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I’ve been a Christian my entire life. But, it is just now, in my late twenties, that I feel like I finally have my own, close relationship with God. As crazy as that sounds, it’s true. I’ve been attending church my whole life, going to Sunday school…all of it. And now, I have reached the point in my spiritual journey where I can truly talk to God like He is a friend. How did I do it? This post gives you 20 different ways to get a deeper relationship with God and grow in faith. Of course, you don’t have to do all 20, but, here they are!

1. Truly believe in God.

“…God is love.” John 4:7

The first step in getting a deeper relationship with God is truly believing in Him. And I’m not talking about “I grew up Catholic, so I believe in God”. No. Do you really believe in Him? Like, on your own? Are you truly convicted? You have believe in God with your heart and soul in order to grow in Him. Believing is more than just knowing that He exists; it’s believing who He is. The Bible tells us that God is loving, strong, forgiving, kind–do you believe that? One way to believe who God is, is to believe his promises.

2. Believe God’s promises.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Proverbs 3:5

Do you trust God? Like, when He tells you that something is going to happen, do you have faith and believe what He says? Just like with any relationship, a relationship with God cannot exist without trust. Look in the Bible. God makes so many wonderful promises to us, and as His people, we are called to believe them. He promises never to leave us. He promises to love us unconditionally. He promises us strength and prosperity. If you believe all of these promises, why wouldn’t you want to be closer to God? I don’t know many people on Earth that can promise all of that; yet, we make commitments to friends and family. Make that commitment to grow in God.

3. Talk to God like a Father-figure or friend.

“The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13

I actually saw this on Twitter. Someone said, imagine having the perfect/ideal relationship with your father. How would you speak to him? Would you confide in him, tell him about your day, ask him for advice, or thank him for having your back? Speak to God that way. When I read that, I thought, “Hmm, I’m gonna try that”. And I never turned back! So many people are taught that prayer has to be done a certain way or there is a specific way you have to talk to God. That’s just not true! The bible says to talk to God with grace, confidence, sincerity, and assurance. That’s it! I find it easier to get a deeper relationship with God when I talk to Him like a father or a friend, rather than an abstract idea. Try it out, and tell me if you like it! You can message me on Instagram @naturalblackvegan.

4. Talk to God first thing in the morning and right before bed.

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3

One habit that has helped me grow closer to God is praying first thing in the morning and right before bed. I love setting intentions for my day first thing in the morning and getting into the right headspace, and prayer helps me do that. And, I like to end my days on the perfect note, by talking to a loving, trusting, forgiving confidant…God! No matter what kind of day I’ve had, I know that I can talk to God about it and feel comfort and ease. I know it sounds kind of simple, but try adding morning and night prayer to your routine.

5. Read the Bible.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

The Bible can be intimidating! It’s a big book that is often hard to understand, but as Christians, it is our daily bread. Obviously, reading the Bible can help you get a deeper relationship with God because we can read of His miracles, promises, and commandments. And I started reading the Bible more by using the app on my phone. Every day, they send a verse of the day, and I go back and read the entire chapter. There are also devotional reading plans that helped me get started. And lastly, if you attend a church, be sure to read the chapters and verses that go along with the sermon. If you have any tips for getting started with the Bible, leave them down below!

6. Listen to God’s voice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Maybe it’s just my personal journey, but learning to hear God’s voice took a lot of time and effort. The Bible says that if you do not hear God’s voice, you are not of God (John 8:47). Buy don’t worry! You may actually be hearing God’s voice, but not recognizing it. Prayer, silence, and solitude are my tips to recognizing God’s voice. The more you converse with Him, the more you can recognize Him. And don’t forget! You can always ask God for help hearing His voice. I do this all the time! I ask God to help me silence the world and allow me to hear His voice as the loudest one in my life. There are many instances in the Bible of people locking the door and praying in solitude. So, tip #6 is listen to His voice.

7. Ask for guidance every day.

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

A big part of staying connected to God is allowing Him to guide you. It’s too easy to be led by fear, peer pressure, and money, but why choose to led by those things when you could be led by your Heavenly Father? The Bible tells us that Jesus is the way, so I always ask God to lead me, guide me, and keep me on His path. I don’t want to be swayed any other way but God’s way. And I truly believe that allowing Him to order my steps gets me closer to Him.

8. Ask God to help you become more like Him.

“Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” 1 John 2:6

I want to be more like Jesus. I feel a deeper relationship with God when I walk as His son walked. Jesus was loving, kind, forgiving, and selfless. I mean, He gave His life for people who mocked and scorned Him. Each day, I aspire to be more like that. Don’t get me wrong…it’s hard! But, God can help us. He even gave us the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as guidelines. I know I can’t work on those things on my own, so I’m so grateful that God is there to help me when I ask. (And I’m grateful for His grace when I don’t get it right!)

9. Express gratitude.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” Psalm 100:4

I cannot even fathom how many “Thank Yous” God deserves. I could thank Him for His love and grace. I could thank Him for His gift of Christ. I could thank Him for food, shelter, and clothes. There is SO MUCH to thank Him for. There’s a prayer that says “Lord, if I had a thousand tongues, I couldn’t thank You enough”. And I feel that! Imagine having a friend or family member doing all that God has done for you. You would thank them, send a card, and maybe even pay them. Keep that same energy with God! If you want that deeper relationship, remember to thank Him. One habit of mine, is making “Thank You, Lord” the first words out of my mouth every morning. Because guess what? He woke you up! You have another chance to try to get it right. Thank Him! Praise Him! Glorify Him!

