Mission trips, leading. It can also be a time to reflect on God and His goodness. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2 NKJV). Always pray about your doubts. You will get closer to Him because you seek Him, you love Him, and you desire to be with Him (James 4:8). If that person is not a believer but accepts your prayers, it might be a great opportunity to witness to them as well. This means being around people who will encourage you in your faith and who will help you grow closer to God. Aubrey Hoeppner works in fundraising and serves in the high school ministry at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church. The more we remember what God has done for us, the more grateful we are. Being a good witness for Christ in the workplace is a great way to grow closer to God. Seek our godly teachers who will faithfully pour the word of God into your life, then listen carefully when they do. Rather than focus on the negative, call to God and ask for His help. The Bible says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests . Choose melodies you enjoy and lyrics that best express what you want to say and, most importantly, that are biblically accurate. That will help you meditate on those messages throughout the day and remember them whenever you need them (for example, during prayer, while talking to someone, during difficult times). @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-assuredfaith_com-leader-1-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'assuredfaith_com-leader-1','ezslot_8',608,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-assuredfaith_com-leader-1-0');We become more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions. "I am the suffering servant. God is unchanging, but His will can bring about delightful changes in our lives if we are willing to move when and where He moves us. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. (Joshua 1:8 NKJV). As we get closer to God, our character will become more like His. They were not meant for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. Take your concerns and your worries to the source. These are all good signs that we are getting closer to God. Jesus wants to work through other human instruments. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV). In times of online collaboration and communication, sometimes we forget that there is a real person on the other end, someone with real feelings that can get hurt by harsh words. This is the first step to a redeemed life and the first step to getting close to God. Throughout the Bible, when servants of God needed to seek His presence in challenging times, or when they needed to make an important decision or to focus more on Him, they usually took some time off to fast and pray (Exodus 34:28; Nehemiah 1:4; Luke 4:1-2; Acts 13:2-3). Investing your time in Bible study with a great friend will help you both grow closer to God and help each other be better Christians. For more tips, like how to grow your faith by going on a spiritual retreat, keep reading! People usually think that a great time to start such an endeavor is at the beginning of a new year, then they will finish it by the end of the year. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). It is important to obey Gods commands and to follow His will for our lives. This means living your life according to the Holy Spirit. Even if the answer is not what you wanted or expected, you can learn from it. Do we have joy, even in difficult circumstances. Self-improvement doesn't require you to be perfect, but it does require honesty and diligence. The reality is that we can't do everything on our own, so admitting this will not only show a sense of humility in your life . But we must make every effort, along with the help from the Holy Spirit, to avoid sinning. "Knowing that one needs to be patient and God will answer my prayers is helpful.". 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Growing closer to God is our goal and heartfelt desire. The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV). It is an important part of a Christians life and helps us to grow closer to God. Being a good witness for Christ in your leisure time activities is a great way to grow closer to God. Our relationship with God grows stronger, and we become more like Him. Its impossible for someone to bear a burden with you if you are too prideful to admit you need help with it. Among the stresses and sorrows of life, seeking the presence of God is to seek a peace that passes understanding. It's not "better" to pray loudly, or to adopt practices you see others engaging in. Take "random" things as a sign. Honor those people and express your gratitude towards them as a testimony of the Lord you serve. Getting closer to God is not just about religion or going to church. This is an important part of the Christian life and helps us to grow closer to God. In this way: with boundless compassion, God rushes to us. Holy Communion is an ordinance from Christ Jesus (Luke 22:19-20) and a special moment to remind us of His sacrifice for us. Get more from your Bible reading by taking the time to let your mind digest the texts youve just read and apply what you learned to your life. Your mind can see the illusions and no further. He hates sin. You can also include other suggestions from this article, like being alone with God, singing worship music, meditating on Scripture, etc. Sometimes in our lives, we go through such difficult times that we find it hard to even pray. To praise Him is to proclaim His greatness and to declare His mighty works (Psalm 150:2), according to what the Bible teaches us. Maybe it is a bad habit you need to get rid of. Getting rid of anything that is holding you back from God is an important part of the Christian life and helps us to grow closer to Him. In times of greatest desperation, simply ask him to guard your trust in his Word. Reading the Bible is a great way to grow closer to God. This means being a positive influence in your leisure time activities. