How to Grow Closer to God

Table of Contents

As you learn how to grow closer to God using one of these ideas, make sure your heart is in the right place. Don’t seek to know how to grow closer to God as a competition, making it a point to try EVERY suggestion listed. Rather, take on this journey with delight and intention.

Some suggestions here will work for you and be easy, new things that you can try; other things might seem a little awkward for you at this time. Consider what you need to do in order to know how to grow closer to God. How much do you want to change your spiritual walk?

If you really want to see a difference, it will be helpful to try multiple ways to grow closer to God. One idea alone will not do the trick. Instead, try one thing, and then, move on to the next one. As you spend time with God doing various new things, you’ll soon find delight in your quiet time.

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If you want to know how to grow closer to God, here is the ultimate list of 101 things to try!

Pray

Prayer is foundational, transformational, and essential in your walk. It is your means to communicate with God. You can incorporate many elements in your time of prayer. You might want to pray for other believers, offer thanksgiving, and cry out your sorrows to God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

Watch YouTube Bible Journaling Videos

There are many great influencers on social media. Watching how they do Bible journaling can inspire you on your own journey, bringing you greater joy when you spend time in God’s Word. Faith Womack has a great deal of videos on Bible Journaling in How to Faith a Life.

Do a Bible Study

Often, when we are alone and can concentrate on really understanding the Word of God, we grow closer to God in a true and intimate way. Really connecting with the Creator of this world will make a deep impact on your life, as He communicates with you through the Bible.

I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. – Psalm 119:11

Become Saved

Of course, salvation is an essential part of Christianity. If you are not currently saved or are unsure if you are, be sure to talk to the pastor of your local church. Once you become saved, your relationship with God will skyrocket, and you’ll be closer than ever.

Talk to Your Spouse About Jesus

My husband and I were fortunate. Neither of us was much into practicing our faith until a tragedy hit our family. When we began to change our lives, growing closer to God, we grew together, which made us stronger as a team. If you can talk to your spouse, do it today!

Watch a Sermon Online

Many churches today offer sermons online. Most can be found on YouTube, but often, you can more easily find them through the church’s website or smartphone app. Listening to sermons can certainly improve your passion for your faith and help you grow closer to God.

Attend Bible Class at Your Local Church

While it might not sound like that big of a deal, attending a Bible class at your local church or even just an event can help you grow closer to God immensely. Get to know other believers, share your struggles, and grow together as a group. Consider Celebrate Recovery!

Listen to Christian Music

Often, listening to praise and worship music can inspire you to build your relationship with God. If you find more upbeat Christian music motivating, you might try listening to it on your commute to work or at the gym to keep you close to God during those moments.

Listening to praise music can help you grow closer to God!

Memorize Scripture

Jesus left us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us. He can only do this if we do our part. A big piece of this is memorizing Scripture. You don’t have to memorize the entire Bible, although some people do, but memorize key verses that strengthen you and ward off the enemy.

Practice Forgiveness Regularly

Often, forgiveness only hurts you. The people you are upset with probably have no idea why you are offended or upset. If you can let go of the hurt or write a letter that you do not send, you can release that anger and resentment and move forward in life.

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:15

Send a Letter to Someone in Need

There are many organizations that you can volunteer with that will let you send letters to those in need. For example, there are many soldiers out there who do not receive mail when “mail call” comes even though they are serving our country. Most inmates also need encouragement.

Join Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery is a 12-step, Bible-based recovery program that helps anyone with a hurt, bad habit, or detrimental hangup of any kind. Wouldn’t that include everyone? We’ve all had pain that chokes us up, and we’ve all suffered from bad habits that we’d like to be rid of.

Try the Inductive Bible Study Method

The Inductive Bible Study Method has been around for a very long time. It is well-received because it allows you to dive into the Bible without a lot of interference from outside sources. Instead, you rely on your observation, interpretation, and application of what it says.

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. – Psalm 119:1

Read Your Bible

This might sound like an obvious suggestion, but God will reveal Himself in the Bible. If you do not read the Bible, how will you learn of His character and what He wants you to do with your life? The best way to grow closer to God is through prayer and His Word – The Bible.

Join Your Church’s Choir Program

Singing with others is a great way to grow closer to God. Using your voice to offer praise and worship is a wonderful means of spiritual growth. When you are in a choir program, you will be more dedicated and consistent with your means to gain spiritual intimacy with God.

