Walk to Please God (1 Thess. 4:1-2)

Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, NASB)

We Christians often use the phrase, “Walking with the Lord.” Paul used it as well. He also described our lives as Christ-followers as a race, more like a marathon (1 Cor. 9:24, 26). I like to call it a journey—running just isn’t my thing.

No matter what you call your particular faith journey, how should you behave? What should all of us do to move forward rather than backward—or not move at all?

One of my favorite talks I give is “Refresh Your Faith.” I talk a lot about what we can do to keep our faith fresh and vibrant. I emphasize how important it is to keep God—Father, Son, and Spirit—first and foremost in our minds and hearts. And to do that, we can and should do several things:

Take time for personal Bible study and prayer. I believe this is the most important of all. When we spend quiet time alone with God’s word, we learn more about Him and His will for our lives. And when we pray, we draw closer to His throne.

Spend time in solitude listening to His voice. It’s one thing to talk to God. It’s another to listen to Him. When you quietly sit in His presence, focusing completely on Him, He’ll often speak to your heart.

Take times of retreat. Whether this is a weekend with the women or men from your church, or a few hours of personal retreat, it’s important to regularly get away from the “stuff” of the world to fully focus on God.

Spend time with others of faith. As often as possible, get involved with a group Bible study. The Holy Spirit reveals truth to each of us differently, and it’s inspiring to hear what has touched others’ hearts.

Memorize scriptures. Knowing God’s word by heart helps in so many ways. It offers encouragement when you face difficulties. It helps to combat the lies of the enemy. Jesus Himself used scripture to counter the enemy (Luke 4:1-13). Should we do any less?

These are just a few of the things we can do to keep our focus on God … and that’s what we need to do to win the race or arrive at our destination: eternity with Him.