This is one of the lessons I gave at the 40 Hours With Jesus:

Do you like to walk? When given the option, would you walk or drive to your destination? What if someone made you walk? how would you respond?

Jesus walked almost everywhere, unless He was in a boat or on a donkey. I have been paying more attention to the effect of walking on my spirit and have found that walking:

– relaxes me because I have to slow down my pace of living, and my mind settles down to match my speed. When my mind settles, the stress leaves.

– Prompts me to communicate with whoever is with me. Sometimes it is a friend; sometimes it is my mom or dad; sometimes it is Mochi. If I am alone, or it’s just Mochi and me, I communicate with Jesus.

– draws praise from my soul. I start to rejoice as I feel free from stress, appreciate my surroundings, and build relationships. Who cannot praise, as they smell the fragrant flowers in passing, view the ocean in front and the mountains behind, or wave at friendly passers-by?

But Jesus teaches us even more if we take the time to walk with Him on the path of life. It starts with being led. Jesus followed the Holy Spirit even though it led Him to a dificult place, a time of extreme temptation. (Matthew 4:1)  Yet it was in that time of testing that Jesus proved His identity, through the power of God. And us? What is our identity?

As we follow Jesus we encounter others and learn how to serve. Jesus met people with eyes of love and compassion. he called them to Himself, healed them, and taught them about salvation. The key to Kingdom encounters is in the words, “Come, Follow Me.” We must follow Jesus with hearts wanting to meet and serve others. (Matthew 4:18-23) What about us? Are we willing to care about others? Even the unloveable ones?

Walking with Jesus reveals His heart to us. As Jesus travelled through Israel He saw the helpless masses and had compassion on them. He ministered to them and offered His life as a sacrifice for them. the heart of Jesus is for rescuing the lost and He wants that to be our heart as well. How do you show the heart of Jesus the hurting world? (Matthew 9:35-38)

The Garden of Eden is an example of the fellowship God wants to have with us. And what do Genesis 3:8-9 say? “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…then the Lord God called the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ God enjoyed daily fellowship with His beloved creation. When humans chose to sin, they severed the relationship they had with God and when He came to meet with them, He encountered shame and brokenness. But God has not stopped reaching out. We have a chance to establish our own personal relationship with Him. Let’s walk with Jesus faithfully so that He never has to call out to us, “Where are you?”