Gain spiritual intimacy with the LORD through your voice!

Watch a Life Church Sermon

I will admit that it took me a long time to get back into church after falling away for many years. When I watched a few Life Church sermons, I began to feel a real connection to God. My faith blossomed and I began to feel like a new person. Listen to an inspiring sermon for real change.

Make a Bible Binder

You can make a Bible study binder, as I call it, with various dividers. Just create one for each book of the Bible. Then, behind the divider, include any notes you have from that book. For example, maybe you have sermon notes or Bible studies that relate to that book of the Bible.

Create Scripture Cards

If you would like to memorize Scripture, a great method that has a proven history is to make Scripture memory cards. You can use colored cards to keep things interesting. Consider making them with washi tape or adding stickers to them for even more variety.

Invite Someone to Church

When you include someone else in your plans, have you ever noticed that it keeps you accountable? Plus, sharing your faith with another person is a great way to bring others to Christ. Gaining new Christian friends will certainly help you grow closer to God.

Every friend we have represents a new world – a world that may not have existed had they not come into our lives. – Steven Aitchison

Listen to the Bible

It is understandable that we do not always have time to sit for hours to read the Bible. At times, we must work or take care of our children. Consider downloading the YouVersion Bible app (or another Bible app) and listening to the Bible as you drive, garden, or do the dishes.

Pray Before Meals

This is a challenging one to adopt, but it is powerful to include God in all parts of your life. My husband and I take turns praying before our meals, and neither one of us really knew how to pray. We speak from the heart and ask the Lord to bless our meal and share gratitude.

Donate Items to Those in Need

It is wonderful to spend time in the Word and pray to God, but we also must live out our faith. That means showing the love of Jesus to others. Consider donating your household items to those in need. We are urged to share with each other, so why not start now?

Try a Precept Ministries Bible Study

Precept Ministries offers a wide variety of inductive Bible studies. You can do this alone, in small groups, or in groups assigned by Precept Ministries. I have done these for several years, and they offer a very unique way to dive into Scripture and really get to know the Word.

Sing to the Lord

While we might not all be musically inclined or gifted, you will see that one way to grow closer to God is to sing to Him. Turn on your favorite church songs, worship songs on YouTube, or Christian music on your streaming service of choice. Enjoy the Lord through music!

Take a Prayer Walk

A prayer walk is when you go for a walk and pray. Sounds simple enough, right? In reality, if you want to know how to grow closer to God, you’ll easily learn that you must put forth your heart and really mean it. Have a heart-to-heart conversation with God about all that’s on your mind.

Take a Spiritual Inventory

In Celebrate Recovery, which is for anyone with problems, we often take a spiritual inventory of our lives. This can involve looking at what is there and what isn’t there, evaluating what needs to improve, or asking others for input so that you can have greater balance in your walk with God.

Start a Christian Blog

I do not say this lightly. Of course, you can hop on Blogspot or another service and start writing about your thoughts on faith. However, if you really want to reach people, know that starting a Christian blog is not an easy feat. It can soon become a full-time job! But ministry is rewarding!

While ministry is very rewarding, it is not an easy feat. Take it seriously!

Observe Communion

Communion is a time when we are to appreciate what Christ did for us on the cross. The bread you take is in observance of His body that He sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins. What you drink, which is typically grape juice, symbolizes the blood given for us.

As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. – 1 Corinthians 11:26

Do a Bible Character Study

With a Bible character study, you do a deep dive into one character who is found in the Bible. You can research their background using other sources, learn more about them in other areas of the Bible (cross-reference verses), and discover how to apply lessons to your life.

Try Bible Journaling

Bible journaling can involve art, words, or other elements. It’s all about being creative or enjoying the Word of God in another way. The main purpose of Bible journaling is to get you in the Bible more often. Find a Bible journaling idea that resonates with you.

Pray for Someone

Praying for someone else gives you a chance to look beyond your own needs and lift up someone else who needs the healing or presence of God. Perhaps there is an unsaved neighbor who needs your prayers or a sick friend in need of encouragement in this way.

Praying for others is not only a wise thing to do, but it also can open your heart to do even more!

Follow a Bible Reading Plan

When you follow a Bible reading plan each day, you will find more structure and consistency in reading your Bible. Even if you do a topical Bible reading plan like the FREE Sharing Life and Love reading plan, you can gain much insight from the Scripture you read daily.

