Walking and Standing
Musings from the Garden
By Peggy Wyar
Before we move on to walking with Jesus, I wanted to remind you that sitting in Christ is of utmost importance (according to the book, Sit, Walk, Stand, by Watchmen Nee). That is our position as a believer, to be in Him. I think Jesus tells us something of our need for sitting and resting in Him in this passage:
Mark 2:27-28 “Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
God knew we needed the Sabbath, so He gave it to us. He knows what we need. God knows how He designed us and what best serves the design. I believe He knows we have a continual need to return to Sabbath in our hearts - that place of sitting with God, listening to His voice, being reminded of all He says about us, being immersed in His grace - so we can walk in a manner worthy of Him. It takes effort to be still and know that He is God, and Lord of our Sabbath. Being busy does not equal holiness. Being in Jesus does.
Just as an infant learns to sit up and then walk, let’s become more child-like and take the time to sit (check out my last blog) and then to walk (sitting with Jesus and walking with the Holy Spirit). There is great blessing for those who take time to rest and reset their hearts and minds in His Presence. Being obedient to the Lord of our lives necessitates not just walking and doing what He has directed us to do, but also sitting in Him.
In looking at Ephesians 3:16-19 AMP
“May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]”
We learn that we are empowered to obey by knowing the depth of God’s love for us. As we gain confident trust in the One who loves us so completely, we more readily respond in obedience to the Spirit’s prompting. Ephesians 4:1-2 AMP gives this appeal:
“So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.”
The lives of believers are meant to reflect the One they follow. Just as Jesus did what He saw the Father doing, our manner of walking should reflect God in us. Ephesians chapters four and five describe the ways we walk that shows the glory of God. It includes these and more….
Speak truth…share with others…encourage…be kind and compassionate…forgive others…love others…love spouses…obey parents…put off old self and its practices…put on new self
We are unable to live this kind of genuine life apart from the Holy Spirit within us. Romans chapter eight encourages us to walk by the Spirit and we will not gratify the desires of our old nature. How we live our lives flow from the knowledge of where we are seated and how much we are loved.
Once toddlers sit up, and then walk, they gain enough muscle control to actually stand still without being unsteady. Standing is what we are encouraged to do in the last part of chapter six in Ephesians. We are told to stand our ground, stand against the schemes of the evil one, and to stand firm with the full armor in place.
Standing when an outside force is trying to knock you down is not an easy task, especially if you’re not convinced that you are capable to withstand the pressure. Only by sitting first, knowing our position and identity in Christ, do we have the ability to stand firm. It requires faith to believe the One who tells us to stand. Apart from Him, we would be moved so easily, but He is the Rock who cannot be moved. As we practice walking and imitating Jesus, our faith muscles are strengthened so that standing against the devil’s schemes is possible.
As we consider the truths presented in Ephesians about sitting, walking and standing, I believe Psalm 1:1-3AMP shows us the counterfeit Satan uses to disrupt us.
“Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season;
Its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].”
Our enemy wants us sitting with the ridiculers who scoff at everything they disagree with. He entices us to walk in the wisdom and counsel of ungodly people. He rejoices when we stand in the way of the sinners around us (enjoying what they enjoy), knowing the constant temptations could be what trips us up. But when we choose to delight in God’s Word, we bear fruit and prosper in whatever season we are experiencing.
Let’s be the people of God who love His Word and choose to sit in Him, walk with His Spirit and stand firm on the Rock of our salvation.