5 Habits To Help You Get Closer to God
Published Dec 14, 2020
In a world full of distractions, maintaining our relationship with God can be a challenge. Sometimes, we become so busy with daily life that we fail to notice we’re already drifting away from Him.
So how do you get closer to God with all these temptations around?
As we all know, building lasting relationships isn’t something that can be done overnight. It requires time, effort, and consistency. The same can also be said with our relationship with God. It’s not enough that you want to be closer to God. That desire has to be followed up with a constant effort.
Yes, it can be hard at first, especially if you’ve always kept God at arm’s length before. Or you’ve only just recognized His presence in your life. This is why the best way to get closer to God is to form habits. It helps you slowly get used to living life by His side.
If you don’t know where to start, here are five simple habits that will help you get closer to God.
1. Reading the Bible Daily
If you really want to get closer to God, you need to get to know Him first. And there’s no better way to do that than to read His written word.
Set aside a few minutes each day to read the bible. You don’t need to read it chronologically. Start with the verses you’re familiar with. If you’re having a hard time understanding the bible, you can also refer to our quick guide. You can do the reading before you get out of bed in the morning or before you retire at night. It’s all up to you, as long as you do it every day.
2. Talking with God
A classmate once told me that she considers God as her best friend. When I asked her why, she reasoned that she tells Him all her secrets. Before she goes to bed, she talks to him and tells Him all her worries and the thoughts that she didn’t dare voice out in front of others.
I have to admit that it was confusing to me at first. I mean, He is God. How can you just casually talk to Him like you would with others? But then I realized, isn’t that just what God wants? For us to open up and lift our burdens to Him? (Matthew 11:28-30).
Talking to God means you’re opening your heart to Him. You don’t necessarily have to do it in the context of prayer. Just talk to Him and tell Him about your day, your worries, and even your small victories.
3. Prayer
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. – Jeremiah 29:12
It’s undeniable that prayer is one of the most powerful tools in reaching out to God. When we pray, he listens. It’s through prayer that we express our adoration for him, ask for forgiveness, and tell him our heart’s desire.
Unfortunately, our busy schedule sometimes keeps us from praying. But prayer doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just set aside a few minutes every day to utter a simple prayer. It doesn’t even matter where you are. You can pray anywhere. As long as you pray from the heart, He will hear it.
4. Practicing Gratitude
If we can just look past our struggles, we’ll see how blessed we are. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the planet we live in – all of these are because of God’s generosity. So learn to appreciate what you have and you’ll begin to see just how much God loves you.
5. Bearing Witness to God
One great way of getting closer to God is by helping others get closer to Him too. Bear witness to God and spread His word whenever you can. You won’t only help others find their way back into God’s loving arms, you’ll also find your way there in the process.
Seek a Deeper Connection with God and Join Lay Cistercians of South Florida
Lay Cistercians of South Florida, is a community of lay people who seeks to have a deeper connection with God by living a life inspired by the monks and nuns through Lay Monasticism. Learn more about what is a Lay Cistercian on our website. Anyone who aspires to do the same as us, and is a confirmed Catholic is welcome to join us! We meet every second Saturday of the month at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Lay Cistercians blog and a devoted Catholic. She works hard to ensure her work uses accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources.
