People living in the materialistic world often forget God and chasing things which are considered hateful by God. They are easily imprisoned through wealth, luxuries, glamour and countless more materialistic things form which they cannot come out easily.
When they get stuck in, face weakness either in illness or face any other loss and realize that there is no way of getting out of it except God. Then they seek out the ways how to get closer to God and start following the religious ways. They consider to have gone away from God in the race of life in order to get closer to the material things.
This article gathers all the possible ways of getting closer to God, whether those related to the rights of the God or bearing the relationship with the mankind and/ or living things.
Table of Contents
Ways to Get Closer to God
There can be uncountable ways to get closer to God but for the purposes of this article we have gathered some effective ways of getting closer to God. The tips and ways have been divided into two heads; one relating to the rights of God, while other have bearing on the rights of individuals, however for the convenience of readers and comprehension; these are mentioned inter alia.
Methods to attract mercy of God
These ways primarily deal with the rights of the God, and duties on the mankind. If these acts are performed as per direction of the God; those will bring us close to the God.
Attend Churches to get closer to God
The first and foremost way of getting closer to God is going to the home of God and seeking out Him. God is everywhere and can here you from any corner of the universe but religious places like churches are considered to be the homes of God.
Visiting church regularly and begging your way or ending your day, beginning your weak or ending your weak with this would help you out in becoming closer to the God. Without it you may not enjoy the relationship with God. Visiting churches enables you to see; other people praying, praying the fathers, people confessing their sins and other deeds, piousness of people, people trying to get rid of bad fortunes and illness, etc.
You may either feel lucky while seeing the illness and bad fortunes or may feel bad for yourself that other people are closer to God than you. Without any big reasons try to not miss attending churches and attend other religious sermons happening there.
Praying Regularly for the closeness
Praying regularly is the key of closeness to God. This is the only way of communication with God, you can express your grievances, difficulties, issues, wishes, weakness and many more. It is the only way of making a prosperous relationship with God.
If you are confused how to pray, it is not a big issue. God can hear the inner voices of your heart and mind so be easy with the way easy to you and just pray. Begin your prayers with phrasing your God and thanking him for giving you all the things and blessings. The best way of praying is the time where there is no one, no distractions and you consider your God in front of you while praying.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6 niv).
Reading the bible to get closeness
Reading Bible is also a way of talking with your God, reading the words of Bible is reading the words of God. Make it a part of your routine and never miss reading the Bible. How long does it take to read the bible needs some detailed discussion. If you have time read more but if you are running out of time and are in haste so at least give the minimum time from 5 to 10 minutes. By reading Bible we know God, his orders in every situations, the cure of every illness, the solution to every problem.
This is how we know who god is and how he works—because scripture is literally his inspired word (2 timothy 3:16-17).
Understanding and Memorizing the Scripture
The main thing is not only reading and memorizing the words of Bible but also understanding the message of God and responding to Him. Memorizing Bible is preserving the words of God in your chest and is way of gaining wisdom. You must learn at least a part of Bible if possible and if you are unable to do only memorize the prayers which are given in the Bible. God know all languages but talking to Him in His language would please you because you tried to learn the language of God.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. –Psalm 119:11
Confessing Sins and Repentance
The best way of getting rid of the burden of sins is to confess what you did and then intend not to do those sins again. It would be one of the ways of becoming closer to God.
It would make you feel better and relaxed. If you are far away from church you are still nearer to God, just confess your sins in lowliness.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” –James 5:16
Praying Beyond Materialistic Things
Praying only for the materialistic things is not the way of worshipping God. God gives material things to those as well who do not wish for. Ask for purity, spirituality, a good heart, honesty, generosity, truthfulness, good health, strong hands to help others and also wish for the long healthy life of your parents.
Thanking God and Journaling Blessings
Always thank your God for being so nice and helpful to you. God has gifted you good health and a beautiful life so it would be better to express your love with God with thanking Him for all the gifts. Start and end your day with God, this is how you get closer to God. Write down and keep journaling your blessings.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
“Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” –psalm (119:129-13)
Keeping Fasts to get closer to God
If you want how to get closer to God, fasting is the only way. By doing so you will be able to quit your drinking and eating and will know the situation of those who do not find to eat and drink properly. It will also teach tolerance, piousness and purity. Always phrase God after getting to eat and pray to eat and drink well.
