Encouraging Word
The term “Christian Walk” refers to living out your faith. It involves one’s daily lifestyle and includes your personal belief system, behavior and conversation. The hymn “Trust and Obey” says it best; “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word what a glory He sheds on our way. When we do His good will, He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.”
I want to mention three ways we can strengthen our Christian Walk:
- Submit. Submission means to yield to the power or authority of another; to be humbly obedient. James 4:7 says, “Submit therefore to God. . . ” I Peter 5:16 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” We are to submit our wills to God’s will. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, that one would have to “deny himself.” John the Baptist said that “he must decrease that Jesus might increase.” And Jesus’ prayer in the Garden said, “not my will, but Thy will be done.”
- Be Sensitive to God’s leading. Sensitive means to be easily affected; highly responsive; attentive. As Christ-followers we need to be attentive and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s direction. I Corinthians 3:16 says, “. . . you are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Ephesians 5:18 says, “. . . be filled with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16 adds, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
- Be Serious about Serving God. Serious is to be sincere; characterized by deep thought; somber disposition; focused. Jesus instructs Christians to stay focused on Him; to follow Him; and to be faithful. This requires discipline, dedication and determination.
How we live is important. Our lifestyle reflects what we believe. Make sure your Christian Walk is strengthened by submission to God’s will; sensitivity to God’s leading; and remaining serious about serving God!
-Tony Cooper
Celebrating 28 Years of Service as Exec. Director, Jimmie Hale Mission