Have you ever felt like your relationship with God has become distant or lacking progress? Do you desire spiritual growth but are unsure how to build a relationship with God? Do you want your current relationship with God to be deeper and more intimate?
If you are looking for guidance in your spiritual relationship with Him, this article is for you.
You should start by reading part 1 in the How to Build a Relationship with God series.
In the first article, we discuss reading the Bible and how to study the Word of God. We also give some first-hand experience about how spending time in nature can bring you closer to God. The first article further advises why you should never compare your journey with others and be more Christ-like.
Part 1 in this series will give you the perfect first step in developing a stronger and lasting relationship with God.
Once you have read Part 1, you are ready for the next section in the series. In Part 2, you will discover how to grow closer to God through praise and worship.
You will also learn valuable attributes of listening to God, spending time in His presence, and offering God thanksgiving.
You will walk away, understanding more about how to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within you.
The How to Build a Relationship with God series is ideal in teaching you to make small yet significant changes in your spiritual walk for a lasting impact on your life.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
Related: How to Build a Relationship with God (20 Ways): Part 1
How to Build a Relationship with God
While it may seem overwhelming, a deep and intimate relationship with God is possible.
By making small changes in your daily routine, you can grow closer to God than you ever imagined possible. Try following this series by using the FREE Spiritual Goals Worksheet.
As you develop a more solid foundation in your spiritual walk, you can add the steps to your personal spiritual goals.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your relationship with God is the same. Do not expect to see instant results in your spiritual walk. You should also not try to accomplish every aspect of a relationship at once.
Like any relationship you encounter in life, your relationship with God should be based on honesty and trust. Allow your relationship to develop naturally. Focus on one or two areas until you feel they are solid habits, and then move to the next.
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1. Praise and Worship the Lord
Worship is a simple means by which you can develop a relationship with God. For most believers, worship is the easiest way to enter into the presence of God. Worship is a means by which we give God the glory, praise, and honor that only He deserves.
True worship comes from loving God with all your heart. It is praise for who God is. When we enter the presence of God, we understand that it is only by His grace that we are there. We must see ourselves in our sinful nature – unclean and unworthy.
We can then understand the magnitude of God’s grace and how special it is.
Worship is not a football game or symphony where we can sit back and observe. True worship demands participation. True worship is a way of life. As you grow spiritually, you will become more vocal and outgoing in your worship!
How to Praise and Worship the Lord
There are many ways to praise and worship the Lord! Here are a few ideas to get you started!
Music – You do not need to be an award-winning singer or musician to worship God through music. You can sing, bang a tambourine, or strum a guitar. Perhaps you have a favorite artist or band whose music always reaches your heart. In whatever way that music speaks to you, speak to God through it.
Dance – There are many ways to express your praise and worship through dance. You can sway to the beat of the drum, twirl with flags, or choreograph a routine. It does not matter what your skill level is.
All that matters is that you express the love you feel for God in a respectful and honorable manner.
Be In Tune with Nature – By caring for the things God has created, you can worship Him. Perhaps you have a touch with growing flowers, or maybe you have a love for animals. Your passion for God’s creation can be used as a form of worship.
Arts – Perhaps you enjoy writing or painting. You can worship the Lord through any form of art. Paint, draw, or sketch the images that the Spirit places in your heart.
You can also write the words of adoration you feel the most. My favorite artist’s Bible for journaling is the Tyndale NLT Inspire Bible!
There are endless ways to praise and worship God. Ensure you enter the presence of God with an open and willing heart.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. – Psalm 150:6 (NIV)
Related: How Prayer Can Improve Your Life (The Truth)
2. Listen to God
Another way to build a relationship with God is to listen to God. We know through Biblical truths that God’s people have heard Him speak throughout the years. We also know that God speaks to us today. But how do we hear Him and listen to Him?
Our lives today are noisy and busy. Too many days pass in a blur of full schedules and rushed meetings. Therefore, it takes intentional effort to sit and listen to God.
Just like you will learn more about your spouse and your children by listening to them speak about their day, you will learn more about God and become closer to Him by listening to Him.
