The Secrets of Walking with God

God is searching for a bride who not only clings to him but also walks alongside him. From the beginning, God had a special relationship with Adam and Eve, where they would stroll together in the garden. God created humans to enjoy a walking companionship with him, involving conversation, closeness, shared decision-making, joy, and shared authority. God desires to walk with each person, and his grace is pulling them closer to him.

In a similar way, my wife Marci enjoys going for walks with her friend Wendy. They talk continuously during their walks, making exercise enjoyable and strengthening their friendship. Jesus used to take walks like this with his disciples, and he still enjoys walking with us in this manner today.

The secret place is not the ultimate destination; it serves as a catalyst. It is designed by God to establish an intimate friendship with him that is lived out in our everyday lives. Our goal is to have a continuous and unbroken communion with the Lord as we walk through each day together as friends.

Enoch was the first person in the Bible who walked closely with God:"After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away" (Genesis 5:22–24).

Although people in those early days began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), Enoch was the first to truly experience the delight of walking closely with God. He discovered something that even Adam hadn't experienced. Enoch pursued a deep spiritual connection with God and learned to commune with him in every aspect of life. Attaining such a level of relationship required intense spiritual devotion, and when Enoch found it, the Lord made a powerful statement by taking him to heaven.

God did not take Enoch to heaven to impress us with his piety, nor was God saying, "If you become as spiritual as Enoch, you will also be taken to heaven." This unique experience was used by God to emphasize a particular point. God's message was, "I love walking with humanity! Enoch was the first person to truly walk with me, so I decided to highlight his example by doing something extraordinary with him. I took him to paradise to demonstrate how much I value and desire a daily walking relationship with my chosen ones." Enoch's example continues to inspire all generations, revealing God's great enthusiasm for walking with humans.

When God's zeal captures your heart, it will ignite a deep passion to walk with God and be his friend. Imagine being like Enoch, living for 365 years and having a growing relationship with God! One can only wonder about the incredible depths of intimacy Enoch experienced. Perhaps Enoch's heart longed so intensely for more of God that God grew weary of withholding himself. Maybe God's heart was saying, "Enoch, your pure and sweet passion for me moves me deeply. I don't want to deny you any longer. I will answer your prayers and reveal myself to you. Come, be with me!"

As you draw closer to God, he may not take you to heaven like he did with Enoch. However, he desires to reveal the beauty of his presence to you. As you walk with him, he will illuminate the Scriptures through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, showing you the glory of God that is found in him.

When we walk with God, we enter a realm where he unfolds the secrets of his kingdom. These are the paths that the people of old, such as Noah (Genesis 6:9) and Abraham (Genesis 24:40), walked upon. Through Christ, you can explore the magnificent depths of knowing God, even to a greater extent because of the Holy Spirit given to us!

Before God works through us, he wants to walk with us. He waits for the right person through whom he can work. To put it simply, God collaborates with his friends. When God has a friend, his divine activity accelerates. When God finds a vessel prepared for noble purposes, he uses that vessel. For example, if you place a riding lawn mower in my garage, I assure you—I will use it! Likewise, God uses those who walk with him. However, he specifically looks for three crucial qualities: humility, faithfulness, and loyalty. He desires to work with friends who remain loyal to him, regardless of the circumstances. Even in the face of situations that may seem unfair, true friends of God continue to walk faithfully with him. Thus, the Lord tests our faithfulness. When we prove ourselves to be his friends, even in the greatest challenges of life, we become vessels he can use.

Jesus was the perfect example of a man who walked with God. He walked so closely with God that he was always in tune with the Spirit, even when awakening from a deep sleep. When I wake up, I can sometimes be grumpy or disoriented. But when Jesus was awakened from his sleep, he silenced the storm! It is truly amazing to be awakened from a deep sleep and instantly be in tune with the Spirit.

The secret place is where we develop a close relationship with God through walking with him. We must cultivate a personal history with God in private before he unveils our public story before others. In the hidden place, we learn what God desires in his friends and discover what pleases him. Our intimate communion with him in our secret place becomes the training ground for a life firmly rooted and grounded in love.

Jesus told us that he confides his kingdom purposes to his friends (John 15:15). Lord, I desire to be your friend, your confidant, loyal even unto death. I want to walk with you, talk with you, listen to your heart, and participate in your activities during this significant time. Teach me, Lord, how to walk with you