Make a Prayer Binder

Creating a prayer binder is a fun activity that will teach you how to grow closer to God. As you add pages to each tab in your prayer binder, reflect on what you will say to God in prayer when you use your binder. Once made, you can spend time with God, practicing for your daily time.

Take a Spiritual Gifts Test

A spiritual gifts test can motivate you if you are thinking about getting involved in ministry. It will show you where you excel and the areas where you might have to work a little harder to develop. It’s a great way to assess your skills and abilities.

Go to a Bible Study In-Person

While working on Bible studies online with friends can be a great way to socialize with other believers while you learn more about God, meeting in person has many benefits. Going to an in-person Bible study will give you a chance to converse more and get a real-life hug or two!

Watch Preachers or Bible Teachers on YouTube

Watching preachers preach or Bible teachers teach can enlighten you and bring you closer to God. How many times have you watched a church service and been completely inspired? Why not follow that practice at home?

Go to Seminary School

Many people would think this idea is a bit extreme. Last year, I began going to a FREE Seminary School at Christian Leaders Institute that offers many certificates, degrees, and more. I am pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Christian Leadership in Advanced Bible Studies.

You never know how your example could impact someone else!

Start a Daily Time with God

Having a daily quiet time with God is critical for your spiritual growth. If you want to know how to grow closer to God, THIS is the way. Spend time with Him, just as you would a friend or spouse. He loves you and wants you to enjoy your time alone with Him. Make it a priority!

Tithe

If you’ve never thought of giving 10% of your income to the Lord (a tithe is 10%), you are truly missing out on how to grow closer to God. Of course, if you are not in a position to do so, talk to God about it first. He wants cheerful givers, not those who will be resentful about it,

Be Selective

This is a very vague suggestion on how to grow closer to God, so let me be a bit more specific here. What are you watching on television? What kind of music are you listening to? Are you a good example to others by your words, actions, and behavior? Do they know you love God?

Related: How to be a Modest Woman

Meditate on Scripture

Meditating on Scripture is an excellent way to learn how to grow closer to God. When you ponder the truths found in Scripture, you begin to learn more about them, understand new things, and embrace new ways that you can apply the Scripture to your life.

Take Sermon Notes

As you listen to sermons, taking notes is an invaluable activity. It can keep you focused and on track. Also, taking notes will give you a record of what you heard so that you can apply it more to your life and review it later, even sharing it with others! Grab a free sermon notes printable.

Repent of Your Sins

As you learn how to grow closer to God – stop sinning and repent. After all, sinning pulls us away from God. However, repenting means turning away from sin, so that means not going back to that sin again. We aren’t perfect, but you aim the highest you can.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Random acts of kindness can involve doing nice things for others. You might make homemade gifts for the homeless. Another idea is to write letters to someone you will never meet. Brighten someone in your family’s day by encouraging them and sending flowers to their workplace.

Allow Other Christians to Mentor You

Letting other Christians mentor you can strengthen your Christian walk and definitely help you learn how to grow closer to God. This powerful way of growing near to our Lord can help you better make wise decisions and not feel quite so alone as you move forward as a Christian.

Do a Bible Word Study

When you do a Bible word study, you will look deeply into the original meaning (either Greek or Hebrew) of a word used in the Bible. This can be quite fun once you get the hang of it. You will certainly know how to grow closer to God the more time you spend in His Word!

Join a Bible-Based Facebook Group

Our Bible study Facebook Group is called Sharing Life and Love Sisters Bible Study Group. It is for women at this time, but there are many out there for Bible journaling, Scripture writing, Bible study, prayer, war binders, and church fellowship. Find what works for you!

Read Faith Articles

Of course, we’d love to recommend the spiritual articles on Sharing Life and Love. We have articles on Bible study, prayer, and Christian living – to name a few. However, there are tons of other great sites out there. Do some time researching on how to grow closer to God.

Walk Through a Christian Bookstore

If you love reading, you might really enjoy going to a Christian bookstore, even just to walk around and check out the many topics that people write about in this genre. It can even be fun to find a non-fiction book to help in your studies of the Bible.

Seek Christian Counseling When Needed

Not every situation can be solved in the same way. There are times when we need to speak to professional mental health care counselors. There are many available online if you search for one that accepts your insurance. You can also call 988 in the case of an emergency.

