Blog

The Individual Walk

Posted on 09.26.2012

Recently, it came to my attention how God, through His Word, speaks to us corporately and individually.  From a personal point of view, he says many things to us directly and personally.  As I have traveled this narrow road of following Christ, I have often thought of how in the end, I will stand all alone, before God and face Him.  There will be no one there to help me.  When He asks me why I did what I did and why I did not do what I was supposed to do, there will be no one around for me to blame, except me.  With all of this being said, God is personal and he speaks to us and encourages us as individuals.  This is an important aspect of our walk with Christ, as we individually must learn to be independent disciples as we depend on Him to function in this world.

This individual walk comes down to the fact that no matter how many friends we have coffee with or  how many Bible studies we attend or how many conferences we participate in to get closer to God, our walk depends on us.

I was out for a run the other morning.  This Bible verse came to me and became stuck in my head: “I can do everything through Him, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).  That means that whatever challenge I face, I can handle through Christ who gives me strength.  So, when I have temptation before me, I can resist it, because of Christ, who gives me strength.  That means that I cannot blame anyone if I yield to it.  The Bible says that we are drawn into sin by our own desires (James 1:13-15).  I cannot blame anyone but me.  Just think, there you are, all alone, giving into that gluttony—no one was around encouraging you to eat that quart of ice cream all by yourself!

Here is another scenario: You needed to finish an assignment that you had time to do, but you did not finish.  You were sidetracked by that reality show on television.  You turned the assignment in late.  You cannot blame anyone for the “C” you received.

You are trying to get healthier by exercising five times per week.  It is now the fifth day and you really do not want to get out of bed, but you say, “I can do all things through Him, who gives me strength.”  You get up every time because you know that no one can do this but you.  In three months, you have lost twelve pounds!  Yes!  You and God did that!  God gets the credit and you do also for allowing Christ to be in control and give you strength.

This is what this short treatise boils down to: Do what you know you are to do, knowing that your walk with God is personal and individual.  You cannot blame anyone for your failures.  People can encourage you until you are blue in the face but if you do not want to do something you will not. People can come alongside you to help, but they cannot do it for you.  It sounds too simplistic, right?  Basically, if you want to accomplish something, you can.  You are responsible for it.  Saying, “I can’t” is usually just a lame excuse.

Recently, I decided not to attend a popular Women’s Conference because I said to myself, “If I would just utilize the things I already have learned, I will be successful in every aspect of my life.”  I did not need another conference.  I just need to get going.

For, I know that everything that I am called to do, I can do it through Christ who strengthens me.