What does it mean to walk with God?

Quick answer

Walking with God means following Him and seeking what He wants from us. It implies choosing the Lord’s way, rather than our way or the world’s way.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible often uses the metaphor “walk” to communicate agreement with the ways of the Lord. To “walk with” God means to live a life pleasing to Him. The Bible teaches that God created us for fellowship with Him, so He desires us to walk with Him (Micah 6:8; John 15:4–5). Genesis shows that before the fall, Adam and Eve would walk and talk with God in the Garden of Eden, but after they had sinned, they were ashamed and hid when they heard Him coming (Genesis 3:8). Their sin separated humanity from God (Romans 5:12). But Jesus’s sacrifice enables us to have a personal and close relationship with God through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17; Romans 5:1–2). Faith in Christ makes the Lord the priority, filling believers with the desire to talk with Him, seek Him, and please Him—in other words, to walk with Him. Scripture presents examples of men who walked with God, such as Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Noah (Genesis 6:9). The New Testament adds another term for walking with God: "walking in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16; Romans 8:4). When Jesus ascended into heaven, He left the Holy Spirit with us. The Holy Spirit, being in us when we believe in Christ, is our direct link to God (Romans 8:9–11, 26–27; Ephesians 1:13–14). Walking with God is a way of life, and it is a choice. We can walk in God's ways or the ways of the world, but we cannot do both (2 Kings 8:27; Ephesians 2:2; Matthew 6:24; James 4:4).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

To “walk with God” means to live the life God approves of. Psalm 1:1–2 asserts the blessings of rejecting the wicked and walking with God: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” We cut out of our lives whatever keeps us from walking in God’s ways because we are motivated by His love and a desire to be close to Him.
Amos 3:3 says, “Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?” Amos prophesied against the nation of Israel, as they were wickedly turning against God; he noted that the result would be God’s punishment. The logic is clear: two people won’t walk together unless they have agreed to. God’s punishment of Israel logically follows from their sin against Him. They walked away from God.
Micah 6:8 indicates that God requires His children to walk with Him: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Through Micah, the Lord reminds the nation of Israel of how they should be, metaphorically, walking in the way the Lord wants them to.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 indicates we can walk in the Spirit to conquer sin: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” When Jesus ascended into heaven, He left the Holy Spirit with us. The Holy Spirit dwells in us when we believe in Christ and enables us to live in a way the pleases God (Romans 8:9–11, 26–27; Ephesians 1:13–14).
In Ephesians 2:1–2, Paul reminds believers in Ephesus of their walk with the world before they found Christ: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” We cannot walk with the Lord and with the world as well.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Walking with a friend is one of life's most enjoyable pastimes. We relish the time to converse, sharing what’s on our minds and listening to what’s on theirs. It’s a special time to focus on that other person without distractions. Metaphorically, our lives should allow the same time with the Lord. We have the privilege of the Creator wanting to be in relationship with us (John 17:3; Revelation 3:20). What could be a greater honor? But how can we develop this relationship, since God is Spirit, and we are not? He has given us the handbook on what He wants of us in the Bible. Believers should be reading Scripture daily to know Him more and to know what He wants of us. Besides, unlike our friends on earth, who we usually don’t reveal every secret of our heart to, we can pour our heart out to the Lord through prayer. We can’t shock Him with anything we say because, as our Creator, He already knows us better than anyone—even ourselves. As we learn more about Him from His Word, we come to trust Him. We long to please Him, rather than pleasing the world. In other words, we’re walking with Him. We can walk in God's ways or the ways of the world, but we cannot do both (2 Kings 8:27; Ephesians 2:2; Matthew 6:24; James 4:4).

UNDERSTAND

Walking with God means aligning with His ways and choosing His path.
Walking with God involves a personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word.
True walking with God requires prioritizing Him over worldly distractions and our own desires.

REFLECT

What steps can you take to ensure that your daily choices reflect walking with God, rather than following the ways of the world?
In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to walk humbly with God?
How can you make time to nurture your relationship with God?

ENGAGE

How can we encourage others to walk by the Spirit?
What does it mean for us to prioritize walking with God over worldly desires in a practical sense, and how can we encourage others to do the same?
How do the examples of believers in the Bible inspire our own walk with God today? What might we learn from their journeys?