How to Walk with God

How to Walk with God

In Hebrews 11:5 we saw how Enoch “walked with God” and He was very pleased. In fact, God was so pleased that He transported Enoch directly to heaven without Enoch having to undergo death. That’s amazing! You probably will not get to skip death, but you can walk with God in the most satisfying relationship of your life!

Here are 7 Tips to help you enjoy being in God’s presence each day:

1. Trust in Jesus. Before you can walk with God you need to know Him. John 1:12 tells us that those who receive Jesus as Savior become the very children of God. If you have not already done so, humble yourself, acknowledge your sinfulness, ask Jesus to be your Savior, and surrender to Him as Lord.  
2. Schedule time each day to be alone with God. Life is full of responsibilities and distractions. You will have to be very intentional to meet with God. Make this meeting your highest priority for each day.  If needed, put it on your calendar and set an alarm! Initially, I suggest you aim for 20 unhurried minutes alone with Him. Feel free to linger even longer in His presence if you can!
3. Read, Respond, and Pray. Read (and/or listen to) a chapter or two of the Bible.  Read with the goal of knowing God better.  Pray in response to what you have read: confessing a sin He shows you, thanking Him for a promise He has made, or praising Him for one of His great attributes.  A typical day may involve 10-15 minutes of reading or listening to the Bible, followed by 5-10 minutes of praying.  Pray about what you just read. Give Him thanks. Surrender your life to Him anew. Ask God for wisdom and help with your many needs. Pray for missionaries and those they are reaching.  
4. Start in the New Testament. If you are new to the Bible it is best to start with a New Testament book. You will eventually read every book in the Bible, but you will understand it all better if you begin with a book like the Gospel of John and read through the rest of the New Testament verse by verse, chapter by chapter, rather than skipping around. You can highlight or underline verses that are especially meaningful to you that day. Be interactive with the Bible so that you take it seriously and have it shape your very life.
5. Rise up to Abide and Obey. After your time alone with God it is time to get up and move out into the world with Him leading the way. Let your time with God shape how you treat those closest to you. People should experience a difference in you because you have just met with God. Ask God to help you live, love, and serve others like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
6. Share what God is doing in your life. Continue thinking on what you read in the Bible as you live out the rest of the day.  Be ready to share an encouraging truth about Jesus that you just saw. Someone in your life likely needs to hear a word of hope, and everyone in your life needs Jesus. You might ask very humbly: “Can I share something encouraging that I read today …”
7. Enjoy Him and His grace! Interruptions will come. Unusually hectic days will happen. Remember that He loves you and is gracious toward you.  If you miss a time with Him, determine to meet with Him the next day. Make any adjustments necessary to make this more likely to happen. This is not about guilt and legalism. This is about meeting with God because we love Him and need Him. We have learned that we find the joy, peace, and strength we need in His presence.  

As always, your pastors, deacons, and Life Group leaders are available to help you learn how to grow in your relationship with God. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us for more help on how to follow Jesus.

May you enjoy the glorious presence of God each day of 2026!

In Him,

Jim

A recommended book is: Praying the Bible, by Donald Whitney [SMRBC Library] [Amazon]

Here is an additional resource: SMRBC Next Steps booklet