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

 

[jesusmysaviour76]

With me personally, you would observe someone who is overflowing with love, someone who is willing to go that extra mile to help you feel like you belong as part of the Christian family that I too belong to.

You would observe someone who is willing to listen and lend you my heart when yours is broken, you would observe arms that are bigger than my own to hug you when you feel down.

You would observe someone who cares about what you are doing with your life, that when I say "how are you?" I really want to know the answer, because to God that matters, so therefore to me it matters too.

I can't speak for others, but when you meet me, I want you to see God in me, and for God in me His love just oozes all over the place.

 

[Connect]

Hello Jesusmysaviour76

I love your response. That is exactly what I am looking for. Thank you so much for your thoughts. Your, “overflowing with love, willing to go that extra mile, making others feel like they belong as part of the Christian family”. "Willing to listen and lend you my heart when yours is broken” Showing God’s love through you? Those are great! If any more ideas come up as you think deeper about it, I would love to hear them.

Thanks again,

Connect

 

[jesusmysaviour76]

Sure i will keep musing hehehe.

 

[CindyisHis]

Adding to that...
you would see a zeal for the Lord, a hunger, like a deer pants for water as the scripture says. You would see a disciplined life moved by the Word of God and not by emotions. You would see times of fasting when the flesh begains to get out of control, or when there is a need to press in to more of God, or in intercession for another, generally, whenever led by the Spirit of God.

You would see someone quick to repent whenever I sin because I hate sin and love righteousness.

You would see someone dependent upon the Holy Spirit to complete the work He has begun. Also dependent upon the Holy Spirit to guide me in daily affairs, the raising of my children, how to truly be a blessing to my husband, etc.

 

[jesusmysaviour76]

This is great and really good add on to mine, but i'm just wondering.

You would see times of fasting when the flesh begains to get out of control, or when there is a need to press in to more of God, or in intercession for another, generally, whenever led by the Spirit of God.

Is this right after all God tells us that we shouldn't fast openly. So would someone really see this? Or maybe I'm looking at it too literally.

 

[CindyisHis]

This is great and really good add on to mine, but i'm just wondering.


Is this right after all God tells us that we shouldn't fast openly. So would someone really see this? Or maybe I'm looking at it too literally.

I've personally been blessed by reading books and hearing what others have learned about fasting. Someone has to talk about it. I think the real issue is in the motive. I think it very unwise to to let everyone know when you are fasting, especially if it is draw acclaim. All things should be done for the glory of God, to magnify the Lord. It's all about Jesus and He is the One that should be seen.

I have taken this verse literally too, but have seen the blessing of a corporate fast, which is scriptural. To let only a select few know for two reasons, accountability and mostly, to pray for the one fasting I think is still appropriate. Even in that, I still have never let anyone know for those reasons. People find out though. My family sure notices! They see me daily and it is impossible to hide it from them. In another case, I let the worship leader at church know becasue I am on the praise team. It affected my ability to keep my commitment. I was there but very weak. If I had said I didn't feel well, that would not be entirely honest and it would lead her to believe something is wrong when all is well, very well.

Do you think that is "wrong"? My heart's desire is to only glorify the Lord and to be pleasing to Him in every way. If I end up losing my reward, but I have helped a brother/sister along the way, I don't mind. It's all about me losing my life anyway.

To omit it would not have given an accurate picture of what one looks like. Fasting is normal for Christians, as much as giving, and loving, and praying. Yet, not one of these things are to be done to pat ourselves on the back. Yet, they are done. I did not say that to bring attention to me anymore than anything else I said.

In all actuality, I felt awkward telling any of those things about me. They are personal. Yet, I understand the op's point, and I answer in context to it. Maybe I should have chosen the life of a loved one since I had the option.

Ah, what's done is done. May God be magnified, and may I learn what is good and right.

Nevertheless, my desire is that someone was blessed it.

 

[CindyisHis]

We could add walking in humility, a teachable spirit, and ready to receive instruction/correction.

 

[JEBrady]

The only things I would expect to see in someone else's life to indicate a close walk are the fruit of the Spirit, the absence of sin and the presence of God. Someone else's devotional life isn't going to be evident unless it's someone I live with.

 

[Connect]

Hi CindyisHis,

You added “zeal” like a deeper hunger, the activity of a deeper scripture study, fasting, control of the body, and walking by the Spirit. I would also see repentance and a distain for sin. Lastly I would see a strength in relationships (like parent/child & spouse). Thank you for the additions. It helps me frame what I observe.

Thanks again,

Connect

 

[Connect]

I for one was blessed by your comments CindyisHis. I didn't take it as flaunting fasting but just a description of what would be done. Thank you.

Connect

 

[Connect]

Quick clarification question. What does "walking in humility, a teachable spirit, and ready to receive instruction/correction" look like to the casual observer. Or the attunded observer for that matter?

THanks,

Connect

 

[Connect]

Hi JEBrady,

Putting off sin, walking in the Spirit and "the presence of God. Can you break those down for me?

Thank you,

Connect

 

[CindyisHis]

Quick clarification question. What does "walking in humility, a teachable spirit, and ready to receive instruction/correction" look like to the casual observer. Or the attunded observer for that matter?

THanks,

Connect

I'm not sure this will clarify it any more, but I'll try to expound a bit.

None of us "knows it all". We say and do things no matter how developed in the Lord we may be that are not always right. We are ever in the process of becoming more like Jesus. So there is lots of room for improvement. Humility is an attitude, a state of heart that proceeds to the outward man, by not feeling the need to boast, defend oneself, or cover mistakes by trying to hide them. Pride, the direct opposite of humility will try to "keep face" if you know what I mean. Pride even keeps one from seeing sin. Ask me how I know. Nevermind, better not! Lol.

A teachable heart is willing to see himself in the Word. The Word is a mirror and exposes hidden sin. When a person with a teachable spirit sees something in the Word, he will change it. Same thing with people. If someone shows you a bettter way to do something than the way you have been doing it, relent, and do it the better way! It's an attitude of "I don't always have to be right. I don't have to have the last word." And this is real practical stuff in family relations, that you mentioned in another post, connect. No one sees you like your spouse does, and honestly, how can one have a successful marriage without this?

I've struggled to verbalize this. Not sure I've done it decency. One last thought, it is a yielding spirit, not froward.

Therefore, a casual observer may see fruit in a marriage relationship, or a boss may see a great team-player in the office, etc.

 

[JEBrady]

Hi JEBrady,

Putting off sin, walking in the Spirit and "the presence of God. Can you break those down for me?

Thank you,

Connect

I'm sure you know this already, but-

The fruit of the Spirit- Gal. 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Also, not retaliating in kind to the unkindness of others, not speaking in a way that dishonors God, but gives grace to the hearers. The shortest way to say it is to exhibit Christian character in our behavior. The fruit of the Spirit speaks to how we conduct ourselves toward other people.

Absence of sin- simply a life of obedience to God's Word and not engaging in known sin- the walk in the Spirit. This speaks to how we conduct ourselves toward God.

The presence of God- anyone who does these things is going to be spending time in God's presence and it's going to be apparent to others who know His presence. There is a story about Smith Wigglesworth getting onto a train or trolley (can't remember which) and a man sitting next to him said, "Man, you convict me of sin!". Smith hadn't spoken to him, but he had been in prayer prior to boarding the car and carried such a strong presence of God with him, that the Lord actually dealt with others who got physically near him. I experienced this when I met the man who taught me the Word of God for the first time. He had just finished teaching, and the presence of God, that anointing, was still so strong it almost cowed me. On another occasion, when I was in training on my job, we had a final test, and the instructor told us to just hang out after the test. I finished early and went into an hour of prayer. It ended at lunchtime and I met some Christian friends for lunch. The brother sitting next to me remarked that He sensed God's presence on me. I could feel the anointing, but was surprised when he noticed it, too.

Hope that helps.

 

[jesusmysaviour76]

I've personally been blessed by reading books and hearing what others have learned about fasting. Someone has to talk about it. I think the real issue is in the motive. I think it very unwise to to let everyone know when you are fasting, especially if it is draw acclaim. All things should be done for the glory of God, to magnify the Lord. It's all about Jesus and He is the One that should be seen.

I have taken this verse literally too, but have seen the blessing of a corporate fast, which is scriptural. To let only a select few know for two reasons, accountability and mostly, to pray for the one fasting I think is still appropriate. Even in that, I still have never let anyone know for those reasons. People find out though. My family sure notices! They see me daily and it is impossible to hide it from them. In another case, I let the worship leader at church know becasue I am on the praise team. It affected my ability to keep my commitment. I was there but very weak. If I had said I didn't feel well, that would not be entirely honest and it would lead her to believe something is wrong when all is well, very well.

Do you think that is "wrong"? My heart's desire is to only glorify the Lord and to be pleasing to Him in every way. If I end up losing my reward, but I have helped a brother/sister along the way, I don't mind. It's all about me losing my life anyway.

To omit it would not have given an accurate picture of what one looks like. Fasting is normal for Christians, as much as giving, and loving, and praying. Yet, not one of these things are to be done to pat ourselves on the back. Yet, they are done. I did not say that to bring attention to me anymore than anything else I said.

In all actuality, I felt awkward telling any of those things about me. They are personal. Yet, I understand the op's point, and I answer in context to it. Maybe I should have chosen the life of a loved one since I had the option.

Ah, what's done is done. May God be magnified, and may I learn what is good and right.

Nevertheless, my desire is that someone was blessed it.

Your right, thankyou for clearing that up.

 

[oneshot012]

When you walk closely with the Lord I believe you would see somone who is content and at peace with life. I believe you would see that they had a certain radience about them sort of an attractiveness not of the looks but it would be the kind of person people would gravitate to. They would have a desire for the deepth truths of God. They would be able to have conversational relationship with him and truly understand that he is living in and through us and that it is not we who live but Christ in us. The would be the friend of God.

 

[Connect]

Hi CindyisHis,

I like the thoughts you express in your posts. Thank you for your ideas. Here I see you saying humility and realizing how in need we are for growth sets the ground work for walking with God. With the standard of Jesus (perfection) we have a lot to learn and we can see what we need in the Word. This again requires humility as an essential piece into this introspection/perspective. We can all learn and grow.

Thank you,

Connect

 

[Connect]

Hi JEBrady,

Thank you for your clarification, JEBRady. Fruits of the Spirit, obedience, and two example of people in prayer seem to the main points you are putting across in your post. I’m seeing what you are saying. Thank you for your thoughts.

Connect

 

[Connect]

Hi 1shot012,

Thank you for your ideas on this. The attraction you are talking about is something that brings others to the one walking closely with God because of the relationship that is had with God? He is the one that is living through us, not our old selves and we are filled with truth. Thank you again for your thoughts.

Connections