10. Find sermons, devotionals, and podcasts.

“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15

I have attended the same church since birth, and I hold my pastor in high regard. But, if you do not have a trusted pastor, there are sermons, podcasts, and devotionals EVERYWHERE! I look at recommendations on YouTube and Spotify or ask my friends who they’re listening to. And Amazon is the perfect place to find devotionals. The Bible says that preachers fill us with knowledge and wisdom, and they receive the Word from God. I don’t leave it up to myself to dissect the Word when there are shepherds with creative and captivating messages to give! Sometimes, I’ll listen to a service based on someone’s recommendation, and it’ll give me exactly what I need and draw me closer to God. Do you have a favorite pastor, devotional, or podcast? Leave a comment below!

11. Listen to praise and worship music.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Psalm 95:1

When I’m in a bad mood or I don’t even know which prayer to pray, I love to listen to praise and worship music. Sometimes, the lyrics speak to God in a way that I can’t articulate. Sometimes, I just need to jump and praise with the singers! Either way, music helps me get a deeper relationship with God. For me, it’s just another way to praise Him and communicate with Him. Don’t know where to start? There are awesome playlists on Spotify under Gospel and Christian Contemporary genres. I guarantee there is a song to help you work through whatever obstacle you’re facing.

12. Be around like-minded people.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20

It’s hard to develop any new habit if you are surrounded by people who don’t support you. This is why it is important to fellowship with other Christians on your journey to get a deeper relationship with God. And I’m not talking about people with the label “Christian”. I’m talking about people that want to get a deeper relationship with God, want to be more like Christ, know the Word, and support your spiritual journey. I am grateful to have my family and my church family to talk to about God, my dilemmas, and making big decisions. I always strive to make sure I am rooted in Christ, and those in my life give me advice based on that. And if you don’t have anyone, you have me! Feel free to message me here, and I’ll be that friend you need! We all need a hand to hold on our walks with Christ.

13. Write down your prayers.

Sometimes, prayer is hard. I get distracted, confused, and lose my place. (And I know I’m not the only one). I really struggled with this until I started writing down my prayers. It helps me keep my thoughts and ideas focused, and I can return to old prayers after they have been answered. Some days, my prayer is a simple “Thank You, Lord”, and some days, I fill up five pages in my journal. I write down my sad prayers, lonely prayers, joyful prayers, angry prayers, all of them. And if you don’t know where to start, ask God to take over your mind and remove mental blocks. Ask Him to strengthen your communication with Him. He will! I promise, the more dedication, consistency, and time you devote to prayer, the easier it becomes. And to make it even easier, you can start here:

Dear Lord, Thank You for waking me up this morning. Thank You for ________________, _______________, and ___________. Thank You for another day. Lord, I ask that you direct my steps throughout the day, and keep me on your path. Help me keep the faith and grow in You. I ask that you help me become more like You, and help me hear Your voice above all others. Help me with __________________, _____________________, and ______________ today. I give You all glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

14. Talk to God before making big decisions.

“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:6

Another way to get a deeper relationship with God is to consult with Him before making big decisions. Just as I would with a trusted friend, I turn to God for advice and clarity before making big changes. I value what He wants for me more than anyone else’s opinion, so I ask Him for guidance and discernment. Sometimes, God will even send me a sign about something, and since we are so close, I am able to recognize that it is a message from Him.

15. Humble yourself.

 “…Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”” James 4:6

In order to grow deeper with God, we have to relinquish control. There’s a saying, “we plan, God laughs”. This is because God has a plan for your life. He gives us the privilege to make choices, but we should try our best to humble ourselves to His will. The Bible says that God gives grace to those that are humble, so we need to humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to lead.

16. Confess your sins and change your bad habits.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land”. 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Bible says that once you change your sinful ways, God will listen to your prayers. So, if you want to get a deeper relationship with Him and you want Him to listen to you, you must first confess and change. It’s that simple! God’s not even asking for perfection–He just wants us to try and ask for forgiveness. Thank You, God for grace!

17. Lead with love and kindness.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31

Remember the golden rule? Well, as Christians, we are to treat others with love and kindness. Doing this brings us closer to God, and it is a great way to become more like Him. The Bible says that we are called to love one another, and whatever we do for others, we do for God. Thus, to be closer to Him, we have to live our lives leading with love and kindness.

18. Share God’s word.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Once we get to a place where we know God and we have that great relationship with Him, it’s time to tell others! The Bible tells us that it is our duty to spread God’s word to everyone. We can’t just keep His goodness and mercy to ourselves! By doing what God has called us to do, we are in turn getting closer with Him.

19. Be faithful to God.

“A faithful person will have many blessings…” Proverbs 28:20

In order for any relationship to thrive, one must be faithful; thus, a relationship with God is no different. He is always faithful to us, and the Bible says that we only need faith the size of a mustard seed. That’s it! Staying humble, faithful, and consistent with God will definitely help develop a deeper relationship with Him.

20. Make God #1.

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38

The last item on my list is actually the most important one: Make God #1. And with all He does for us, it shouldn’t be that hard! The Bible even tells us that if we seek God first, all good things will come to us. At this point in my spiritual journey, God is my #1. He is the first one I talk to when I wake up and the last one I talk to before going to bed. When I am sad or need help, I turn to Him first. When something great happens in my life, He is the first person I thank. Keeping Him in that #1 spot has definitely helped me get a deeper relationship with Him. And the best part is: He is ALWAYS there. What a friend He is!

Whew! That’s all I’ve got! And remember, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to develop a relationship with God, and what works for me may not work for you. Spiritual journeys and relationships with God are individual, and everyone’s journey looks different. Listen to God, follow your heart, and you will find what is right for you.

I hope these tips help you get a deeper relationship with God. If you have any questions or comments about your own journey, leave a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

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