Who is God to you? Is he some illusive being out in the universe or is he a personal God who knows your name?
I’ve been thinking recently about the names of God: Jehovah, All Mighty, Ancient of Days, I AM that I AM, LORD, Lord God, Most High, Lord of Hosts, Everlasting God, and there are more. These names reveal His character; righteous, all powerful, all knowing, ever present, love, holy, creator, healer, just, merciful, truth, forgiving, compassionate, sufficient, faithful, judge of sin, and He never changes.
God is our shield, our rock, our hiding place, our fortress, our peace, our strength, our sure foundation, our shepherd. He can be trusted. He loves and provides a way of salvation through His son, Jesus Christ.
God hears our prayers, cares about our needs, grieves when we hurt, heals our wounds, forgives our sins, and when invited, lives within us. God desires a personal relationship with us. One of the most precious things that God does is walk beside us. You may say, “He does what?”
Visualize for a moment a father walking up a mountain trail with his young son walking beside him. When the journey gets rough, the father reaches out and takes the child’s hand to provide comfort, strength and safety. When the child says he is too weary and exhausted to go any more, the father picks him up and carries him on his shoulder.
When God walks beside us, it is an intimate relationship. He is a father who loves and cares deeply. He is close at hand, experiencing the journey with us just as the earthly father cares for his child.
This my friends, is my ever-present, Father God, who walks with me.
A few verses about God walking with us.
- Deuteronomy 1:31 Moses is reminding the children of Israel how God cared for them as they wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt… “…you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.”
- Psalms 23:4 “when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me. Your rod and staff they comfort me.” This is a picture of God as a shepherd walking with his sheep in a very difficult place.
- Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will hold you up with my righteous right hand.”
- Isaiah 42:6 “I the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand…”
- Isaiah 43:2 “I have called you by your name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…..when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned….”