Scripture (luke 5:35) recommends temporarily abstaining from necessities, like eating, to intensify our dependence on god through prayer (1 corinthians 7:5)
Meditating regularly to become close to God
Listen to worshiping music, take a prayer walk and meditate well. This is how you will get closer to God. Meditation is not only good for your health but also for your spirituality. It will help you to think over the existence of God.
Suggested Reading: How to meditate on the word of God
Trying out other ways of worshiping For Purity and Spirituality
Along with your daily prayers always seek other prayers who are rarely done but are most effective ways of getting closer to God. One of them is waking up at night, sacrificing your sleep and start communication with your God at the time all the world is sleeping. This is the only distinctive way of befriending your God and making the unique relations with Him.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6 niv)
Believing In God in Every Situation
Believing in God in every tough situation is the first step of faith. You must have the strong believe in your God that He is always there for you and will never leave you alone. God is closer to those who tend to get closer to Him. If you do not get an opportunity, think that there must be another better than the former one.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. –Philippians (4:6)
Asking Questions of Priest and Fathers
Think over the universe and ask questions of yourself. Wonder in the search of such questions, take Bible and read thoroughly. If you could not get the answers visit fathers and priests of churches and questions them as well. If you find any stereotypical traditions which are not according to humanity question them and present solid evidences to replace them.
Thinking Over the Creation and Reflection of God
While going, sleeping, driving, eating, and performing any other work always think over the creation of God. There is always the reflection of God in almost everything of the universe. Think over the sky, earth, nature, humans, and each and every thing will reflect the presence of God. By remembering God everywhere in every situation will get closer you to your God.
The heavens declare the glory of god; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. –Psalm (19)
Returning To God after Every Sin
If you ever commit a sin always return to your God for forgiveness and intend of not doing that again. God is the one who will give you the freedom from every burden of your life. If you grab and violate others’ rights, speak to them after realizing before returning to God. First ask forgiveness of them and then return to God.
Participating In Religious Sermons
Sermons are the sources of knowledge, wise and sage scholars of the religion present precious knowledge about significant events. Attend all religious sermons and enjoy the spiritual air of the environment.
Get to know about the sacrifices of the prophets and implement or at least tend to implement in your life.
“Participate in a public gathering of believers to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with what His actions accomplished”. (Luke 22:19-21)
Getting Close to God by Keeping Relations
It has been required from a man to keep good relationship with others and show best ethical values to the family, friends and others. If one shows values to others and maintains healthy relationship as ordained by the God in scriptures; gets closeness to God. Next we are writing further ways which can help us in getting closeness to God.
Nurturing Animals and Plants
To maintain the decorum of life keep the voiceless living organism in your consideration and feed them also well. Do not waste the remaining food and serve it to animal. Plant more and more because they are the lungs of the environment. Doing all this will make happy God.
“Then god said, ‘i give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food’” (Genesis 1:29 niv)
Bringing Order in Home and in Relations
Bringing order, justice, peace, comfort and availability of every ease to your home will also lead you to become closer to God. God will be kind to those who are kind to their family member and relative. Don’t abandon relations with your near and dears.
“For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he cares for god’s church?” (1 timothy 3:5)
Seeking Counsels from the Sages
Another of getting closer to God is seeking wisdom and enlightenment; this will come through reading the scriptures and following the wise and sages of your religion. Always be in search our counseling from the sages.
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but a wise man listens to advice” (proverbs 12:5 esv)
Doing Good Deeds and Avoiding God’s Hateful
Keep your minds relax and fresh by doing the loved deeds to God and abandon those which are considered forbidden. Shakespeare, the famous playwright, writes in his masterpiece ‘Dr. Faustus’ the seven deadly sins; pride, covetousness, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth and lechery.
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).
Befriending Other Christians
Keeping envy aside befriend all your human brothers. Do not fall in the racial issues, no one is prior over other, all are born free and should be treated equally. Live with other Christians in harmony, peace and tranquility.
