My Morning Walk

Enoch walked faithfully with God; Then he was no more, for God took him away. (Genesis 5:24 NIV)

Yesterday I bought a book called PRAYER WALKING FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH by George Mcvey.  The concept of prayer walking is both interesting and biblical. Enoch and Noah walked with God; Daniel walked along the river and prayed.   As I read the book I kept getting the prompt that this is how I should get to know my God better.  I needed to do this, too.

I knew that I needed to leave my iPod behind.  This is a tough one for me, since I never leave home without it.  I listen to praise worship and have Audible books which I listen to good teaching as well.  But for the past few days I also felt the prompting to be still, to be quiet, to listen, and to really get to know my God.  I’m reminded of that old Gospel song:

 I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on roses

And the voice I hear

Falling on my ear the son of God discloses.

And He walks with me and He talks with me

And He tells me I am His own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known – Charles Austin Miles

So I left my iPod behind and prayed before leaving the house that my ears would be open to His prompting.  As I walked, I heard the birds singing a chorus.  It was a little after 8 a.m., so the dew stuck in little droplets to every blade of grass.  I started the trek around my church, praying for the people who work and attend.  Talking to God out loud, I pictured Him walking with me. 

This is when I had a vision. Suddenly I noticed that I was walking at an exercise pace, a fast march.  In my head I pictured God speed walking with me with a sweatband on His head, both of us out of breath and barely talking to each other because we were concentrating on the work out.

God told me to slow down.

A second scenario came to my mind.  I saw the picture of a courting couple strolling along, hand in hand, getting to know each other.  And God told me that this is what we were doing.  He was courting me.  Our relationship up to now was one of love letters and conversations on the “prayer phone” but it’s always been a long distance one.  Now He wanted to court me into greater intimacy with Him.

The realization was amazing, and I understand now why so many biblical men “walked with God.”  In this fast paced world of hurrying through morning devotionals so that you can get on with your day, no one walks with God.  Even back in Noah’s day it was likely a rare thing!  So I know now why this is a necessary thing for me. God wants a more intimate relationship and to get that, I’m going to have to let him court me. 

I can’t wait for tomorrow morning.