To Walk with the Lord – January 28, 2001
Sometimes a feeling of peace can wash over us like an unexpected wave, and catch us by surprise. Without even expecting it, we suddenly feel filled with joy and warmth. These peak moments of contentment come when we’ve taken steps to remove the barriers between us and the Lord, and we sense His presence near us.
Apologizing for a hasty word, or expressing love to another, will often bring such feelings. Giving service when it’s least convenient fills us not with resentment, but with unanticipated bliss. Showing patience and forgiveness to those who would make our lives difficult, somehow elevates us from the fray, and we find tranquility.
It’s as if we step onto higher ground, and for a moment feel what’s described in scripture as oneness with the Lord.1 Our entire being brightens, and we seem to glimpse a bit of heaven.
This is what it means to walk with the Lord:2 to feel His nearness, to act as He would act. How near He must be to us if such small acts of kindness can bring such tangible feelings of closeness.
Is it possible to feel a companionship with God all the time, and rise above common mortal responses? God assures us that it is. Perhaps the first step is to reach for that feeling just once every day, seeking opportunities to show greater love and compassion to those around us.
Program #3728
1. See John 17:21-24.
2. See Ephesians 5:8.