Walking with God Daily: Practical Ways to Stay Close to Him

The playlist is set to play song after song about heaven this morning.  I thoughtfully applied only a light touch of mascara.  Though it wasn’t on my calendar today, I’ll be with friends visiting a beloved sister from our church who is heading home soon.  Her race is almost finished and she will have every tear and pain wiped away and be rejoicing in heaven.  Though I’m already crying, I am also so grateful for her homecoming to the Father’s arms.  And these songs of longing for God and heaven have me visualizing my sister walking hand in hand with Jesus to meet the Father.

What Does It Mean to Walk with God?

I have thought a lot recently about walking with God.  Is that a picture you ever imagine?  Close your eyes, pause and think about it.  When you visualize walking hand in hand, where are you? Where are you going?  What’s passing between you and Him?  How are you moving?  Are you a girl or a woman? Content? Laughing? Are you outside?  Does it look something like home there?  Are you talking or just quietly peaceful?

When Life Brings Clarity: Remembering What Matters Most

As I anticipate this visit all my worries and tasks are put into perspective. Haven’t you felt that before?  Something about loss and death quiets the cacophony of distraction around us.   What seemed important yesterday, may seem frivolous now.  What was urgent can wait.  And though I never long for goodbyes maybe the clarity I’m feeling in the nearness of a goodbye is worth longing for.  Maybe this sense of what’s truly important and the closeness of God is something to pray for and practice- something that comes along side of the peace of walking hand in hand with Jesus.

Equipped for a Life of Faith and Purpose

Ephesians chapter 4 comes to my mind here because I admit I am not so consistent at mindfully choosing my steps.  I am often moved along with my whims and distractions.  But Paul teaches us that we are to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1) and we are equipped “for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12) and to “no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind…” (Ephesians 4:14).  Paul goes on to give instructions for Christian living.  And all of them are daily choices.  To “put off” our old ways of unrighteousness, to speak truthfully and kindly, to not sin when angry, to forgive – these are all choices to walk and live with purpose and discipline with Jesus and not to be controlled by distractions, lies, the things of the world.

Thankfully God’s Word is sown in my heart yet the things of this world are loud. I want to live aware of Jesus’ presence every moment. I hunger for the peace, the security and confidence that he brings and the power of the Holy Spirit to work mightily for the Lord. I long to end my days not ashamed of wasted time and squandered gifts but knowing I labored eagerly for the Lord. But the truth is, my regular schedule sure does seem like a lot of wasted time. I definitely don’t savor laundry and chauffeuring teens. And I can’t claim I am terribly efficient with most of my daily chores.  I too often choose distractions instead of “locking in” as my 12 year old loves to say, to what’s truly important. Like Paul, I feel the tug-o-war between a spirit that wants spiritual growth and a body that wants ease (Romans 7). However, when I pause and consider that longed for clarity, the wizened version of myself can see I truly have been equipped with the knowledge of how to walk in it. God has provided all I need.

I’m equipped with the tremendous blessing of God’s word through which to know him.  I know God’s story through creation and Israel and then Jesus and the church.  Therefore, I know I am created and loved, imperfect yet wanted by God, redeemed and forgiven, precious in his sight and never forgotten nor abandoned. I am equipped with directions to live as a Christian in freedom, and knowledge of God’s will for my life and access to the Father in prayer.  I am equipped with the promised Holy Spirit to sanctify, lead and help me live in obedience and joy.  And I am equipped with community and fellowship with other believers to teach and encourage and work alongside me.

Practical Ways to Walk with God Daily

Sisters, God sure has provided us with a lot!  O how blessed we are!  When we reflect on these blessings and provisions, gratitude should flow.  And through gratitude we can experience joy and closeness. Yet I know sometimes we feel like there is a gap separating us.  Why a gap?  God didn’t change or move away.  So either my steps have fallen behind, a “squirrel” has caught my attention, the enemy has struck a blow… or maybe all those combined.  Regardless, if I am longing to walk daily in peace and clarity with Jesus and feel his presence, I have some responsibilities to uphold.  Though God has equipped me with access and knowledge and the Holy Spirit, I am going to need to take ownership in picking up the tools he has provided.  Just as my art supplies are little to nothing on their own, so too my faith and walk with Jesus only develop when I use what God provides.

Drawing Near to God Through Scripture and Prayer

He provides unfathomable love, knowledge, redemption and an open door of communication.   He meets us where we are with an outstretched hand and he celebrates every time a prodigal comes home.  Whether we got distracted by a squirrel or left our father for a faraway country, here are what I see as essential practices to keep walking hand in hand with him.

We have to respond to God’s invitation by drawing near.  How do we draw near?  We seek to know Him through scripture. It’s the primary way he communicates who he is and his story to us.  Commit to study his word. Daily.  Read a little or a lot.  Listen to the audio Bible in the shower or at the sink or as you wake up.  Make it a priority.  And with that we need to communicate – that means to prayerfully talk and listen.   Relationship is an exchange.  Neither studying the Bible without prayer nor talking at God without listening in earnest is relationship building.

Worship That Resets the Heart

The more we seek and draw near God, the more we will see his goodness.  The appropriate and natural response is worship!  Worship means much more than a Sunday church service.  As a verb it means to express adoration, respect, honor or devotion to God.  We can start with acknowledging and expressing how we think and feel about God, his character, his actions, our relationship with him, etc.  Show gratitude. “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song” Psalm 95:2.  Sing it. Journal it. Say it however you want!

