Whenever I start lacing up my hiking boots and reaching for my day pack, our dog Mira gets an intense look. Her ears prick up and her eyes are full of “Go with?” Another Doberman owner referred to her pet as a Velcro dog. Mira is like that. When I go upstairs for prayer, Mira clomps up the stairs after me. If I tell Teckla I am taking her for a walk, she jumps up at the word “walk”. Her abundance of“Go with” delights me.
I suspect God would be delighted if I had more “Go with”. Regarding God I have a lot of “Come with.” I want God to come with me all the places I go and be in all the things I do. I’m nice that way; I always let God tag along.
Honestly, there is nothing wrong with having a lot of “Come with” toward God. When God told Moses He would not go up into Canaan with Israel because of their rebellion, Moses said, “If Thy presence does not go with us, do no lead us up from here.” God relented and agreed to go with them. We certainly want God to come with us to the places He sends us.
Sadly when the Israelites were at the edge of the Promised Land, they lacked the “Go with” needed to take the land. So we need both: God with us and us with God. I think, however, the more difficult part is us going with God.
“Go with” is hard because it requires we pay attention. Jesus explained this to his disciples, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” John 5:19. Later in the same chapter Jesus says, “I can do nothing on my own initiative” (v.30) Instead of just inviting God to bless what we are doing (which is okay), we should also be listening and seeking to discover what God is doing.
I want to be as attentive to God getting ready to go somewhere or do something, as Mira is to me when I am getting ready. I want more “Go with” in my heart so I can be where He is.
