Walking with God
By Whitney Hopler
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 NIV
A jumbled mix of thoughts swirled around my mind as I pondered a decision I faced in a complex situation. Seeking clarity, I took a prayer walk around my neighborhood. I poured my thoughts out to God and listened to the new thoughts God sent to me. God and I walked and talked in step with each other. It seemed like God was as close to me as if he was physically there beside me on the sidewalk.
In Exodus 33:14 NIV, God told Moses, “My Presence will go with you,” and God promises the same to us. He is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23 NIV). While I believe that’s always true, sometimes I’m unaware of God’s presence with me. The practice of taking a physical walk helped me notice and focus on God’s spiritual presence. Discovering God’s presence clarified what I should do in that situation because God gave me personal guidance, as a friend would on a walk together.
God isn’t a distant being who keeps us guessing about what to do when we ask for his help. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” (ESV) We can hear from God when we’re walking with him. On the journey we take through our lives, God wants us to pay attention to his presence with us, step by step. He calls us to reach out to him as if we’re taking the hand of a friend who is walking right beside us. That kind of close relationship helps us walk through life in sync with God. We may run ahead or lag behind when we move away from God, but God never moves away from us. The more we choose to walk with God, the more we can enjoy his wisdom and peace in any situation.
What does it mean to walk with God? It can mean literally taking a prayer walk like I did since physical walking can rejuvenate both body and soul. But walking with God encompasses even more. Walking with God is a lifestyle of centering our lives around our relationship with God. When we walk with God, we see situations differently. His perspective shapes ours as we pay attention to his presence with us.
Micah 6:8 is a powerful Bible verse that succinctly sums up what God wants us to focus on when we walk with him through life. The verse lists three expectations God has of us: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with him. Each of these requirements is significant and has important implications for our lives. To act justly means to live in a way that is fair and equitable, treating others as we would like to be treated. This requires us to stand up for what is right, even when doing so is difficult or unpopular. It means speaking out against injustice and working to make the world better for everyone. To love mercy means to have compassion for others, even when they don’t deserve it. This requires us to forgive those who have wronged us, to show kindness to those who are hurting, and to be generous with our time and resources. It means extending grace and mercy to others since God has done so to us. Finally, to walk humbly with God means to recognize our own limitations and need for a relationship with him. It means living a lifestyle of worship and seeking to do God’s will.
Taken together, these three requirements form a powerful call to action. They remind us our faith is not just about what we believe, but how we put it into action as we walk through our lives. When we walk with God, our faith moves forward, and we’re blessed as a result. As Psalm 89:15 NIV declares:
“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
Intersecting Faith and Life:
As you reflect on walking with God, consider these questions:
- How have you noticed God’s presence with you lately, and how did that help you focus on what matters most?
- What is one way God is calling you to act justly right now, and how can you rely on God for the power to do so?
- What is one way God is calling you to love mercy right now, and how can you seek God’s help to do so?
- Have you been running ahead of God, or lagging behind him, in any situations recently? If so, how can you sync your steps more closely with God’s steps?
- When can you schedule a prayer walk with God to rejuvenate your relationship with him?
Further Reading:
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/RyanJLane
Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.
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