7 Practical Ways to Get Closer to God
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." — James 4:8 (NKJV)
Many people want to get closer to God, but they often think it's about doing more religious activities. While prayer, Bible reading, worship, and fasting are all important, they are not the destination they are the pathway.
Anything we do for God should always lead to transformation.
God has never been interested in empty rituals. He has always been interested in our hearts.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders because they had mastered religious activity while neglecting what mattered most a transformed heart. They prayed, fasted, tithed, and attended worship, yet many of them missed the One they claimed to be waiting for.
The goal isn't simply to pray more.
The goal is to become more like Christ.
Here are seven practical ways to grow closer to God.
1. Spend Time With God Every Day
Every healthy relationship requires time.
Read a portion of Scripture, pray honestly, and take a few moments to simply listen.
Don't rush through your devotional time just to check a box.
Spend time with the One who loves you.
Read: Proverbs 4:20–23, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1–3
2. Talk to God Throughout Your Day
Prayer isn't reserved for church or your morning devotion.
Invite God into your meetings.
Your parenting.
Your work.
Your decisions.
Your struggles.
The more you acknowledge Him throughout the day, the more aware you'll become of His presence.
Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6–7
3. Guard Your Heart
Whatever continually enters your heart eventually shapes your life.
Pay attention to what you watch.
What you listen to.
Who influences you.
What you continually think about.
Your heart is the soil from which your life grows.
Read: Proverbs 4:23, Philippians 4:8, Psalm 139:23–24
4. Practice Immediate Obedience
The quickest way to grow spiritually is to obey what God has already shown you.
Forgive.
Encourage someone.
Serve someone.
Repent quickly.
Generosity.
Kindness.
Obedience turns biblical knowledge into spiritual maturity.
Read: James 1:22–25, John 14:21
5. Let God Transform Your Character
It's possible to become more religious without becoming more loving.
Ask yourself:
Am I becoming more patient?
More humble?
More forgiving?
More compassionate?
More generous?
The closer we get to Jesus, the more His character should become visible in us.
Read: Galatians 5:22–23, Colossians 3:12–14
6. Fast With the Right Purpose
Fasting doesn't earn God's love.
It creates space for God to reveal what's happening inside our hearts.
It exposes pride.
Selfishness.
Unbelief.
Distractions.
A healthy fast always produces greater dependence upon God.
Read: Isaiah 58:6–11, Matthew 6:16–18
7. Love People Well
One of the greatest evidences that we're growing closer to God is the way we treat people.
It's easy to love God in worship.
It's harder to love difficult people on Monday morning.
Jesus said the world would recognize His disciples by their love.
Love is the evidence of spiritual maturity.
Read: John 13:34–35, 1 John 4:20–21
Final Thought
The Christian life isn't about performing for God.
It's about walking with Him.
Prayer should transform our hearts.
The Word should renew our minds.
Fasting should deepen our dependence.
Worship should increase our gratitude.
Serving should grow our humility.
Loving others should reveal Christ within us.
Anything we do for God should always lead to transformation because God is after our hearts. When our hearts are transformed, our lives will follow.