And worship isn’t only for when we feel good or thankful.  In Psalm 73 Asaph describes bitterness he felt and how worship changed everything.  “…I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:3). He tells how the arrogant seem to get away with everything while he suffers and doubts the worth of his innocence.  But then Asaph comes into the sanctuary of God (vs 17) and knows God is just and worthy. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Psalm 73:26,28. Even though his heart was embittered, he came before the Lord in worship and that worship renewed his spirit and faith.

There is just something about worshipping the Lord that resets our hearts.  When we reflect on God’s mighty works and goodness and express it sincerely, we step out of that focus on what seems hard, unjust and Earthly.  I like to think of it as taking our eyes off the mud & manure we may be standing in and looking instead to the glory of the Lord.  In other words, we stop looking down at our situation, step back from the current perspective and start looking up to God.  Worship honors God and it changes us. Worship aligns our hearts and direction to God’s.

Obedience: Taking the Next Step with Jesus

Now we step forward.  Obeying and taking action is that movement. If we want to go with Jesus we have to move with him wherever he leads.  God is not looking for spectators but disciples. “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” James 1:22. Be ok with not knowing the plan and learning as you go.  Submit pride, fear, control, your great (and lousy) ideas, your talents and everything to his leadership. The more we give him the less we carry and more freedom we have to enjoy the journey. I know I am being called to give up some distractions that are inhibiting me and even writing this is helping me choose to follow through.

Take the action you are convicted to take, even small steps. He is the leader.  Sometimes, like I have, we drag our feet for years. What a waste! When we stubbornly refuse to give up something or to move forward because of fear, we aren’t walking with him.  We are camping out at best.  When we do find ourselves stuck, unable to submit or move forward it is time to ask for help from other Christians — be it friends or mentors or church leaders or professionals. The discomfort will be worth it! Our Father is preparing help for you!  Isaiah 41:13 “ For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.”

Don’t Give Up: Faithfulness in the Daily Walk

What’s next?  I want to be in God’s presence daily so obviously, I can’t quit! Jesus calls us to keep going no matter the terrain. “Do not lose heart!” 2 Corinthians 4:16. “Press on to the goal!” Philippians 3:14. “Finish the race!” 2 Timothy 4:7.  Call it consistency, steadfastness, practice, exercise, struggle.  Plain and simple -we can’t give up.  Deep relationships, healing, change, strength, discipling, and growth are all things that are developed with practice and experience.   

Why We Need Community in Our Walk with Christ

In addition, those things are usually developed with other people. Our walk with Jesus doesn’t stay in isolation.  We all need to be a part of the body of Christ.  God himself is 3 in one = relationship.  We too need relationship to experience growth and the fruit of the spirit.  Think about it this way -a lot of my problems aren’t very problematic when I’m alone.  I do not have very many opportunities to practice being like Jesus, when I’m alone.  On the other hand, in community we find out where we need healing and growth. Our problems show themselves.  Among the body of Christ we can see godly like behavior and attitudes modeled.  We can practice. God is calling all his children to walk with him and being close to God means I love those he loves and invite people to join me like Jesus showed us.

Walking Forward with Peace, Clarity, and Purpose

I have been blessed to walk alongside many beautiful Christian men and women.  Thinking of Christian community and sisterhood brings my mind right back to where I started.  A week has passed now since that visit. I’m doing my best to maintain that clarity and peace - that closeness with the Lord.  I’m daily reading the Bible, praying, listening and worshiping God.  I’m taking note of the time-wasting habits and redirecting myself to take action where I need to and labor for the Lord.  I’m serving the Lord, my family and community with an awareness and clarity and peace.  And here, where our paths are meeting, I pray you too are drawing near and walking joyfully hand in hand with the Father.

Julie Irvine

Julie Irvine

Julie has been an artist and creator for as long as she can remember. Growing up, her mother encouraged a wide variety of creative experiences, art education and even taught her to sew as a child. Her small farming community gave her constant support and the teachers she needed to learn how to sew and much more!   “You (or we) can do it” was instilled in her in that small town.

After studying art and psychology, she worked in the mental health field where she used the tremendous therapeutic power of creating with clients. Then as she transitioned to being home with her family, she felt the need to create more than ever.

She has always loved to get to know people, their stories, their hearts and dreams. She aims to share in their excitement or lighten their load and bring peace and hope to each situation. As an artist, she brings these desires and skills to her craft as she wants to make things that resonate. Julie pours out her heart through her art.  Each Little Jul work is a lovely piece of leather that turns into something useful and pleasing - a tool that doesn’t only serve its master in the practical way, but brings a joy by serving with beauty as well. Because life is so much better when we see and experience beauty!

"I’m convinced recognizing and being grateful for the beauty around us, be it in a purse, glorious sky, a child’s delight, or in the cashier in front of you, is the way of joy.  Life is full of hardship but full of gifts to rejoice in too!  And gifts declare to us we are not unnoticed, not unknown and not alone (James 1:17, Genesis 16:13)."

In addition to being an artist, Julie is a wife and a mother of two amazing kids based in Richmond, Virginia. She opened Little Jul in 2018 and has never looked back. She loves crafting beautiful, custom pieces for her customers that will last for years to come. "I believe a beautiful journal, wallet or bag brings a spark of joy to everyday life!"

You can find out more about Julie and shop her collection at www.littlejul.com.