How to Get Closer To God
Are you wondering what are some steps to take to get closer to God?
God is not hiding! He is right there waiting for you with open arms. He loves you. He sees you. And He wants a deep relationship with you!
That’s what God is all about. It’s about a relationship with Him!
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
So I encourage you today to seek Him, and God will show you how to get closer to Him!
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Ways to Have a Deeper Relationship with God
1. How to get closer to God starts with a step of faith: Come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
If you want to know the only way to start getting closer to God, and to continue to get closer to God, this is it. You have to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
In John 14:6, it says, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.“
Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is the only way to get closer to God, because He is God!
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
When we confess that we are sinners, believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again 3 days later, and commit our lives solely to Him, this is when we are saved, and come to know God.
This is the first step you have to take to get closer to God!
When we come to know Jesus, we are a new creation. So many things change when we come to know Him, and that is one way we truly know God is living and is truly working in our lives.
When we come to know Jesus, our convictions change, our perspectives change, and the way we live changes. Everything changes! That is the power of Jesus.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!“
Becoming a child of God is how to get closer to God!
“And this is the way to have eternal life- to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” – John 17:3
2. Prayer
If you are wondering how to get closer to God, prayer is a vital part of our relationship with him.
Prayer is our way of communicating and building our relationship with Him.
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:6
Find a spot, and time where you can dedicate one on one time with God with no distractions.
Pray for areas in your life you are anxious about, frustrated about, thankful about, or absolutely anything that God lays on your heart! He wants to hear from you, and trust me, you want to hear from Him.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6
Tools I use for Prayer:
- The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
- The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
- The Power of a Praying Mom by Stormie Omartian
I love these books so much!
3. Keep a prayer journal.
Keeping a prayer journal is so good if you are wondering how to get closer to God!
Write down your prayers, and see how God answers your prayers. This is such a great way to see God’s faithfulness, and how he works things out.
I have my prayer journal from over 8 years ago, and looking back through it, it is amazing to see how God orchestrated so many events in my life such as going to college, meeting my husband, and having our sweet baby girl, Collins!
My prayer journal has helped me reminisce on God’s faithfulness, and knowing that he really does work everything out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
My favorite prayer journals:
- Blank prayer journal
- Coffee and Bible Time Prayer Journal (This one is gorgeous. I love it so much!)
- Prayer Journal for Women
Related: Prayer Journal Ideas
4. Read your Bible.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This right here is how you come to know the heart of our Heavenly Father, and how to get closer to Him.
The Bible is alive and active! In Hebrews 4:12, it says, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.“
It shapes our character and helps us know what is of God, and what is not.
When we know what pleases the Lord, and how to live a life righteous in His eyes, this makes us so much closer to God. Since His Word is alive and active, it works in our hearts, and our lives, and shows us who He is.
Bible Study Tools I Love:
- Seamless by Angie Smith
- Finding I am by Lysa TerKeurst
- Bible Tabs
- Bible Highlighters
Related: How to Have Quiet Time with Godd meditating on scripture.
All throughout the day it is so important to memorize and meditate on scripture!
Since we know that God’s word is the heart of God, and is a great tool to use to get closer to God, it is vital that we hide his word in our hearts (Psalm119:11) and apply it to our lives daily.
I know that if I wake up meditating on God’s word, that I am more likely to seek God and his guidance all throughout the day, in turn making me closer to Him.
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” – Joshua 1:8
Using morning journal prompts, and a prayer journal help so much with this!
I also love these bible verse/prayer cards!
Related: Morning Verses to Start the Day
6. Wake up seeking God.
I love waking up and spending time with God. Now hear me out. I know morning are crazy!
Trust me I’m a wife and a mom. There’s so much to do in the mornings it is insane!
Seeking God in the mornings does not have to be hours and hours long.
When you wake up simply pray and invite God into your day, and rehearse your verse for the day in your head!
This is seeking God, and setting Him and His word before anyone or anything else!