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1 KJV). Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.. Five minutes after praying about unemployment, it's unlikely that a knock will come at the door offering you a new job. Most husbands want their wives to serve them. As we seek ways to get closer to God, we shouldnt forget that He seeks us out with equal fervor. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.. Growing your relationship to the god you believe in takes work and dedication. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. Take a five minute break at work to pray. We want more. Pray with undivided attention and at fixed times. Your children will learn how to apply God's teachings in their lives and receive guidance from God for themselves. It is among other believers that Christians can influence and build each other up (Colossians 3:16). This is how we learn about who God is and what He has done for us. Matthew 6:33 gives this teaching from Jesus: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.. Getting involved in a Bible study is a great way to grow closer to God. Others are free to bring their burdens to you, because you sit as an equal beggar for grace and not as a holier-than-thou overseer. Reading Christian books and blogs is a great way to grow closer to God. In order to hear from God, we need to be still. #1 Read the Bible to understand God's heart Nehemiah 8:2-3 says "So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. One of the best ways to grow closer to God is to get involved in a Bible study. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.. Listen to them while youre eating, getting ready in the morning, driving, exercising, etc. The Pharisees never admitted their need for Jesus to correct their understanding of the law. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. If you dont want to use any specific reading plan, you can use a simple solution: if you read three chapters a day, you will finish the whole Bible in about a year. 6 Practical Ways for Christians To Know if Baptist vs Presbyterian Beliefs: 10 Differences Between Both. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22 NKJV). Through prayerful lament, we can cry out to God and express our pain, sorrows, and hardships. Additionally, try to spend time studying your religion's central text, which you could do by yourself or with a prayer group. I get prayer request paralysis. Try to find a quiet place and pray in a position that feels most natural to you so that you're comfortable. By using our site, you agree to our. With these small steps taken day after day, week after week and month after month, you'll no doubt find yourself closer to Christ at the end of the year. God always has something new to teach us from the Scriptures, if only we are willing to listen by pouring it into our hearts through every season of life. He did that with the purpose that we bless each other lives with those talents. You can discuss what you learned from the biblical text, ask questions, search for answers, share what you researched, pray about it together, encourage each other to put it into practice, etc. There are many beautiful and profound songs that talk about the greatness of God. One of the best ways to grow closer to God is to surround yourself with people who love God. And it is necessary if we want to follow Jesus, according to the word of Christ (Matthew 5:43-48). Being a Christian, you need to study the Bible. An excellent way to learn to pray or boost your prayer life is to pray Gods words. It is an excellent way to put your faith into action. It is also a way to grow closer to Him as we seek His will for our lives. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.-. Another way is by looking at the fruit that is evident in our lives. It is important to take time each day to be still and to listen for Gods voice. From new Christians to the more experienced believers, we can all grow as citizens of the kingdom of heaven and children of our Heavenly Father if we take the time and effort to seek Him every day. If you do repeat them, make sure that you mean them, like we do when we say the Lords prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). 5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. Another great way to grow closer to God is to attend church every week. When we repent of our sins, we are turning away from them and toward God. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. His words seem surprising at first. Meditating on Gods Word is a great way to grow closer to Him. Sin is a destroyer; it is a mocker. You read the words and make them your own, adapting them to your own situation. Jesus taught that we can be free from worries and anxieties over the cares of life by putting God first in our lives. Walking in the Spirit is a great way to grow closer to God. Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind is a great way to grow closer to God. Its about spending time with Him, getting to know Him, and learning to love and trust Him. Memorizing Scripture is a great way to grow closer to God. He taught, healed, and loved all who came unto Him. But taking the time to connect with God is important for our mental, spiritual, emotional health, and for our relationships with others. It is about focusing on your relationship with God and making Him (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) the utmost love of your life (Luke 14:26). That will bring you closer to Him. If you meditate too long without help, you will not return to the physical world. We know that Jesus said, " ye shall be witnesses unto me " (Acts 1:8). Take communion. These tips can help you live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. One of the most important things you can do to grow closer to God is to be humble. Spending time in nature is a great way to relax and recharge. Talking to God and listening for His guidance can help you align your life with His will for you. This means loving God with all of your being. So, challenge yourself to seek God in the Scripture in a deeper way. It feels terrible, as well it should, because God is destroying a piece of youalbeit a prideful, enslaving piece. Being a good steward of your gifts and talents is a great way to grow closer to God. We need to take the path of practice to acquire the discipline to obey Gods words through His Holy Spirit. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. This is the only way to grow closer to Him throughout your life. Therefore, any Christian needs to know it. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Fasting is a way to humble yourself before God and to seek His guidance. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (Psalm 103:2 KJV). Maybe you've strayed a bit from your walk with Him. Sin keeps us away from the Lord and damages our relationship with Him (Romans 3:23). It will help you strengthen your faith, and you both will see what God will do in your life. It has been a fight to accept Gods humbling. Prayer is a great way to get closer to the Lord. Holding onto Jesus helps you make it to the other side of your pain. Jesus points this out to Nicodemus, who came to him secretly under the cover of night. Copy editors also perform fact-checking, research and proofreading duties. Jesus is willing to take the weight of our sin off of our shoulders. In Luke 9:23b, Jesus tells His disciples, " Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me .". If you've never prayed before, or weren't raised with any kind of understanding of a god, check out. If you want to get closer to God, get involved with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It means being obedient to His Word and seeking to do His will in all we do. This article has been viewed 40,814 times. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Campuses in Arlington Heights, Barrington, Itasca, Marengo, Northfield, and Vernon Hills. 10 Ways to Begin Bringing Others to Jesus Have you ever had the joy of sharing Christ with someone and seeing that person come to know the Lord as their personal Savior? Seek Him like someone who is looking for a treasure (Matthew 13:45-46), and you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34 NKJV). Keeping an open mind doesn't mean opening yourself up to doubts, necessarily, just that you don't need to condescend to others when matters of faith are at stake. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. This means showing love to those around you, even if they dont deserve it. She enjoys cooking, eating, and reading, and she looks forward to Pi Day all year long. The physical world is full of illusions. Whether you are facing grief or walking beside a grieving loved one, finding God in grief is possible when you put your trust in Jesus and His great love for you. Other songs are prayers that you can use as if they were your own. If you feel like youve been away from God for too long, or if you fear that youve sinned too much for God to bring you back to Himself, know that the arms of God are always open to receive you. Recognize the way God has taken care of you and be thankful to Him. That means we need to discipline our thoughts. In this post, we will discuss 68 ways that you can get closer to God. Others may feel closest to God when they're serving and loving people. Jesus promised that God comes to live with us when we choose to love Jesus. Picture something calming, like a river or a meadow in the breeze. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. We can come to the place where our only satisfaction comes from the presence of God. Every Christian wants to get closer to God and live a godly life. It is important to read the Bible every day so that we can hear from God and learn His will for our lives. Many believers fear being "outed" as doubters, when they should take the opportunity to have deep discussions about matters of faith with other believers. This freedom to come to God, with sin and need exposed, leads to the even greater blessing of closeness with him. 3. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they wrote about it. Take the opportunity to develop more honest friendships in the body of Christ by sharing your weakness with other believers. If you prefer to tackle this challenge at a faster rate, you can read more chapters per day and finish it sooner. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 KJV). Dont do it just to check tasks off a list. 09:31 Playback speed: 0.75 One of the biggest challenges in my spiritual life has been building a close friendship with God, instead of following religious rituals or routines. When a willing heart seeks after God, the path is very specific but not complicated. Hit the bricks, scan the classifieds, and do the work of finding your answer. "Knowing that god can always hear my prayers and try his best to try and help me is so helpful. How to Ask God to Forgive Your Sins & Be at Peace Again. It means spending time with Him in prayer and Bible study, getting to know Him and His will for our lives. We dont do it to exchange favors with God. One of the best ways to grow closer to God is to find a mentor. We must take this moment seriously, and we must be eager to participate in it with our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we know that God is near to the humble, what joy there is in accepting his humbling! Do good unto them and let all the glory be given to the Lord. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lords death till He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV). Abide in me, and I in you. This means treating others the way you want to be treated. Another great way to grow closer to God is to read Christian books and blogs. Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.. What do you want to change about yourself? This humility has been embarrassingly foreign to me for most of my life, even though the concept runs straight through the whole of Scripture. Our knowledge of God comes from it, and our relationship with Him must be based on it. Communion is an important part of the Christian life and helps us to remember what Jesus did for us. And also be sensitive. To get started spending intentional time in the Word daily, check out bestselling author Christy Wright's new 40-day devotional, Living True: 40 Days to Get Back to You . Going on a retreat is a great way to grow closer to God. You just need to wait patiently while praying to hear God's voice. Another way to know if we are getting closer to God is by the fruit that is evident in our lives. Repenting of our sins is a way to show God that we are sorry for them and that we want to change. Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 25 Ephesians Bible Study Questions and Answers, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. Getting closer to God is not something that happens overnight. Everything good we have in our lives comes from God (James 1:17). Is Your Life Partner Already Decided by God? This is a great way to get away from the distractions of everyday life and to focus on your relationship with God. Thats not optional. He hears the cries of his people, which means that he will take action ( Psalm 10:14 ). In order to grow closer to God, we need to listen to Him. It will help you remember about His grace, kindness, and love. There are many podcasts, online sermons, audiobooks, and other audio resources that can provide you with excellent content for your spiritual growth. When evil thoughts come to your mind, you must not entertain them. The disciples had already given up everything to follow Jesus. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11 NKJV). We shouldnt seek God solely for the rewards He promises, but we should acknowledge that He is real and that He wants a relationship with us as a first step toward restoration. However, it doesnt come naturally to us. TV shows, movies, videos on the Internet, they all influence our thinking, even if we dont notice it. It takes regular practice and wholehearted devotion, but we can join the psalmist in seeking after God above all else. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Every once in a while, we need to have the courage to take a deep look into our life. Well, if you are willing to try, you can use audio content and find some slots of time that you can redeem and use for this goal. This shows our dependence on Him and our need for His strength. If you want to get closer to God and His family on earth, the first step is to join a local church (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:19-22; Galatians 3:26-28). Sometimes we put aside the most important things, and we pay the price for our foolish choices. When we pray for others, we are interceding on their behalf. And that is why I. It doesn't matter what religion you're in, but meditation is important. Ezra brought the word of God to the people after hundreds of years without it and made sure the people understood and remained attentive. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in His ways!. When you love big, you grieve big. Joining a small group is a great way to grow closer to God. Enjoy! The best way to stay close with God is to remain in His Word on a regular basis. Forgiving others is a way to show God that you have forgiven those who have wronged you. This means using your life to make a difference in the world for Christ. Tell them how they blessed your life. He is the only satisfaction for our wanting souls. Submission is one of the spiritual disciplines that we need to practice. The prophet Zephaniah says in Zephaniah 2:3, Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do His just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.. He made Peter and the 12 "fishers of men," men who would draw others closer to God. There are some things, however, that can help us to know if we are getting closer to God. Prayer can also help you develop a more personal relationship with God. Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is a great way to grow closer to God. Read the Bible The Holy Bible is the basis of the Christian faith. A simple way to do it is to sit out on a chair and gaze at the stars at night. Prayer Prayer is one of the most obvious ways to get closer to God. 1 Read God's word together When you read the scriptures as a family, you will invite God's Spirit to be in your home. Fight for others and what is good, just, and true even if it isnt popular. We need to submit to and honor the godly leaders in our community. God is holy. Whenever we . Taking a class at a Christian college is a great way to grow closer to God..
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