us is Christ. When we are moment by moment walking with Him, and with an awareness of His presence, we can't help but reflect His divine nature and attitudes.

AS I have said on the Forum many times, we can't trust someone more than we know them. The more we know Jesus, the more His image shines through us for others to see.

Thank you, that is exactly what I am trying to say. It's difficult to list of a set of conditions, and to say that anyone who meets those conditions is walking with God. But when I do see someone walking with God, I can see Christ in that person. I suppose that is why righteousness comes by faith in Christ, apart from works of the Law.

 

[MadFingerPainter]

Thank you, that is exactly what I am trying to say. It's difficult to list of a set of conditions, and to say that anyone who meets those conditions is walking with God. But when I do see someone walking with God, I can see Christ in that person. I suppose that is why righteousness comes by faith in Christ, apart from works of the Law.

Arunma