Whether our faith is weak or our faith is strong, we need to know how to build our daily walk with Christ.
Our "daily walk with Christ" is a phrase we use to describe our faith and our relationship with the Heavenly Father. An idea that often comes to mind, but one we sometimes lie about.
If someone came up to you right now and asked you to describe your daily walk with Christ, what would you say? Does a particular word come to mind? A few words? Maybe an action? Is your relationship with Christ constant? Sporadic? Something you need to work on or something you’ve already mastered?
My own tendency was once to give the best answer possible. That way, I saved face with other believers. “Fine” and “good” came out of my mouth, but those weren’t honest answers. These days I would say, “challenging” or “needs work.” Being a Christian isn’t easy, but I recognize that a worthwhile walk with Christ doesn’t need to be, nor do I need to lie about where I am. God already knows, and my life reveals the truth, however uncomfortable.
If someone asked you, what answer would you give? What answer should you give?
Depending on the season of life, our measure of faith changes, and our daily walk with Christ changes, for better or for worse. The things that happen to us are out of our control, but we are responsible for how we respond. We can be made better, or we can be made bitter.
Wherever we end up, one thing that should remain consistent is walking with Christ. Consistency with Him takes us over the mountains and through the valleys, through the thick and thin. Consistency keeps our faith intact and makes us more than just nominal Christians. After all, if we didn’t care about walking with Christ, then how could we call ourselves Christian?
All of this means that whether today our faith is weak or our faith is strong, we need to know how to build our daily walk with Christ.
Read
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)
If you ever want to know what Christ thinks about something, the first place to go is Scripture. The Bible is where we learn much of our faith’s history, along with a myriad of wise teachings. God’s Word helps us know right from wrong, and alleviates those areas of gray. When we’re familiar with the text, we feel more confident in our day-to-day circumstances. We remember to give thanks for the good, and cling to our faith during the bad. Staying in the Word keeps our walk with Christ daily because He remains at the forefront of our minds.
Pray
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;” (Proverbs 3:5)
Every relationship requires communication, and the closer the relationship, the more frequently we talk. Just as we communicate with the people closest to us, prayer is one way we talk to God. Constant prayer is a sign of a deeper relationship. We have a direct line to Him thanks to Christ, and even better than other people, God is always available.
Participate in Church
“Not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Prayer gets us in touch with Christ, as do other forms of activity, such as volunteering at church. Consider donating your time and energy as an usher, greeter, or something else to show Christ how much He means to you. Participating in church gives you a chance to serve and puts you in proximity to hearing the Word and being around other godly people. The more we are reminded of Christ, the more we remember to walk with Him.
Partake in Christian Holidays
Easter, Christmas, Lent; there are a number of Christian holidays that provide an opportunity to worship God and, at the same time, fellowship with other believers. If there are holidays you typically don’t celebrate, consider changing that this year as a way to deepen your faith and enhance your walk.
Serve
“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Serving in the church is one way to develop your walk with Christ, but living as a Christian means the church should not be the only place we serve. We’re called to honor God in all aspects of life, and thus, we should seek to serve anywhere we go. That includes our home, our job, our neighborhood, and the places we go while running errands. There’s always someone in need of something, and if you aren’t sure who, then say a prayer asking God to present you with people to serve.
Stay Humble
“Humility, the fear of the Lord, results in wealth, honor, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)
If today you think your relationship with Christ is perfect and there’s nothing to improve, then Scripture has some bad news for you. Humility reminds us not just that we are sinners but that there is always some way to better our walk with Christ. Being sinners, we are bound to make mistakes, bound to miss even the obvious signs of our fallible ways. Humility keeps us searching for self-improvement and keeps us receptive to being admonished by others. Without growing, we become complacent. And with complacency, we lose the depth that we would otherwise find through Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
As the saying goes, it’s easy to talk the talk but not to walk the walk. Our daily walk with Christ, if it is daily, requires time, effort, and a commitment that is spiritual, emotional, and physical. Some days feeding that relationship will come naturally, and other days not so much. What is most important, however, is that we remain consistent, trying our best to embody the same love Christ possesses for us.
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/WillSelarep
Aaron D'Anthony Brown is a freelance writer, hip-hop dance teacher, and visual artist, living in Virginia. He currently contributes to Salem Web Network’s Crosswalk platform and supports various clients through the freelancing website Upwork. He's an outside-the-box thinker with a penchant for challenging the status quo.
Get in touch with him at aarondanthony.com and check out his debut short story anthology Honey Dreams on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.