Watch a Bible Project Video

The Bible Project has some great videos that they have spent a lot of time creating. If you struggle to know where to start reading your Bible, check out a Bible Project video. They have one created for each book of the Bible and many of the characters of the Bible!

Highlight Your Bible

Highlighting your Bible can be a lot of fun, but it is also a useful exercise when striving to learn new ways on how to grow closer to God. Any time spent in the Bible is time well spent, in my opinion. You’ll discover something new every time you open God’s Word.

Any time you spend in your Bible is time well spent!

Show Gratitude to God

God has given you every beautiful thing in your life. If you have children, think of those who would long to be in your shoes. If you are married, remember that there are many who long to find their special someone. In whatever way you are blessed, it is God who has blessed you.

Mentor Other Believers

Often, we can sink into our own worlds or think that we are not worthy to help others. In reality, people need help from other broken people. It is the broken people that have been in their shoes. Comfort other believers by being a mentor.

Stop the Things that Hinder Your Faith

Sin or doing things that are not pleasing to God pulls us away from God. Because of this, it makes sense that when you stop the things that are hindering your faith, you will see how to grow closer to God. Why not put an end to the things you know to be wrong and inappropriate?

You hate all evildoers. – Psalm 5:5b

Take a Class at a Local Christian College

Taking a class at a local Christian college can help you center your life around what is important, as you make new Christian friends and learn how to grow closer to God in powerful ways. Your knowledge of Him will expand, and your grasp of tough Biblical topics will grow.

Make a War Binder

A war binder generally refers to the combination of your prayer binder and your Bible binder (or Bible study binder). It encompasses all elements of your spiritual walk together in one binder. Over time, you might wish to have multiple volumes for your war binder. Have fun making it!

More Ways to Know How to Grow Closer to God

Pray with Other Believers
Memorize Psalm 23
Listen to God
Start a Gratitude Journal
Trust the Lord
Listen to a Christian Podcast
Give to a Christian Charity
Pray About Everything
Make God Your Top Priority
Practice Humility
Meditate on the Psalms
Practice Biblical Modesty
Observe the Sabbath
Get Baptized
Share Your Spiritual Testimony
Help Someone
Write in Your Bible
Seek God
Read About What Inspires Others
Fast
Create a Faith Diary
Record God’s Answers to Prayers
Spend One Hour in Prayer
Share Your Faith with Your Spouse
Enjoy Nature
Learn How to Study the Bible
Attend Church
Serve at Your Church
Read a Christian Book
Start a Prayer Journal
Show Love Through Volunteer Work
Teach a Bible Class
Pray the Scriptures
Practice Spiritual Warfare
Write Out Scripture
Get Involved or Start a Ministry Program
Use a Daily Devotional Book
Try a New Bible Study Method
Praise the Lord
Discover Your Spiritual Calling
Read a Great Christian’s Biography
Do an In-Depth Study of a Book of the Bible
Read Faith Testimonies Online
Do a Topical Bible Study
Learn About Spiritual Disciplines

Resources for How to Grow Closer to God

Grab this printable worksheet on How to Grow Closer to God. This lists all the elements discussed in this article. This all-in-one checklist will help you as you try new things.

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst is a really great read. If you are new to Christian non-fiction, this is a great place to start.

Meditate on Scripture by memorizing Psalm 23. It is important to memorize Scripture, which will help you on your Christian walk. Think about what brings you comfort in the Bible.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan will change you in a good way. I’ve read it through a few times. What a great way to grow closer to our Creator! It is a must-read; trust me!!

Do Your Own Spiritual Assessment. In this article, the author goes into detail on how to do a spiritual assessment. Plus, a free printable worksheet is included.

In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character is an excellent read by a great Bible teacher and author, Jen Wilkin. This is an excellent book to help you learn about God!

Set Spiritual Goals to achieve what you really were called to do. With this article, you get a very popular worksheet that will help you write down and analyze your spiritual goals.

The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows is an excellent series to catch up on. My husband and I just finished the first book. It’s an awesome one!

Check out one of our Bible studies and other resources for sale in order to support this ministry. We always appreciate feedback and your support and encouragement. Thank you.

Conclusion

What have you decided to try of the suggestions on how to grow closer to God? Have you learned HOW to grow closer to God now? There are quite a few ideas included in this article. Be sure to pray about them, and decide which one you need to pursue first and go from there.

If God isn’t your first priority, your priorities need to be restructured!