‘Walking with God’ – A life in prayer

28 April 2019

A life in constant prayer is often understood by many as a way of life meant only for those who have dedicated their lives to the service of God as they are the ones who have committed to devote their entire time to be in the presence of God and serve Him. But ‘walking with God’, a life where we are in constant companionship with the all powerful and almighty God, conversing with Him in an intimate way, sharing our needs and fears and feeling His presence and protection at all times is what anyone would desire to have. Naturally, it seems very unfair if this intimate relationship with God is only reserved for those who dedicate their lives to serve the Lord. Was this God’s plan for us? We take a look at what the Bible teaches us on our relationship with God and how we ought to pray.

In the Holy Bible, we first read about man’s relationship with God in the Book of Genesis. In the Chapters 1 – 3 we read about man’s creation and God’s constant engagement and conversation with man whilst providing for all his needs. This beautiful relationship was changed when man sinned the first time. In Genesis 3: 8 after Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden tree, we read “.....and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God...”. Therefore it was sin that changed the way we ‘think’ of our relationship with God. God on the other hand, always has and will continue to call man to seek Him, know Him and love Him. This can be confirmed from the next verse in Genesis 3: 9 where we read “But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

God created man out of His goodness, in His image and likeness to love Him and know Him. Hence the desire to seek God and love Him is written in our human hearts and is what every man is expected to do as per God’s plan for us. God continues to reach out to us in our busy lives and waits for us to respond to His call. But how do we respond? How do we begin conversing with God? Where does this conversation happen? It happens in the heart of every human being where our desire for God is planted. But to recognise this call we need to humble ourselves. Humility is the most essential virtue for having a relationship with God. When we humble ourselves before the Lord, acknowledging our sins and shortfalls, our inability to pray and come into His presence in the way He desires us to, we begin our relationship with God. Scripture teaches us “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalms 51:17.

Cleansing of heart is essential because if our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain. The Spirit of God searches all hearts and knows the innermost thoughts of man. “I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.” Jeremiah 17:10. Hence in order to have a sound relationship with God we must approach Him with a clean heart, seek forgiveness for our sins, remove malice, hatred and all that is not good to be brought before God.

The Bible is full of examples of our forefathers who through their faith and love for God, ‘walked with God’ throughout their life. Abraham is called the father of believers because when God called him, he obeyed. His heart was entirely submissive to the will of God. Even when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, his faith did not weaken for he considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead. By doing so, he became conformed to the likeness of God the Father who also did not spare his own only Son Jesus. By his faith Abraham shows us that prayer restores man to God’s ‘likeness’ and enables him to share in the power of God’s love.

We too can begin our very own relationship with God by purifying our hearts and turning inward to listen to the voice of God calling us. Jesus taught us that “Blessed are the pure, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8. Therefore let us make an effort to restore our relationship with God and come out of our hiding places where we prefer to hide in sin, cleanse our hearts and live in His presence and constant companionship. For this is the life that God willed for us, from the beginning, and we are complete only when we respond to this call of love.