What It Looks Like to Walk Closely with God in Everyday Life

My walk with God has changed over the years. Raised a “holiday Catholic,” I was introduced to a personal relationship with Christ from my college roommates. Since then, the relationship with Him has certainly grown. And while our relationship with Christ is unique from all other relationships, in many ways my walk with God mimics my walk with other relationships in my life: sometimes it’s close and sometimes I allow some distance to creep in.

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Introduction: Faith That Moves Beyond Moments

Many people associate closeness with God with those “mountain top” experiences – big spiritual moments of clarity. And those moments are certainly special and draw us very close to God.

Yet closeness with God, as with our earthly relationships, happens most often in the ordinary days. Days when we’re stressed and busy. Days when we’re pulled in a hundred different directions. Or days when we feel content and quiet. It’s all those times that God also looks to connect with us.

Imagine a faith that feels present, steady, and companionable. A faith that is grounded in the Truth and trusts God for everything. We only truly learn to trust Him by walking with Him every day. While we don’t know much about Enoch from the Old Testament, we do know that he was a righteous man who walked faithfully with God for his entire life – 365 years!

Micah 6:8 reminds us to walk humbly with God. In fact, Micah reminds us that that’s what God wants from us! While none of us will live as long as Enoch, we can live as he did – walking faithfully with God every day.

What It Means to Walk Closely with God

While it’s easy to know what walking with our husband after dinner looks like, it can be difficult to imagine actually walking with God. Let’s go back to when humans actually walked with God first.

In Genesis we learn that Adam and Eve lived with God in Garden of Eden. We know they walked with God in the cool of the evening before the Fall. Think about that. Can you imagine being with Him in person walking through the cool Garden? It gives me chills to think about!

For us today, though, we walk with God relationally, if not physically. This walk is about our faith not our performance. Walking with God means we are aware of His presence, asking Him questions, and listening for His answers.

Just like when we walk with our spouse, we don’t want to rush ahead. Let God set the pace. In Amos 3:3, the Lord asks if two can walk together without agreeing where to go. That direction also includes the pace at which we get there.

God’s Pace

I find that sometimes His pace is much slower than I would like! Yet I also find that when I allow myself to slow down and go His pace, I’m always grateful that I did. I find more purpose in it than if I had rushed ahead.

This slow walk gives us time to grow close to God through time and attention. Yes, we may stumble a bit. But those stumbles provide more growth opportunity. And God is always there to pick us up, dust us off, and get us going again.

God isn’t looking for perfection from us. He’s really not. He wants us to keep our eyes on Him so we know where to go (Psalm 16:8). Knowing that He doesn’t need me to be perfect is such a relief to me!

I can find rest when I know I’m not expected to perform. Keeping my eyes on God is a much more attainable task than perfection.

Walking With God Is About Awareness, Not Achievement

Everyone’s walk with God will look a bit different. For some, like my musically gifted sister, it includes songs of worship. For bookish me, it includes reading and studying. One of my Bible study friends’ walk includes devoted prayer warfare. All while we keep our eyes on God.

Even though we all connect best with God differently, two things are key. First, we all read Scripture. That’s the primary way all believers keep their eyes on Jesus.

Second, we realize that closeness with God does not require that we act super holy or have some crazy spiritual intensity.

What we have is an awareness of God’s presence throughout every day. And that awareness changes how we live out ordinary moments.

Listening for God

For example, yesterday I had a long list of things to do (well, that’s true most days lol). I finished a task and quickly asked God which task was next most important. Then I waited for a prompting in my Spirit that represents God’s answer to me. I received that and moved on. Living our lives in Christ means connecting with Him throughout our day, as we would any other friend.

Some days I don’t get a prompting. In those cases, I stay tuned in, aware of God, but I move on with what I think is most important. Simply noticing God in our midst “counts” in our walk with Him. The task is less important than checking in with Him.

God is always with us, whether we acknowledge Him or not. He wants us to ask Him questions, listen for His response, and trust Him to guide us. But take heart, if we don’t hear Him or we go the wrong way, He’s always there with us. No perfection required.

What Walking Closely with God Looks Like in Daily Life

I know, it’s still a bit vague. What does walking closely with God really look like? There are four easy ways we can create a closer walk with God in this Christian life.

A. In Our Thoughts

Last year, my counselor worked with me a lot about my thoughts. I spent way too much of my time in anxiety, worry, fear, and general self-judgment that I’d neglected to really think of God as much as I’d like. So, we’ve been working on that.

And let me tell you, my life is so much better for it! When I turn my thoughts to God regularly throughout the day, I feel His presence and hear His guidance so much more clearly.

When I pour out my heart to Him, He becomes my refuge; my safe place from the pain and struggle that comes with life. Turning my thoughts to God throughout the day brings a peace I could never have imagined.

Now bringing Him concerns, offering gratitude, and asking Him questions happens naturally. Keeping my thoughts on Him is as easy as Paul in the New Testament makes it seem.

