“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” — James 4:8 (NIV)
The God of the universe wants to come near to us. The God who created the heavens and the earth, who moves mountains and splits seas, desires to be with us. Beautiful, isn’t it? Growing closer to God is the most beautiful and incredible thing a Christian can ever experience.
It’s a closeness that brings peace and joy no matter what life throws our way. If you want to grow closer to him, there are many ways to do so. And just like James 4:8 says, as you come closer, God will meet you.
What’s Here:
- Dedicate Time to Him
- Pray
- Read the Word
- Study the Word
- Spend Time in Worship
- Attend Church
- Serve Those in Need
- Say “Thank You”
- Seek the Fruit of the Spirit
- Journal His Faithfulness
How to Get Closer to God: 10 Next Steps to Take
1. Dedicate Time to Him
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Life is busy, isn’t it? There’s so much to do every single day, from work to grocery runs. But to truly grow closer to God, we have to put him first. We must prioritize him.
Sometimes, this means making a conscious effort to do just that. For example:
- Block 20-30 minutes in the morning or afternoon for prayer, reading your Bible or simply engaging in worship.
- Schedule reminders on your phone throughout the day. When the reminder pops up, take a moment to pray or read Scripture.
- Write Bible verses on sticky notes and place them around your home or office. Pause and meditate on them for a moment when you see them.
- Subscribe to a Verse of the Day service, like this one by The Bible App, which will send you Scripture every day. When you get the notification, pause to read the verse and pray.
As you make time for God, you just might find that everything else on your plate falls into place.
2. Pray
Think about your best friend. Maybe you’re instantly reminded of an inside joke or a special celebration you’ve enjoyed with one another. The moments you share together are priceless and the building blocks of your friendship. And the moments you spend talking to and enjoying time with God are just the same.
Talking to God by praying to him helps you build a relationship with him. Just like your best friend, you can tell him anything — he’s always there to listen.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. — Jeremiah 29:12, NIV
Not sure how to pray? Don’t worry — just keep it simple! You don’t have to use pretty words. You don’t even have to be “good” at prayer. All God wants is to hear from you. Talk to him just like you would a good friend.
Here are some “conversation starters” that might inspire you:
- “God, thank you.” Tell him what you’re thankful for.
- “God, I need help.” Tell him what you’re going through and ask him for his help.
- “God, that hurt.” Tell him about that situation that hurt you.
- “God, forgive me.” Ask him to forgive your sins.
3. Read the Word
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV
Getting closer to God means getting to know him. It means getting to know God’s character and his desires for those who follow him. And reading his Word, the Bible, will help you do just that.
The Bible is full of true stories that show us who God is. For example, for the Israelites in the desolate desert in the Old Testament, he was Provider. And at the birth of Jesus in the New Testament, he was Immanuel, “God with us.”
As you read, you’ll learn he’s all these things (and more) for you too. Not sure where to start in the Bible? Try this:
- Read the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell the story of Jesus.
- Read Genesis: This book teaches us about the beginning of the world, the fall of man and our need for a Savior.
- Read Psalms: The songs found in this book reveal the nature of God and our response to him.
The Bible should also be your source of truth when you’re in need of it most. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety or looking for guidance, the Word is there to lead you back to God.
- Bible Verses for Anxiety and Depression
- Bible Verses for Parents
- Bible Verses About Hope in Hard Times
- Bible Verses About Love
- Bible Verses About Grace
4. Study the Word
Did you know that God’s Word is living? In fact, Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) says, “For the word of God is alive and active.” That’s a metaphor referring to the fact that it’s powerful and deep, changing us as we read it.
Each time you dive into the Bible, you’re destined to learn something new. And by going beyond reading and into studying, you’ll learn so much more than you ever thought possible.
There are many ways to study the Bible. But to get you started, here are a few simple steps you can take during your quiet time:
- Pick a verse and map it: Find a verse you want to learn more about. Write it down and then look up the biblical definition of each word. You can do this using a concordance. Mapping a verse this way helps you understand the true meaning behind it, bringing it to life.
- Try S.O.A.P: This stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Pick a verse and write it down. Take notes about what stood out to you about the verse, who wrote it and why. Next, answer this question: How can you apply the verse to your life? To wrap up your study, ask God to help you apply the verse.
