Have you ever felt a deep longing to enhance your relationship with God but found yourself unsure of where to start?
The quest for a deeper connection with the divine is a common yearning among believers.
If you’re concerned that achieving closeness with God involves a complex and rigorous routine, let me ease your worries. In reality, the journey to how do I get closer to God begins with a simple, sincere prayer for renewal and a commitment to dive into His Word every day.
This commitment to follow God diligently helps us grow ever closer to Him, allowing His influence to profoundly shape our lives.
- Strobel, Lee (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
The Call to Follow
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'” Luke 9:23 (NIV).
At first glance, Jesus’ invitation to His disciples seems daunting. They had already given up so much—family, friends, jobs, and the comforts of home—to follow Him.
Yet, Jesus made it clear that the path to even deeper closeness with Him requires even greater sacrifices. It’s not just about relinquishing some things; it’s about surrendering everything: their plans, their agendas, and possibly even their lives.
However, this extreme dedication leads to an intimacy with Jesus that is unmatched. They shared deeply personal moments with Him—taking communion before His crucifixion, receiving the humble service of foot washing, and enjoying meals with Him after His resurrection. These experiences promised not only an eternal future with Him but also an extraordinary closeness while on earth.
Creating Space for New Growth
What does it mean to “take up our cross” in a contemporary context? For me, it involved letting go of old habits to create space for new spiritual growth.
This journey isn’t about adhering to a superficial Christian checklist—attending church, reading the Bible, avoiding certain language, behaving kindly, praying, and giving to the poor. Instead, it’s about allowing God to influence and reshape every aspect of our lives.
This might involve stepping away from regular television viewing to focus more on spiritual activities, setting aside social media and email first thing in the morning to center our thoughts on God, or adopting new levels of discipline in areas like diet and personal habits. Each act of sacrifice is a step closer to God, each surrender a moment of spiritual renewal.
The Challenge of Distractions
Identifying and overcoming distractions is crucial in our journey to get closer to God. Often, it’s the daily distractions that divert our attention and affection away from Him. We must be willing to examine our lives critically and ask ourselves what we cherish more than our relationship with God. What are we prone to prioritize over our time with Him?
As we identify these distractions, the next step is to consciously set them aside, whether temporarily or permanently. This act of denial is challenging but deeply rewarding, as it opens our hearts to a richer, more intimate connection with God.
“Lord, show me what stands in the way of intimacy with You, and give me the strength to lay it down—for a season or maybe even forever. I long to be closer to You. No matter the cost. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Luke 9:24 reinforces this idea:
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (NIV) This paradoxical truth highlights the profound spiritual gains that come from true sacrifice.
How Do I Get Closer to God: Reflect and Respond
Consider the distractions you face in your own life that hinder your relationship with God. What practical steps can you take this week to make Him a greater priority? Engage in this conversation and let us explore together the adjustments we can make to deepen our connection with the divine.
In our quest to understand how do I get closer to God, embracing the daily practice of self-denial and active discipleship is essential. This journey, though filled with challenges, promises a profound connection with God that enriches our lives both now and eternally.
Are you ready to take up your cross daily, relinquish worldly distractions, and pursue the closeness with God you desire?
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