Even as a man of God, you might not be familiar with Enoch. His name appears and disappears quickly in a Genesis genealogy of Adam’s descendants. But one thing we do know is amazing—he chose to walk with God in a way that was both intentional and extraordinary. 

Enoch embraced the importance of walking with God, living a life of faith daily. In fact, most scholars agree that he walked so closely with God that one day he simply walked into God’s presence: “Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

For Enoch, following God’s path meant being one of only two men in the Bible (along with Elijah, 2 Kings 2:11) to escape physical death. And while that’s the exception rather than the rule, it makes sense for us to consider what walking with God means today.

“Walking” in the Bible

When it comes to connecting with God and deepening one’s relationship with Jesus, the Bible is filled with walking images. It serves as one of the most common metaphors for our spiritual lives in Scripture. 

For example, even before Enoch walked into heaven, Adam and Eve experienced the presence of God in the garden of Eden. Genesis 3:8 says that they heard God walking in the garden, and some scholars believe that walks with God were a regular habit for the first humans. But regardless of what form this fellowship took, it set the stage for God’s ongoing desire to “walk” with people across the ages. 

In the Old Testament, we’re told that those who avoid walking like the wicked are blessed (Psalm 1:1) and that God expects His people to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). In the New Testament, Paul challenged his readers in Ephesus to walk “worthy” of their spiritual calling (Ephesians 4:1) and to walk wisely “because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). John later encouraged his friends to “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7) and to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6).

The comparison of walking and living a life of faith daily makes sense. Walking implies progress toward a destination, which also characterizes a consistent relationship with God. Walking often suggests fellowship with someone, which, again, fits who we are as believers learning to put our faith in God. And walking is not a sprint. Likewise, deepening our relationship with Christ happens over months and years, not seconds or minutes.

Strengthening your walk

In a sense, we know when a person is walking with God. Despite humanity’s incredible ability to deceive ourselves, the quality of our spiritual walk—our connection with God—reveals itself over time. After all, the apostle Paul highlighted several indicators of a healthy walk with God, indicators that include speaking to others well, dealing with anger, loving people, working hard, protecting integrity, and forgiving like Jesus (Ephesians 4:27-32). He also gave us the fruit of the Spirit to measure how well we’re following God’s path for our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

But knowing what it looks like and knowing how to get there are two different things. To really learn what it means to walk with God and to live a life of faith daily, we’ve got to dig a little deeper. Below are five keys for walking with God in a way that faces challenges head on and makes a difference in the world for His glory.

Start with a personal relationship

You cannot walk with God unless you accept His offer of salvation through Jesus. You can’t deepen your relationship with Christ if no relationship with Him exists. Without accepting the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross as the penalty for your sin, you will never move forward with God. If you’ve made that commitment already, that’s awesome. If not, speak with a friend, family member, or minister you trust about taking this first step in the most important journey of your life.

Die to yourself each day

Along with walking, another common biblical metaphor is dying. In particular, Christ followers are called to die to their own desires and passions. Paul even compared it to being crucified—executed—each day (Galatians 2:20). The idea is to surrender everything we are and everything we have to Jesus on a daily basis. This allows us to put God first in our lives, while also focusing on others more than on ourselves. It’s not easy, but it’s a necessary part of following God’s path for our lives.

Spend time with Him

When my wife and I were dating, she lived in one state and I lived in another. When we got together, we took walks to reconnect. Those personal moments gave us a chance to talk about where we’d been, where we were in the moment, and what we hoped for the future. As believers, the best ways to spend time with God—to walk with Him—come through prayer and Bible study. You talk to Him, and He talks to you. If walking with God is all about building a relationship with Him, this is how the relationship grows.

Guard your heart and mind

The world is filled with distractions that will derail your walk with God. For every step you take toward deepening your relationship with Jesus, you’ll be tempted to stray off the path. That’s why the writer of Proverbs warned his readers to “guard your heart above all else” (Proverbs 4:23) and Paul told the Christians in Rome to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). You can’t just wander into a healthy walk with God. You’ve got to be vigilant and careful about the voices you hear and the steps you take.

Learn to trust God

Think about your drive home each day. You probably could choose any number of roads to get from the office back to your house, but time and experience have taught you which route is the best. The same is true with following God’s path. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. He knows the best way to move you from where you are to where you need to be. So, you’ve got to trust Him—especially when it doesn’t make sense. The writer of Proverbs said that if we trust the Lord instead of trusting ourselves, He “will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). In other words, following God’s path is the fastest route to becoming the best version of ourselves.

Walk with the right people

Whether we like to admit it or not, we’re influenced by the people around us. As Paul told the Corinthians, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). But the influence doesn’t have to be negative. Proverbs 13:20 flips the coin by highlighting the positive impact of others in living a life of faith daily: “The one who walks with the wise will become wise.”

Surrounding yourself with the right people can be a gamechanger when it comes to walking with God. The support and accountability offered by wise mentors can keep you on the right path and challenge you to put one foot in front of the other each day. The Christian life is a team sport, so build a quality team around you.