- Check cross-references: The Bible is full of similarities across the Old and New Testaments. Looking for these similarities helps you see the broader context of Scripture and the important themes it highlights. For example, take a moment to look up Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 55:8-12. See the similarities? You can cross-reference your Bible using online tools. And be sure to check your Bible — it might have references right on its pages!
5. Spend Time in Worship
Spending time reading and studying the Word helps you get to know God, his character and his love for you. But worship enables you to proclaim the truth of who he is: Savior, King and Lord. And as we worship, we shift our focus from ourselves and the worries of life to God, helping us draw closer to him.
Spend some time each day in worship. For example, turn on worship music and worship in the way you feel inspired to, whether that’s by singing, dancing, kneeling or even praying.
Remember: There are many ways to worship. If you’re an artist, draw or paint. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a mama, swing those babies around the kitchen. Worship isn’t a one-and-done thing — it’s a heart posture. You can show gratitude to God in endless ways, at any time of day.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. — 1 Chronicles 16:34, NIV
6. Attend Church
It’s true that you can pray, read the Bible and worship on your own. But God never meant for us to follow him alone. Attending church gives you the opportunity to meet with others just like you who are following after Jesus.
Christian friends and family can encourage us on our journey, even when it’s hard. They can come alongside us in prayer when we’re in need. And they can be a source of guidance when we question our next steps. In other words, through community with other believers, we have the support we need to stay close to God.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. — Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV
7. Serve Those in Need
As we serve God, we’ll get closer to him each and every day. And one powerful way to serve God is to serve others. When we serve those in need around us, we get to see God’s love in action by being his hands and feet. And nothing brings us closer to God than seeing him at work.
There are many ways we can serve those in need. For example, we can pray for friends and family struggling through challenging situations. We can volunteer our time to local charities. We can even donate to help those in desperate need, such as children living in poverty.
God’s Word says that whatever we do for those in need, we do for him. Loving on others is a perfect way to love on him.
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:37-40, NIV
Want to serve God by supporting a child living in poverty? Learn more about child sponsorship.
8. Say “Thank You”
Wherever you are, take a second to look around. Is there anything you see, feel or hear that you can thank God for?
Maybe it’s the job that allows you to put food on the table for your family. Maybe it’s the sound of giggles coming from your child’s bedroom. Or maybe it’s simply the heartbeat in your chest.
Showing gratitude to God for our blessings reminds us of his goodness and faithfulness. It focuses our hearts on him. Each day, make it a point to thank God. For example:
- Keep a gratitude journal: Take some time each day to write down 4-5 things you’re grateful for. And remember: Nothing is too small! Over time, you’ll build a beautiful book of blessings that can remind you of God’s faithfulness.
- Build a morning habit of thanks: Take a few seconds every morning, before you even get out of bed, just to say thank you. Thank God for a new day. Thank him for waking you up. Thank him for a good night’s rest.
- Take a worship break: Turn on some worship music and just sing along in praise. Close your eyes and worship him for all he’s done for you.
9. Seek the Fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
As Christians, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us (1 Corinthians 3:16). And when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we bear the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
But how does seeking the Fruit of the Spirit help us get closer to God? The Fruit is the proof of God’s nearness in your life. It’s assurance that no matter what you face, God is with you and actively working in your life.
With the Holy Spirit working in us, we love when it’s hard. We have joy and peace in the midst of chaos. We have self-control when others hurt us. No matter the situation, the Fruit points us back to the Father, drawing us even closer to him.
There’s more good news — seeking the Fruit of the Spirit isn’t hard. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life comes from drawing near to God. And sometimes it simply means asking him for help.
When you’re in a moment of stress or difficulty, just pause for a moment and invite the Holy Spirit to work in you. Ask him to help you respond with the Fruit of the Spirit.
10. Journal His Faithfulness
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV
Sometimes God seems far away. In the hard times, when the storms of life surround us, it’s hard to see him through the rain and wind. But the Word says God is faithful. To continue pressing into him, even when it’s hard, we must remember his faithfulness.
One practical way to do this is to keep a journal. Each day, take note of those things you see God doing in your life, from waking you up in the morning to answering a special prayer.
In the moments you feel far away from him, lean in by reading your notes and remember just how faithful he truly is.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” To grow closer to God, all you have to do is seek him. The above steps are simple ways you can seek him daily. And when you do seek him, he promises that you’ll find him.