B. In Our Decisions

We also walk with God when we involve Him in our decisions. Just as I explained in the example above, we can go to Him with our everyday choices, not just our major ones. We may hear His voice or not, but the turning to Him is what’s most important.

In addition to asking God for direction, we need to trust His direction. Scripture says He will make our path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). I can certainly use a straight path!  

James 1:5 tells us that if we lack wisdom we have only to ask and God will provide it for us. So next time you have a decision to make, whether what task to complete next or if you should change your career path, pause to ask God for wisdom. Then listen for His response and be prepared to act.

C. In Our Reactions

For a long time, I was governed by my reactions. I was short tempered and expected everyone and myself to be perfect. Letting go of that has been so freeing!

When we allow God to guide our reactions, we are free to own our mistakes without perfectionism holding us hostage. We allow God’s presence to shape our response to stress, people, and interruptions.

Now I can see interruptions as divine intervention. Perhaps I was going a direction God didn’t want me to. Perhaps He has something better for me.

And stress? It’s still there. But I respond to it differently. I now move slower, tuning in to what the Spirit of God is telling me. This growth happens over time, not instantly. But every time I see myself adapting instead of reacting, I know God is at work in me. I’m able to laugh at myself and choose peace instead of perfection.

As I allow God to guide my reactions, I can begin to grow the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23).

D. In Our Obedience

Obedience isn’t always fun. Yet just as we expect our children to be obedient to us, God expects His children (us) to be obedient to Him. There’s a difference, though.

Whereas our children tend to obey out of obligation, God wants us to obey out of love. He wants us to love Him so much that we want to obey.

Obedience is a big topic. It all comes down to small choices, though. A few Bible verses may help.

John 14:23 tells us that Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” The teachings are not just what Christ Jesus said, but everything in the Bible. Yes, that’s a lot. But remember, we aren’t expected to be perfect.

We start with little bits. Luke 16:10  reports that Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

Only Jesus was perfect. We’re just called to be obedient. Do what we can and repent when we turn away. Truly, it’s a work in progress for all of us.

Simple Practices That Support a Close Walk with God

While there are many ways we can walk with God, keeping our eyes on Him, there are a few you can build into your daily routines. When we do these things, we allow God to shine a light on our walk (Psalm 119:105) while we rejoice, pray, and offer thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) for all God does for us. These actions will help build a close relationship with God over time.

Simple Practices:

• Daily Scripture (check out my reading guide if you need some structure)
• Short, honest prayers throughout the day
• Quiet reflection or journaling
• Regular gratitude

When Closeness Feels Subtle or Quiet

I’ve said this before in this article but let me say it again. Sometimes God is quiet. We pray but don’t feel Him respond. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean He’s not there. Sometimes we don’t feel His presence, but He’s there.

Faith is being confident in what we hope for and assured about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). We are confident He’s there with us, even though we do not see Him.

These quiet seasons will come and go, and they reinforce our need to trust Him all the time. Quiet times provide the opportunity for us to practice being consistent in our prayers, Scripture reading, listening, and faithfulness. The Holy Spirit will tell you the way to go (Isaiah 30:21). We just sometimes need to be quiet to hear Him.

I’m sure you are familiar with Psalm 23. In the first three verses, the Psalmist (David) declares that the Lord guides him. The Lord leads him where he needs to go, providing rest and refreshment. Don’t you want that, too? That’s a quiet season. I want that so much, and I’m sure you do, too.

A Simple Prayer for Walking Closely with God

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of Your presence. Thank You that You will walk with me every day and guide me. Please forgive me for the times I’ve turned away; for the times I have not invited You to walk with me. Please show me Your ways and teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me. I put my hope in You now and every day. Give me ears to hear Your love for me every morning. Today I put my trust in You, knowing You’ll lead me where I need to go as we walk together all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Scripture Basis:

You might have noticed that I include Scripture in the prayer. I love personalizing Scripture! When I bring the Word of God into my prayers, they become more real to me. I’m also certain God loves to hear us immersing ourselves in His Word as we pray it back to Him.

Psalm 25:4–5 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

Closing Encouragement: Step by Step with God

I know I’ve covered a lot of ground here, but it all comes down to a few things.

Our walk with God takes place every day. Each morning, invite Him to be with you for the day.

Each morning, determine to take one small step toward your walk with God. Read a Bible verse, listen to a praise song, offer thanks when something goes well, seek His guidance in between tasks. Then do the thing you decided to do.

Before you know it, you’ll be aware of your heavenly Father guiding your word and actions, bringing you peace that passes all understanding, despite your circumstances. Each day that you make these choices, you take steps toward being a mature believer. Remember that’s not a destination, but a journey.

Psalm 37 reminds us that The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. God delights in you!! Just as you are. You don’t have to DO anything. Embrace that thought.

As I close, I leave you with this encouragement: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.

In Peace,

🌸 Andrea

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