I wrote a post over a year ago while I was in the US about being independent; you can read it here. The general idea behind what I wrote was that I needed to be okay with asking for help from those around me. This remains and stands true, but God has recently taken me one step further than that even.
In my walk with Jesus and growing to know Him more, I have come to the realization that I need to not only avoid being independent of those around me, but I need to stay very close to Jesus from one day to the next. As it says in the Psalms…
He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [He is] my defense; I shall not be moved. In God [is] my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, [And] my refuge, [is] in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God [is] a refuge for us. Selah
Psalms 62:6-8 NKJV
…I need to be trusting in God always. Whenever temptation or my human frailty creeps up on me, I need to run back to Jesus.
Another verse that we are rather familiar with…
Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1Thessalonians 5:17-18 NKJV
…is also an encouragement as it outlines exactly what I have found to be necessary in my life. Without going to Jesus on an almost hourly basis I have no strength to live a life that pleases Him.
As part of the Discipleship Program we’ve been reading The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Laurence. This book has been a great encouragement to me in my learning to walk closely to Jesus. Brother Laurence describes what it looked like for him to walk with Jesus; doing every act solely out of a deep, heartfelt love for God.
He also describes his challenges in this growth. I can see myself, toddling along, beside the great strides that he was taking. Of course, he had decades of experience and practice; just as in everything else, practice makes perfect.
This is my desire; to walk with Jesus daily, hourly, and minutely. If I’m not there yet (I’m not), I will keep going forward and growing as I walk. Maybe by the time I become a senior citizen I will have steps to match Brother Laurence.