Recently, I spoke with a group of church leaders about walking with God. In that discussion, we talked about differences in our ministry—differences we all recognize—when we’re walking with God and when we’re not. Here are some of those differences that come to mind:
- When we’re walking with God, we pray more passionately and effectively. Nothing’s in the way of our prayer channel then.
- When we’re walking with God, we have more confidence of God’s message for His people. It’s one matter to prepare a sermon just because Sunday’s coming; it’s another matter to hear clearly God’s message and relay it powerfully.
- When we’re walking with God, we can’t wait to preach. That’s because there’s little like standing before God’s people, proclaiming His Word from a pure heart. It’s powerful.
- When we’re walking with God, we evangelize more. We almost can’t help it, since truly being with God ought to lead to our speaking more about Him. Evangelism should be natural for leaders walking with God.
- When we’re walking with God, we sleep better. The peace of obedience is much sweeter than the anguish and conviction of disobedience.
- When we’re walking with God, we deal better with church opposition and conflict. The pain may still be great, but we find in Him our confidence to press on.
- When we’re walking with God, we lead more humbly. The closer we get to God, the more obvious our sin becomes—and we realize quickly how little we have to offer as leaders. We can only lean humbly on Him.
- When we’re walking with God, we hold our heads high at home. When those who know us best recognize ongoing growth in our walk with God, our hearts rest in that truth. We lead better publicly when we’ve been walking better privately.
- When we’re walking with God, we handle compliments better. A compliment like, “I’m glad you’re our pastor” or “That was a great sermon” can be agonizing when we know the painful truth about our spiritual walk; the same compliment to a leader walking with God is both humbling and affirming.
What would you add to this list? And, what does this list reveal about your own life?
Thanks for these reminders, Chuck. This is the life we were born to live. When I am walking in “step with His Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) and not turning to the right or left (Prov. 4:27), the Lord helps me to trust Him through the fog of stress, sickness, and storms. My faith needs to mature and seeking to walk with God is the only way it will.