I want to start this blog post by just commending you for your interest in getting closer to God spiritually.
Your relationship with God is the most valuable thing in this world so it’s important that you cherish and nurture it.
The Bible tells us that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
-James 4:8a (NLT)
So if you want to get closer to God spiritually then you have to draw nearer to Him and in this article, I’m sharing 11 ways you can draw closer to Him.
How To Get Closer To God Spiritually – 11 Tips
Here are 11 ways you can draw closer to God and strengthen your relationship with Him.
There may be other ways but I’m sharing with you the ones that have helped me the most.
The most important point is the first one.
1) Believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior
You may be wondering why you need to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior to get closer to God. Well, let me explain.
When God created human beings, He wanted to have close fellowship with us. However, when man disobeyed God, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12).
Sin is the act of going against God so sin separates a sinner from God.
The Bible also explains that the penalty for sin is death which means that sinners will be eternally separated from God (Romans 6:23).
However, God loves us so much that He made a way to deliver us from the penalty of sin so we can have close fellowship with Him forever.
The Bible tells us that the only way to cancel the penalty of sin is that blood has to be shed (Hebrews 9:22). But the blood has to be the blood of one who is perfect or sinless.
Only God is sinless so only God’s blood can cancel the penalty of sin which is death (eternal separation from God).
So God sent His Son, Jesus Christ in the form of a human being to shed His blood so the penalty of sin could be cancelled.
He then gives the gift of eternal life to everyone who believes that Jesus Christ died for their sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
– Romans 10:9 (NIV)
2) Repent of sin
The next way to get closer to God spiritually is to repent and that means that you change your mind about sin.
In our natural state, sin may look like something appealing and it may even seem fun.
But the reality is that God is Holy and sin separates us from Him.
Sin is not something to entertain, indulge in or take lightly. It is a threat to our fellowship with God.
If you hold on to sin, you cannot have close fellowship with God. Look at what the Bible says in Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Therefore if you want to get closer to God, you have to see sin as something to turn away from. Then you must cling to God and His ways.
And if you do sin, then you need to turn to God as quickly as you can in prayer, confess the sin and ask Him for His grace to overcome temptation.
3) Obey God and yield to the Holy Spirit
If you want to get closer to God spiritually, you have to obey God and yield to His Spirit.
When you obey God, you show that you agree with Him and His ways.
Remember sin separates you from God because you are turning away from God and going against His ways.
So if you want to get closer to Him, then you have to turn towards Him, obey Him and walk in agreement with His ways.
4) Read and study the Bible
Think about all the close relationships that you have in your life. How did you get to know those people?
When you think about it, you will realize that the relationship grew because you spent time with them.
If you want to get closer to God, you have to spend time with Him. One of the ways that you can do so is to read and study the Bible.
The Bible is the Word of God and it reveals the nature of God. It helps you to have a better understanding of who He is.
It’s difficult to get close to someone who you don’t know or trust. When you read and study the Bible, you will get to know God and as you learn more about Him, you will also trust Him more.
As the trust grows, you will want to spend more time with Him sharing your heart, your desires, cares, dreams, hopes, fears and everything else.
Remember obeying God is important if you want to have close fellowship with Him.
And when you read the Word, you will know how to obey God because you will know what pleases Him and brings Him delight.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
-Psalm 119:105
As you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will also give you insight and revelation so you can understand God more and have a closer walk with Him.
It’s important that you read the Bible every day so you can hear from God every day and build a closer relationship with Him.
5) Pray throughout the day (and listen to God)
God speaks to us through His Word (The Bible) and we get to talk to Him through prayer.
Prayer is the act of communicating with God.
You can talk to God about anything and as you share your heart with Him, you will develop a closer relationship with Him.
The more often you talk to Him, the closer your relationship with Him will be.
Whenever you pray, it’s good to sit in silence for a few minutes or even hours so you can pay attention to what God is revealing to you.
6) Fast
When we talk about fasting in the Christian community, we are normally talking about abstinence from food.
When you fast from food and use that time to focus on the Lord, it helps you to remember that God is your ultimate Sustainer.
It’s a good way to remind yourself that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Remember that your time of fasting should be used to pray and read the Word.
You can fast by skipping one or two meals if it is medically safe to do so. Make sure you consult your doctor before fasting.
7) Praise and worship God every day
The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people.
But You are holy, O You who are enthroned in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].
– Psalm 22:3 (Amplified)
So one of the ways to get closer to God is to praise and worship Him daily.
The good thing about praise and worship is that it helps you to focus on God instead of yourself.
It also helps you to be more aware of God’s presence. The reality is that God will never leave or forsake you but sometimes we forget that.
Praise and worship can help you to be more cognizant of His presence and power in your life.
8) Meet with other believers at least once weekly
The Bible tells us that when we gather together as believers, God is there.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. – Matthew 18:20 (NIV)
If you want to get closer to God spiritually, it is crucial that you meet with other Christians. The Bible tells us that iron sharpens iron.
If you want to grow spiritually, you have to surround yourself with people who are more spiritually mature than you.
Seeing people who are on fire for God and the things of God will also help to spark a fire in you.
Over time, you will also develop a stronger passion for God. As the passion grows, you will spend more time with Him and as you yield to Him, you will get closer to Him.
We have different spiritual gifts that can help others to grow spiritually but we have to meet together to benefit from those gifts.
God wants us to fellowship with one another and build each other up and that’s why He didn’t give any one person all the spiritual gifts.
9) Listen to Bible-Based sermons
Another way that you can get closer to God spiritually is to listen to Bible-Based sermons.
These sermons will help you to have a better understanding of the Scripture as well as the nature of God.
As you listen to these sermons, you will learn more about God and how to apply the Word.
They will also help you to see the ways in which you need to mature spiritually.
Remember that God has given some people the gift of teaching and exhortation to build up the church. So when you listen to Bible-Based sermons, you get to benefit from the gift that God has freely provided for spiritual growth.
10) Have quiet time with the Lord daily
If you want to nurture your relationship with God, it is important that you spend quiet time with the Lord daily.
Every relationship needs regular communication for its survival. And your relationship with God is no exception.
I know you may be busy but try to spend at least 5 minutes a day praying and reading the Bible so you can nurture your relationship.
Remember we find time for what’s important. And how you spend your time and resources is a good indication of what’s important to you.
The more you neglect your quiet time with God, the further away you will feel from God.
11) Esteem the things of God more than the things of the world
The final point on this list is to esteem the things of God more than the things of the world.
It’s difficult to get closer to God spiritually if you love the world or the things of the world.
The Bible tells us that where our treasures are, that’s where our hearts will be.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
– Matthew 6:21 (NIV)
If you are focused on pleasing the world instead of God then you will not get closer to God spiritually.
You will have to say no to the sinful things that the world describes as “kool” or “hot” if you want to get closer to God.
Takeaway
I want you to remember that the first step to getting closer to God spiritually is realizing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, why not do so now?
If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead,, say this prayer:
Dear Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and that God raised You from the dead. Forgive me of all my sins; come into my heart today and live forever. Give me a home in Heaven when I die. Help me to obey you. Amen.
If you said this prayer, I would love to connect with you. Message me on Instagram @rejoicingwithpurpose