There is a place of yearning within each of us that needs the nourishment that comes from being still once in a while. You need to learn to answer this call and make time for God daily.
How to Listen to God
It can be difficult for most of us to sit still. The first time you try, you will suddenly find that you remember where you put that missing school paper or that your spouse asked you to run an errand for them.
This world trains your brain to fill in the quiet and stay busy. The world equates this with being productive. But your Spirit needs to recharge.
Here are some key ways you can learn to listen to God.
Know God Wants to Speak with You – You need to truly believe in your heart that God wants to speak with you! He doesn’t just speak with those we think of as mighty or worthy.
He desires an intimate relationship with every single one of His children! And you are one of God’s children! The realization that He wants to speak with you is key in communicating with God!
Get Quiet – This will take time and practice. Try and try again. Start by working up to five minutes of quiet, then ten, and then twenty.
Soon enough, you will find yourself only focusing on what He is saying to you. Draw close to Him, and He will draw close to you!
Jot It Down – Don’t walk away from your quiet time too soon. Keep a notebook handy. Write down the date, the amount of time you spent being still, and anything that came to mind during that time.
Even the mundane things your brain came up with are important. Eventually, the mundane list will become smaller, and the God list will grow! Try the beautifully aesthetic Twilight Garden Journal.
Listening to God is definitely part of your spiritual journey and not a race to the end.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. – John 10:27 (ESV)
Related: The HEAR Bible Study Method | A Complete Guide (Free Printable)
3. Spend Time in His Presence
It’s impossible to get to know someone if you don’t spend time with them. Do you remember when you started dating? You would spend every moment you could with that person. You soaked up everything they said and assessed everything they did.
A key element in building a personal relationship with God is spending time with God! God’s presence is not limited to a specific place or time. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere – all of the time.
God’s presence is a place of completeness, love, and ultimate fulfillment. It is a place you won’t want to leave. It is a spiritual state where you are as close to God as you physically can be here on Earth.
How to Spend Time in His Presence
Make It a Daily Commitment – A relationship is built on give and take. God takes our burdens, worries, and sorrows. In return, we give Him our praise, worship, and love.
You cannot grow to know someone if you simply do it when it’s convenient for you. Make a daily commitment to come into the presence of God.
Worship God – As we stated earlier, worship is a simple and easy way to come into the presence of God. Music and other art forms can allow our minds to release the daily hustle and focus solely on the Lord.
Study His Word – God’s Word, the Bible, is Him speaking through generations directly to us. By spending time studying His word, you can get to know the character of God better. This will make it easier for you to recognize Him in your daily life. My favorite study Bible is The Women’s Study Bible NIV.
A good relationship with God will depend on how much time you spend with Him!
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:8 (ESV)
Related: How to Build a Bible Library with the Best Bible Reference Books
4. Offer God Thanksgiving
In addition to our busy lives, we also live in a world that seems to chase the next thing constantly. The moment we receive something, there is a new model or design to replace it.
This newer, bigger, and better ideal often causes us to miss being grateful for what we have. There are so many reasons every day that we can offer God thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is meant to be a way of life. When we offer God thanksgiving, we recognize the giver and not the gifts. This mindset of gratitude draws us closer to God and, therefore, builds our relationship with Him.
Gratitude opens our eyes to all that God is doing around us. It takes our focus off our complaints and places it back onto the Creator.
How to Offer God Thanksgiving
Keep a Gratitude Journal – Become intentional about recognizing all God does for you. By keeping a gratitude journal, you make it a daily habit to thank God. Consider using the Good Days Start with Gratitude Journal. This is a 52-week guide to creating an attitude of gratitude.
Pray – Praying to God is a great way to offer God thanksgiving. Create a template in your heart that ensures you always offer God thanksgiving before asking for anything.
Obey God’s Commands – God demands obedience from His children. Our obedience shows God respect. By respecting God, we express thanksgiving.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)
Related: How to Start a Prayer Journal (With a Free Download)
5. Welcome the Holy Spirit into Your Heart
One specific and sure way to grow closer to God is to welcome the Holy Spirit. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are blessed with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was sent to God’s children to be our comforter and guide. However, you must choose each and every day to be led by the Spirit. You must actively hand your life over by welcoming Him into your heart.
The indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit is another practice in obedience. When you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you in a certain direction, follow in obedience. It may not always be easy, nor will it always be comfortable, but it will bring you closer to God.
How to Welcome the Holy Spirit into Your Heart
Let Go of Control – To experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit within you, let go of the steering wheel of your life! You must accept that the Spirit knows and wants what is best for you. Hand over control and follow!
Be Open-minded – Believe it or not….we don’t know everything! You will feel closer to the Holy Spirit by opening your mind to new possibilities and experiences. Put aside your own assumptions or ideals and allow the Spirit to shape how you see the world.
Learn More About the Holy Spirit – Talk to other believers about their experiences with the Spirit. Read books that give you more knowledge on the characteristics of the Spirit.
Check out Who is the Holy Spirit? The Truth Will Surprise You – This book encourages you to get to know the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Dig deep into Biblical truth and walk away with an intimate knowledge of who the Holy Spirit is and why you should be friends!
Do not quench the Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV)
Related: Why Study the Bible? The Importance of Bible Study (Top 10 List)
A Prayer for Building a Relationship with God
Dear Lord,
You who encourage growth and a deeper relationship, I give my life into Your hands. I ask that You help me grow daily through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Keep me from becoming dry and stagnant. Allow me to continue to live with a drive, desire, and passion for Your Word.
Guide me into Your presence daily. Do not allow me to be simply a hearer of the Word, but convict me to be a doer, a strong believer that lives in truth and obedience to Your will.
In Your Name,
Amen
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Hear God’s Voice?
The best way to hear God’s voice is to be quiet, as noise makes it hard to hear God. Our thoughts often cause us to feel like God is not talking. Practice being still; remove distractions and focus on being present. Over time, you’ll become more attuned to God’s voice.
How Do I Pray to God Correctly?
The Bible encourages us to talk to God in the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ gave us a template in the Lord’s Prayer in Luke chapter 11. Praise God, and ask Him for forgiveness for your sins, and pray for protection. This can serve as a guide for all prayers.
What Are Signs that God is Talking to Me?
Discernment or a strong conviction or feeling over a decision are good signs that God is speaking. Any communication should line up with His Word. When unsure, refer to scripture; if it’s contradictory, it’s NOT from God. The more you pray, the easier it’ll be.
How Can I Feel God’s Presence?
You can feel God’s presence by asking the Holy Spirit to live within you. It feels complete – like coming home, a place where you feel whole and accepted. Many relate it to feeling like a weight is lifted from your shoulders. The actual experience of these feelings will be personal.
How Do I Prepare Myself for God?
There are no physical requirements to enter into God’s presence, but try being comfortable. Remove distractions such as your phone, television, or computer. If you want to truly experience His presence, confess and ask forgiveness. Only then will the Spirit be able to guide you.
Conclusion
You should now be even closer to building a full relationship with God. It is a joyous and extremely personal experience.
Throughout this series, you will be given numerous ways to grow spiritually and answer questions about building a relationship with God. Take your time in developing each step thoroughly.
Have you had a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit? Have you had any experience in God’s presence that has impacted your life? Share these with us in the comments! We would love to hear how God is working in your life!
Spiritual growth is an individual journey and cannot be compared to another. As you can see, each way to build a relationship with God in this article works together. When you accept the Holy Spirit and allow Him to live within you, you will find it easier to know why God is worthy of your praise and worship.
The more time you spend in worship, the more you will find to thank God for. As you develop a lifestyle of gratitude, you will learn to dwell in God’s presence. The more time you spend in God’s presence, the easier it will be to listen to His voice!
I hope this article has encouraged you and provided you with helpful tools to deepen your relationship with our Father.
You can help others grow closer to God by sharing this article on social media! Stick around for How to Build a Relationship with God (20 Ways) – Part 3!
Remember, God’s love is with you wherever you go! May God bless you today!