Walking with the God of Righteousness.

When we talk about the “God of righteousness,” we’re really talking about God as the source of everything that’s morally true and good. The Bible points to Jesus as the one who shows us what God’s righteousness looks like—and the one who makes it possible for us to share in it. Through faith in Him, Scripture says we’re “clothed in a robe of righteousness,” meaning God sees us as righteous because of what Jesus has done for us.

Now, when you hear the word righteous or righteousness, what pops into your mind? How would you describe it? It’s one of those words that’s surprisingly tricky to explain without circling back to the word itself. Even so, most of us feel like we know what it means.

Here’s how a couple of dictionaries define it:

·       Oxford Dictionary: morally right or justifiable; virtuous

·       Merriam-Webster (Biblical definition): acting in line with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin

One verse I return to again and again is Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” It’s a reminder to centre our lives on God—turning from sin, pursuing sincerity, practising kindness, and living with a genuine devotion to Him.

But righteousness isn’t just about being in right standing with God. It’s also about letting His love take deeper root in us. First John 2:5 talks about how God’s love is perfected within us, and it’s that growing, maturing love that leads us into the kind of closeness Jesus wants for us. When we genuinely seek Him, God meets that desire and gives us what we need to draw nearer to Him.

Recently, I’ve felt a bit unsettled and unsure of what to do next. When I asked my pastor to pray for me, she encouraged me to “sit in the presence of Jesus,” trusting that clarity would come simply from being with Him. This is something the Holy Spirit has been guiding me to do for some time now, but due to the busyness of life, I have been unable to.

Throughout my Christian journey, I have longed for that kind of closeness with Christ, and that desire only grew after reading The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. This 17th-century monk wrote so beautifully about cultivating a constant awareness of God’s presence. His reflections remind us that truly knowing and loving God comes from spending intentional, unhurried time with Him.

Jude 1:20 gives some practical guidance on how to live this out: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit…” It highlights just how important it is to stay connected to the Lord. Jude lays this out in two simple steps.

First, we build ourselves up in our faith by studying Scripture and actually putting it into practice. Staying grounded in the Bible helps us keep following Jesus closely.

Second, we pray in the Holy Spirit—meaning we pray with His guidance, aligning ourselves with God’s will, whether through Scripture or the Spirit’s gentle prompting on our hearts.

As we stay faithful to remain in God’s presence and keep Him before us, we naturally turn away from the things that offend Him. We begin to experience a kind of holy freedom—a more profound, stronger connection with His Spirit. The more time we spend with Him, the more familiar His voice becomes.

I’ve decided to give myself more fully to God, leaning on the Holy Spirit’s help, and to keep examining my heart so it stays clean before Him. Now, after prayer, I’m intentionally trying to linger—just sitting with Him instead of rushing on to the next thing.

If we were to make a list of our life priorities, what would be at the top? As Christians, we know God should come first. But the real question is: Is He actually first? Like Martha in the Gospels, we often get caught up in things that don’t really matter. Those distractions pull us around, shape our attitudes, and keep us busy with details that don’t last. In the noise, we miss the voice of the Lord. And honestly, nothing matters more than hearing Him speak.

Psalm 23:3 says, “…..He guides me along the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” One of the greatest blessings we can experience is belonging entirely to the Son of God. His guidance isn’t just about His glory—it’s also about restoring our souls. His heart is to draw us into closeness, into right living, and into a steady, daily walk with Him.

Above all, growing closer in intimacy with the God of righteousness remains one of His highest priorities for our lives. He created us in His image so we could walk with Him, know Him, and enjoy deep fellowship. As we all journey towards the end of this Gregorian year, we should resolve not to become complacent, for He stands at the door of our heart knocking, asking for more of our time. Will you open the door of your heart to Him?