Of course if you have more time, quiet time with God is a great way to spend your morning.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:33
7. Seek God throughout your day.
“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.“– 1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek and search for God all throughout your day. Meditating on scripture is such a great way to do this. Have a verse a day, or a verse a week, and all throughout the day pray through it, and really apply it to your day!
When you’re wondering how to get closer to God, this is a great way to continually put him in the front of your mind all day.
Great ways for seeking, and getting closer to God throughout the day is listening to podcasts, reading books focused on Him, or listening to praise and worship music!
8. Guard your heart.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” – Proverbs 4:23
When you come to know Jesus, the way you live your life completely changes.
You don’t do the things that were not pleasing to God like you used to, you don’t go the place you went, or hang out with those that you hung out with because it only brings temptations.
Now of course you want those people to know Jesus, but if there is any way you may fall back into those same temptations, don’t do it!
You have to guard your heart.
This is so important and keeps you from straying back into your old ways.
Don’t give the devil a foothold into your life because his only goal is to lead you away from God.
9. Praise Him.
There are so many ways to praise God! One way that I absolutely love to do this, and how I get closer to God is by singing praise to Him.
Turning on worship music and filling my home, my car, or wherever I am with praise adjusts my outlook onto heavenly things.
“Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!“-Psalm 147:1
I love praying verses about praise as well!
“O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.” – Isaiah 25:1
Praising God, no matter the circumstance shifts our gaze onto Him. It is powerful and definitely brings to closer to God!
10. Having Community.
Another thing you have to consider when you are wondering how to get closer to God, is who are you hanging around?
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” – Proverbs 13:20
Godly friends and influences are so important in our walk with God.
We need community, encouragement and relationships that are rooted in Christ to help us become closer to God.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Who we hang around can absolutely impact our relationship and closeness with God! I can testify to that!
Pray for godly friends and influences in your life! A great way to have community is to find a church. We have met some of our closest friends there!
11.Knowing He is good when situations feel like they are not.
When you are in question about how to get closer to God through hard times, this is a place that you have to dig deep and meet with Him and study His word.
There will be times where you feel God’s presence closer than other times. He is still closer than the very breath you breath, and will never leave you.
Some seasons in life are just harder than others. During these time you have to cling to verses, and the character of God.
We have faith in Jesus, and faith is not always about feelings. So even when you don’t necessarily feel Him close, you have to know he is close.
12. Getting closer to God means putting God first.
Putting God first is a choice every single day. Doing some of the things we talked about above will definitely help you!
Prioritizing time with Him through prayer, reading the Bible, and submitting every area of your life to Him is the best way to put God first!
This is definitely something I have tried to work on to get closer to God!
In Deuteronomy 6:5 it says, “ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.“
You must choose to put God first every single day. Put God first in your day, in your family, in your friends. In everything put Him first.
Seek Him first in all things. Ask for His guidance and wisdom while listening closely to Him, and you will definitely get closer to God.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
13. Help others come closer to God.
God himself draws people to Him, but we get to be a part of that!
I know many people who have come to know God, but they will tell you that before they knew God, if someone had walked up and shared the gospel with them, they would have laughed and said “Whatever, you’ve lost your mind.”
Now of course sharing the gospel with people, even if it is with a stranger, is what we are called to do.
It’s a great way to plant a seed, or possibly see God change someone’s heart right then and there!
But what really helped bring those certain people to God was someone having a relationship with that person.
A simple invite to come to church, or a bible study, or just go get coffee with them to strengthen that relationship was huge.
As children of God, we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
When you help lead someone on how to get closer to God, not only does it save their life, but it increases your faith when you see someone’s heart and life change because of Jesus.
Conclusions About Getting Closer To God
As you can see, there are many ways to get closer to God after accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
He is faithful and loves you so much! Make today the day you dive into a deeper relationship with Him!
Related to How to Get Closer to God:
Morning Verses to Start the Day