Forgiving Others to be close to God
God forgive those who forgive others. Forgiving others is the way how to get closer to God. If you have the quality of forgiveness then you will be forgiven. You can then expect others to forgive you and have the faith to be forgiven by God.
Helping the Needy
The best and most loved one way to God is giving the helping hand to those who are need. This is the high standard of humanity to help other, to feed others, to provide cloths to the orphans and to give charity to the orphanage. These are the obligations of every human and God helps those who help other.
Jesus taught his followers to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27).
Negotiating Instead Of Violence and Fighting
God hates bloodshed, violence, fighting, and quarreling with your brother humans. If it ever happens try to negotiate and avoid fighting. Killing a human is killing the whole humanity. God hates those who tease others, so to get closer to God avoid bloodshed and rather negotiate.
Avoiding Transgressions
Transgression is abominable and is considered a sin in Bible. Transgressing any aspect of life is separating the ways from God. Transgression is often neglected and ignored by humans, they take it very lightly but is a great sin in the eyes of God.
Romans (4:15) states that God's law brings wrath, or punishment, on account of transgression.
Becoming Generous to be Blessed
God is pleased with those who are generous with His mankind. A generous individual is a friend of God. If you want to get closer to God, adopt this characteristic in yourself. Be generous to yourself, your family, your relative and your friends.
“Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for god loves a cheerful giver” (2 corinthians 9:6-8 niv).
Respecting Parents and Teachers
God respect those who respect others. Respecting your parents and rewarding them for which they have done for you is the best way of getting closer to God.
Respect those who make you able to read, write, and think and understand, teachers are the second to your parents who make you humans. Always be kind to them, God will be kind to you.
Praying for other alongwith yourself
Pray for the whole humanity and people under besiege. Praying for others will soften your heart and you will feel the pain of all humans. God will give you more if you pray for others. Insisting God to provide others will be provided well by God.
Conclusion
In the article we have shared many tips to get close to the God. As the creature belongs to God and needs support from the creator. Thus, it is incumbent upon the man to follow the guidelines revealed/ given by the God. The manner of spending life as designed by the law giver must be adhered to in order to seek bounties from the will of God.
In response to the question ‘how to get closer to God’ we have made an effort of sharing all possible dos and don’ts making you closer to God. Firstly, acts required by the God for the obedience have been mentioned so to get closeness to the God. Secondly, an account of orders in relations with the human being or even with the other creatures has been described so to give you a glance of most of the acts one should follow to become closer to the God.
In short, spending every aspect of life in the light of guidance and teachings of the God can bring you close to God. Thus we are supposed to find out the teaching of the God requiring us to move in a certain way as for relation with God is concerned or with others, and then to follow the same in compliance with the directions/ guidelines, which would help us in getting more closer to God.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I become closer to God?
Visiting church regularly and begging your way or ending your day, beginning your weak or ending your weak with this would help you out in becoming closer to the God. Visiting churches enables you to see; other people praying, praying the fathers, people confessing their sins and other deeds, piousness of people, people trying to get rid of bad fortunes and illness, etc.
How do I build a closer connection with God?
Reading Bible is also a way of talking with your God, reading the words of Bible is reading the words of God. The main thing is not only reading and memorizing the words of Bible but also understanding the message of God and responding to Him. Memorizing Bible is preserving the words of God in your chest and is way of gaining wisdom.
How will I come close to God?
You will get closer to God by fasting. By doing so you will be able to quit your drinking and eating and will know the situation of those who do not find to eat and drink properly. It will also teach tolerance, piousness and purity. Always phrase God after getting to eat and pray to eat and drink well.
What makes a person closer to God?
The best and most loved one way to God is giving the helping hand to those who are need. This is the high standard of humanity to help other, to feed others, to provide cloths to the orphans and to give charity to the orphanage. These are the obligations of every human and God helps those who help other.
How doing good deeds and avoiding god’s hateful will get you closer to God?
Keep your minds relax and fresh by doing the loved deeds to God and abandon those which are considered forbidden. Shakespeare, the famous playwright, writes in his masterpiece ‘Dr. Faustus’ the seven deadly sins; pride, covetousness, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth and lechery.
