How To Get Closer To God?

Steps to Strengthen Your Walk with God

Drawing closer to God is the heart's deepest longing for every believer. In our fast-paced world filled with distractions and demands, maintaining an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father can seem challenging. Yet Scripture assures us that God desires closeness with His children even more than we desire it ourselves. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8, KJV). This beautiful promise reveals that our efforts to seek God are always met with His loving response.

Prayer: The Foundation of Intimacy

Prayer is the primary avenue through which we commune with God. It is not merely a religious duty but a vital conversation with our Heavenly Father. Jesus Himself modelled a life of prayer, often withdrawing to solitary places to commune with the Father. "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (Mark 1:35, KJV).

The Apostle Paul encourages us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV), suggesting that prayer should become as natural as breathing. This doesn't mean we must be on our knees every moment, but rather that we should maintain a constant awareness of God's presence, speaking to Him throughout our day about everything that concerns us.

Effective prayer requires honesty and humility. The Psalmist writes, "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Psalm 145:18, KJV). God desires authentic communication, not religious performances. We can share our joys, sorrows, doubts, and fears with complete transparency.

Immersing Ourselves in Scripture

God's Word is His written word to humanity, revealing His character, His promises, and His will for our lives. Jesus declared, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, KJV). Just as our bodies require daily nourishment, our spirits need the sustenance of Scripture.

The Psalmist expressed profound love for God's Word: "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97, KJV). When we meditate on Scripture, allowing it to penetrate our hearts and minds, we begin to think God's thoughts and align our lives with His purposes.

Regular Bible study transforms us. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV). Through Scripture, God corrects our misconceptions, instructs our hearts, and equips us for the life He's called us to live.

Worship: Acknowledging His Worth

Worship extends beyond Sunday services or musical expression—it's a lifestyle of acknowledging God's supreme worth in everything we do. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1, KJV).

True worship involves surrendering our will to His, placing Him at the centre of our lives. Jesus taught, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24, KJV). Authentic worship flows from a heart that genuinely honours God, not from external rituals alone.

When we worship, we shift our focus from ourselves to God's greatness. The Psalmist proclaims, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name" (Psalm 100:4, KJV). Gratitude and praise open our hearts to experience God's presence more fully.

Obedience: The Evidence of Love

Jesus clearly stated the connection between love and obedience: "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15, KJV). Our actions demonstrate the sincerity of our professed devotion. Obedience isn't burdensome legalism but the natural response of a heart transformed by God's love.

When we obey God's commands, we position ourselves to receive His blessings and experience His guidance. "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25, KJV).

Obedience sometimes requires courage and faith, especially when God's ways contradict worldly wisdom. Yet Scripture promises, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV).

Fellowship with Believers

God designed us for community. Whilst our personal relationship with Him is paramount, He also places us within the body of Christ for mutual encouragement and growth. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25, KJV).

Christian fellowship provides accountability, support during trials, and opportunities to serve others. "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17, KJV). Our brothers and sisters in Christ help refine our character and strengthen our faith.

Silence & Solitude

In our noisy world, cultivating times of silence before God allows us to hear His still, small voice. The prophet Elijah discovered that God often speaks not in dramatic displays but in gentle whispers. "And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12, KJV).

Jesus regularly withdrew from crowds to be alone with His Father. Following His example helps us disconnect from life's distractions and reconnect with God's presence. The Psalmist encourages, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, KJV).

Confession & Repentance

Sin creates barriers between us and God. Maintaining closeness with Him requires honest acknowledgement of our failures and genuine repentance. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, KJV).

God doesn't desire our perfection but our transparency. The Psalmist prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24, KJV). Such vulnerability invites God's transforming work in our lives.

Growing closer to God is a lifelong journey marked by intentional choices and spiritual disciplines. It requires dedicating time to prayer, immersing ourselves in His Word, worshipping with sincere hearts, obeying His commands, fellowshipping with believers, embracing silence, and maintaining humble hearts through confession.

The beautiful truth is that God promises to meet every sincere seeker. "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13, KJV). As we pursue Him with wholehearted devotion, we'll discover that He was pursuing us all along, drawing us into the intimate relationship He created us to enjoy.

May we commit ourselves afresh to knowing God more deeply, loving Him more fully, and walking more closely with Him each day. For in His presence, we find fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11, KJV).

Key Takeaways:

• Prayer is foundational: Maintain constant communion with God through honest, humble prayer throughout your day.
• Immerse yourself in Scripture: Daily Bible study nourishes your spirit and aligns your life with God's purposes.
• Worship as a lifestyle: Acknowledge God's worth in everything you do, not just during services.
• Obedience demonstrates love: Keep God's commandments as the natural response of a transformed heart.
• Fellowship strengthens faith: Engage with other believers for mutual encouragement, accountability, and growth.
• Embrace silence and solitude: Create quiet moments to hear God's still, small voice amidst life's noise.
• Practice confession and repentance: Maintain transparency with God about your failures to remove barriers between you and Him.
• Seek with your whole heart: God promises to be found by those who search for Him with sincere devotion.