It's time to get honest with yourself. Are you just going to pretend that you're walking with God, or are you really going to walk with Him? God has laid that choice squarely in your hands.

You might say, "Well, I was intending to get up this morning and pray," or "I don't know how I started going the wrong direction because I intended to do it God's way."

But God doesn't bless your good intentions. He blesses your obedience to what He tells you as you fellowship with Him in the Word and in prayer. It is only through close fellowship with God that you receive the answers you need from Him to grow up spiritually and walk in His covenant benefits.

You see, fellowship is a progressive process. It is difficult to fellowship with a baby, both in the natural and in the spiritual realm. That's why God wants us to grow up; He wants to fellowship with us on His higher level of thinking.

As Isaiah 55 says:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
(Isa. 55:9 KJV)

Do you know why our thoughts are not as high as God's thoughts? Because we don't spend enough time with Him to get to know Him!

The Bible says that in the last days, "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32 KJV).

Notice that those who are strong and do exploits for God are not those who can quote scriptures, but those who have grown up enough spiritually to know their God.

Source: Renewed in His Presence by Lynne Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers