Note, this article is part of a topical study series.

Evaluating our walk via "the wheel"

This illustration of "the wheel" by the late Dawson Trotman, founder of the Navigators, is a very effective tool for evaluating our walk with the Lord. Dawson saw that the Christian life was much like a wheel with Christ at the center and the pavement is life. Christ is the center of our life and gives us the power to live the Christian life. Without Jesus at the center, we cannot live the Christian life. The spokes represent what we are to do as Christians: the word, prayer, fellowship, and witnessing. Obedience is the tire and is "where the rubber hits the road (life)". When we are doing all that Jesus has asked us to do, our wheel rolls smoothly. However, when one of our spokes is short, the wheel becomes out of balance. From time to time, we need to evaluate our walk as Christians. The wheel is an effective means of evaluating how we are walking.

Christ the center. At the center of our life should be Jesus Christ. Without a hub, the wheel cannot move. Likewise, without Jesus Christ, we cannot live the Christian life:
I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:5
Because we can do nothing without Christ, He should be our primary focus. Out of all the things that King David did, he saw one thing to be the most important:
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:4
Just as the wheel must receive power from the shaft, we can only receive power from Jesus Christ. It is only in putting Christ first in our life, that we will be able to do anything spiritual. We need to commune with God at the mercy seat:
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 25:22
We need to come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) to obtain the power to live the Christian life. Are we communing with God on a daily basis?
  1. The Word. Are we digesting God's word? This spoke is composed of five different categories:

    1. Hearing. Are we hearing the word?
    2. Reading. Are we reading the word?
    3. Meditating. Are we meditating on the word?
    4. Memorize. Are we memorizing the word?
    5. Meditating. Are we meditating on the word?

  2. Prayer. Are we praying as we ought? The Bible talks about at least 3 modes of praying, and 4 different types of prayers.

    The 3 modes of praying are:

    • Pray without ceasing. Am I consciously always praying to the Lord?
      Pray without ceasing.
      1 Thessalonians 5:17
    • Prayers in presence of others. For example, before we eath\, safety before traveling, etc.
      And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
      Acts 27:35
    • Watching or a season of prayer.
      And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
      Matthew 26:40
    The five different types of prayer are:
    1. Adoration (Psalm 146.1-2)
    2. Confession (1 John 1:9)
    3. Thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20)
    4. Supplications:
      • Intercessory (1 Timothy 2:1, Ephesians 6:18)
      • Petitions (1 Samuel 1:27)
      • Personal (Matthew 7:7)

  3. Fellowship. True fellowship is based on declaring to one another what we ourselves have seen and heard concerning God and His word. Are we sharing those spiritual things that God has shown us to other believers?
    That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
    1 John 1:3
  4. Witnessing. Are we witnessing to the world of our Saviour?
    But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
    Acts 1:8
  5. Obedience. This is where the rubber meets the road. Are we being obedient to the word of God?
    If ye love me, keep my commandments.
     John 14:15
    What is God asking us to do right now?
Know the Truth