“7 Steps to Walking with God & 7 Blessings He has for You.”
This *spotfund is to raise funds to produce and broadcast a variety of Bible-based resources for people of all ages. All of the resources which I produce for this project will have digital formats which will be available by optional donation. It’s important to me that all who are interested, regardless of financial ability, may enjoy and benefit from them. With that, every social share and donation of any amount to this *spotfund is appreciated beyond words.
God has opened my eyes to simple but powerful Bible-based guidance in recent weeks which I am called to share with as many people as possible. To begin, I am producing an online workshop, “7 Steps to Walking with God & 7 Blessings He has for You.” After production of the workshop is complete, I will be drafting a book based on the same ideas. Also, in order to reach the youth, I will be assembling the concepts in a variety of ways to engage, educate, and encourage students from pre-school to high school. I pray that the power and beauty of these messages is able to reach countless homes, churches, schools, and organizations all throughout the world.
Because I know that there could be people reading this currently in need of the guidance I’ve received, I’m moved to share some key concepts of the project here.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:11-13
What are the 7 steps to growing and staying closer to God?
- Be encouraged to know that walking with God is where you belong.
Walking with God means prosperity. It’s there where we become the greatest version of ourselves. What better gift could we offer ourselves and those around us than to be our greatest selves? Over the years, I’ve personally wrestled with the idea of putting God above all. All. “As in, ALL all? I can imagine putting Him before some things, but before everything? Including my family?” It was a very difficult concept with which I wrestled for a very long time. It was only recently that I realized that I am the absolute best version of myself when I put God first. And, as I mentioned, what greater gift could I offer to those I love than being my best self?
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. -Proverbs 21:21
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. -Luke 6:47-48
- Be willing to learn and adopt new ideas and habits.
When this concept first came to me, it was rather harsh. I was running errands, and the message came to me; “Forget what you think you know.” It was humbling, but I celebrated receiving it. I had such a great desire to walk closer to God that I welcomed the message just as it was and in full. So much, in fact, that I thought, “If I forget what I think I know, how will I get home?” While it may seem humorous, I was so serious about my pursuit of God that I was willing to forget even the simplest things. I soon realized that I didn’t need to actually forget things, but I did need to take on a mind which would stay fully open to God and His teachings.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” -Isaiah 43:18-19
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? -1 Corinthians 1:19-20
- Seek guidance.
Once I accepted that I was to do away with old habits and ways of thinking, the next logical step was to seek out new ones. You see, I didn’t want to just change; I wanted to be made new. I’ve found that the most effective ways for me to seek guidance are through the Bible and prayer. It’s through the Bible and prayer that we have actual communication with God. We have a relationship with our Maker. We can consult Him regarding each and every aspect of our existence, both in and around us, and how we are to go about our lives. Sometimes the answer to how to go about a major situation or decision is just a prayer or passage away.
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. -Isaiah 58:11
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 25:4-5
- Give yourself permission.
Before we apply the guidance we’ve received, I think a critical step is giving ourselves permission to do so. I recently heard a man talk about how the hardest place to change is where we grew up. I think that rings true today more than ever, as many of us stay linked to old companions through social media. With that, we might feel an expectation to stay who we’ve been. Or even pressure because we might feel like people have receipts on us and might expose us for who we are. But who we are doesn’t have to be who we were. It truly doesn’t.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! -2 Corinthians 5:17
- Apply guidance and limit distractions.
One thing which has proven itself to be critical for me when applying guidance and limiting distractions is prayer. Becoming a new person can be difficult on our own to say the least. I try to give great focus to new habits and knowing where old vices have an in. Shaking old vices can prove to be extremely difficult in today’s world. Unsubscribing to email subscriptions to which we no longer care to be a part can take time. Our usage history of personal devices is embedded in them; old habits have yielded a profile by which we receive recommendations just about every time we login. And the vices I’ve mentioned are simply the ones which come up in our private time. In addition to that, we might feel the need to change our usual hangouts and even have tough talks with people about whom we care but feel might cause us to stumble. These things can be overwhelming at the mere thought of them. This is why praying to God is so critical.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Matthew 19:26
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. -1 Corinthians 10:13
- Don’t let a stumble become a fall.
The path on which we walk with God here on Earth is not always smooth. There are numerous obstacles and bumps in the road, some obvious and others which come completely without warning. At times, we might stumble and, for a variety of reasons, distance ourselves from God. I’m not sure the rhyme or reason for the times during which I’ve done this, but I am sure that it was the wrong way to go about it. Distancing ourselves from God during a stumble is arguably the worst time to do so, as that is when we are perhaps in need of Him the most! Let us, instead, lean in towards God as we acknowledge a stumble coming or having already started. That is where we are at our safest.
The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. -Psalm 145:14
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. -2 Corinthians 4:8-9
- Refuel/recharge before running out.
Staying passionate about my personal walk with God has always seemed to be among the simplest of the 7 steps I’ve listed here, but certainly not the least important. Keeping a charge on our relationship with God ensures that we’re in good hands. A few years back, an unforeseen icy storm hit my area and major roads were essentially shut down because the vehicles simply couldn’t move. On a typical day, 1/8 tank of gas or charge would’ve gotten drivers plenty far enough to a gas station. When the unforeseen hit, though, it suddenly became a very serious situation which involved real safety and well-being. I often think of that event when I consider skipping focusing on my walk with God. I try to stay charged by studying the Bible and checking out Bible-based YouTube videos. In addition, starting this project has been major in my walk and growth, which I consider a testament to the importance of being active in the Christian community. We are undoubtedly in this together, brothers and sisters.
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. -1 Chronicles 16:11
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. -Proverbs 4:25
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:14
What are 7 blessings God has for us when we walk with Him?
Strength. Stability. Guidance. Values. Love. Community. Purpose.
“The greatest of these is love.” -1 Corinthians 13:13
Strength
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. -Psalm 18:32
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:13
Stability
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. -Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. -Psalm 28:7-8
Guidance
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. -Isaiah 58:11
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. -Proverbs 1:1-6
Values
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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. -Galatians 5:22-25
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. -Ephesians 4:29
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. -Matthew 7:12
Love
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. -1 John 4:15-19
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. -1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Community
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. -Proverbs 17:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” -Matthew 18:20
Purpose
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. -Micah 6:8
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” -Mark 12:30-31
I pray that together we and our communities can walk closer with God and enjoy His blessings today and every day to come. Please share as you feel called. May God bless you and all of those dear to you. Thank you.
