Books in the Walking with God: 31-Day Devot series

Jesus is our light in a life filled with darkness. His Holy Spirit is a flame that burns within us, shining God's light within us to remind us that he loves us and that we are not without hope. Jesus left us the Holy Spirit as our helpmate because God knows that it is not good that man should walk alone.

There is no greater honor than to be loved and befriended by God. He desires to become friends with each of us, he longs for us to receive his love and to understand his goodwill for every person. Friendship with God gives us access to God's plans. In order to receive access, God must trust us and that trust begins in our hearts. If we love God with all that we are, we are willing to sacrifice so that others can experience God's love. We commune with him and spend time with him, so that we may hear his instructions. We not only obey his commands, but we enjoy operating in the will of God. Finally, we see others as God sees them. We recognize when others are in need. We forgive those who make mistakes just as God forgave us. We sacrifice our comfort so that others may experience comfort. We love others in the same way we want to be loved. When we are walking with God, spending time with him, and doing his will, we are his friends and gain access to the work he is accomplishing on the earth. To receive the gift of salvation that leads to eternal life, we must only confess and believe in our hearts that Christ died for us. But to gain access to an abundant life, filled with wisdom, stature, and honor, we must place God first and be about His business.

Sometimes when we are walking in obedience to the will of God, we are met with a request for extreme sacrifice. We have witnessed through stories in the Bible such willingness in Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice a son he'd dreamt of having his entire life; in three Hebrew boys sentenced to death in a fiery furnace; Daniel in the lion's den; and Stephen stoned before the religious leaders. This level of obedience is not intended for the faint of heart, but for those who are completely and totally dependent on God. This is a true test of faith, one that even Jesus himself found difficult.

Why would someone care where your God is? Perhaps it is because they can sense his presence when you enter a room or maybe they experience his love when you are attentive to their needs. Maybe it is because you are as bold as a lion and as harmless as a dove. It could be that they are a witness to your struggle, but you refuse to lose faith. Only God knows why one's curiosity would peak so greatly as to question the location of your God. A relationship with God is required for those who wish to understand his greatness. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, and omnipresent. Anything he desires is his. All that we see, know and experience has either been created by him or allowed to exist by his authority. God is not an instrument that can be utilized to gain power, money, authority, or fame. He doesn't sit as a statue - motionless and unable to speak. He is. He was. He will be. Those who trust God are protected and blessed.