5 Ways To Grow Closer To God

Are you searching for ways to grow closer to God? Do you sometimes feel like He’s too far away to be near? Maybe you’ve walked away in the past and miss the intimacy you once had with the Father.

Well, the good news is that there are ways to nurture that closeness and strengthen your relationship with Him. You can take steps to bridge the gap and experience a deeper connection with God.

In this article, we’ll explore five ways to grow closer to our Heavenly Father, reigniting the intimacy and joy that comes from walking closely with Him.

When I find myself in this position, my mind knows that God is still there; my heart still believes in His promises, and I am conscious of the Holy Spirit still working in my life. But I begin to miss the intimate relationship with the Father: the familiarity, the awe, the peace.

What Does it Mean to Have a Personal Relationship With God?

A personal relationship with God means that you connect with Him not based on what you do for Him but rather on who He is and His sacrifice for you. 

It is an intimate connection in which we commune with Him—talk to Him, listen for His voice, and spend time getting to know Him.

This relationship is built on trust and faith. 

• Trusting that God has all things under His control.
• Faith knowing His promises are true and that He will never leave you or forsake you.

Do you want a personal relationship with God? It’s obtainable for everyone through His Son, Jesus.

RELATED: True Liberty Is Found In Christ

5 Ways to Grow Closer to God

To grow closer to God, we need to be intentional about it. It’s not something that just happens on its own. We have to make a conscious effort to connect with Him in different ways. 

1. Growing Closer through Prayer

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools for growing closer to God. By taking the time to communicate with Him through our thoughts and words, we can build a deeper relationship with Him. 

Whether you choose to pray alone or in a group setting, this practice can help you feel closer to God and better equipped to handle life’s challenges. 

2. Growing Closer through Meditation

Another powerful tool for growing closer to God is meditation. This practice involves quieting the mind and clearing out distractions, and concentrating on God’s promises and miraculous works we find in His Word.

Meditation can be something we choose to do for a few minutes or spend hours on.

For example, if you are confronted with a situation that brings you stress (or some other undesirable emotion), then recite Scripture, or hum a spiritual song; anything that will take your mind off the situation and put your eyes back on Jesus.

A longer meditation time could be sitting in the quietness of the front porch, in a park, or even in a car where you are alone. Many times, I’ve started on a long drive and kept my focus on God and His glorious works and kindness towards me.

The Psalmist, David, rejoiced in the time he had to meditate on God’s Word.

His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

3. Growing Closer while Spending Time Enjoying Nature

One powerful way to get closer to God is by spending time in nature. I’m convinced this is why David (the Psalmist) had such a close, intimate relationship with God. 

Before he was anointed king, he spent his younger years caring for the sheep in the pasture. Daily he saw God’s hand in creation, experienced God’s protection through dangerous situations, and enjoyed God’s provision while caring for the animals.

But you don’t have to be a shepherd or a farmer to enjoy the outdoors. Through different outdoor activities, we can connect with the Creator on a deeper level.

• hiking
• biking
• camping
• a nature walk in your backyard

Simply being outdoors and taking in the beauty of the natural world allows us to connect with God. We can grow our relationship through quiet reflection while sitting under a tree or communing with the animals and plants in our surroundings; spending time in nature can help us feel more connected to God. 

4. Growing Closer through Being in a Community

Another great way to get closer to God is attending church or other Christian activities. This is a good way to learn more about your faith and connect with other like-minded individuals.

Additionally, church services can provide a sense of community and support, which can help maintain your relationship with God.

Being around other believers allows us to share our cares, concerns, and praises while also learning to share their happiness and heartaches. 

The Bible tells us that iron sharpens iron, which means we sharpen each other. As we Christians hear their personal stories of slaying giants or their struggles with defeat, it causes us to be more Christ-like in caring, which naturally pulls us closer to the Father. Through community, we care for others, and they care for us.

An object lesson uses coal as an example of our relationship with church folk. When coal is lumped together and doused with lighter fluid and lit with a match, it burns hot! But if you take one of those pieces of coal away from the group, the single piece will eventually go out. It won’t burn out; it will cease to burn at all.

That’s the way of a Christian; our light begins to diminish when we spend time away from God and His people.

We need each other as church families. Paul encouraged it in the early churches.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 20:24-25

5. Growing Closer through Bible Study

Do you know everything about God? Do you want to know more about God? The only way to do that is to spend time in His Word. The Bible is called God’s love letter to humankind. It’s also called “His” story–making a play of Bible history being Jesus’ story.

Do you want to know about life? Read the Bible.

Find out what God’s will is for your life? Read the Bible.

Need help with your kids? Read the Bible.

Do any single ladies need help working through stuff, married ladies need advice or boss ladies, do you want to know how to be a good leader? You got it; Read the Bible.

It’s all there. All you have to do is search it out. Uncover the secrets God has for those who take the time to study.

Bible Verses About Growing Closer to God

When it comes to getting closer to God, nothing beats diving into Scripture. The Bible is like our ultimate guidebook, packed with wisdom, guidance, and words of encouragement for our faith journey.

These verses show us what God says about growing closer to Him.

• You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’ (Psalm 27:8)
• As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1)
• O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
• But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Psalm 73:28 ESV)
• The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18 ESV)
• Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 ESV)
• You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
• But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
• Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. (Hebrews 10:22 ESV)
• Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8 ESV)

How Can I Rebuild My Relationship With God

Do you struggle with the guilt of turning away from God and going back to your old way of life? Maybe you don’t fully go back, but just enough to make you feel guilty when you read about others serving God.

If your relationship needs to be rebuilt, could I make a few suggestions?

1. Make sure you had a true relationship with God in the first place. Maybe you think you received the gift of salvation, but you’re just not sure. Take time out and pray about that or talk to someone about it. God is not trying to trick anyone; God wants you if you desire to be a follower of Christ. Secure that doubt first.
2. If you know you are a Christian and you’re sure there was a certain point when you received the gift of reconciliation with the Creator, rebuilding the relationship isn’t too hard. God is never far off, and He desires intimacy with us. Stop for a moment, ask Him to forgive you of whatever is standing in the way of growing closer, and begin practicing some of the things mentioned above.
3. Perhaps you struggle believing that you are important enough to be super close to the heavenly Father. No matter how you see yourself, God sees you as precious. He formed you in your mother’s womb, and He allowed Jesus to take your sins upon Himself so that He could adopt you! You are loved and wanted.

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Relationships aren’t easy. If you desire to grow closer to the Father, you have to commit to doing so. Be intentional about it. It’s not something that just happens on its own, it’s a relationship that takes time and effort to grow.

Work at it. Practice it. Enjoy it!

God bless.

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