5 Ways to Get Closer to God: A Devotional on James 4:8

Being close to God is amazing. It's powerful and beneficial for us. Closeness with God gives us understanding and revelation of God. As we draw close to Him, He shows Himself to us in many unforgettable ways. Those moments, along with our encounters with God, deepen our faith and trust in Him.

Scripture: Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

James 4:8 NLT

God says that He will come near to us when we come near to Him. He will respond to our efforts to seek Him, which is wonderful news. That means if we ever feel like God is not drawing closer to us as we seek Him, we know to keep pushing forward because God guaranteed in His word that He will draw near to us. Now, if our intentions for drawing close to God are not pure, this hinders us. I learned that it is essential to examine our intentions before seeking God. Make sure your desire to draw close to God is because of God, and not for what you would like Him to give you. Now, let’s dive into the 5 ways to draw closer to God.

5 Ways to Draw Closer to God

Read the Bible with the Holy Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to read with you and give you a fresh understanding of the Scripture. When you read with the Holy Spirit, He’ll provide you with insight and understanding you couldn’t receive on your own. The Holy Spirit dwelling in you knows all things, and He's here to help you. (John 14:17; 1 John 2:20)

Pray with faith

Faith and belief are the core of being a Christian, yet sometimes we can pray with no faith and full of doubt. At times, we pray and then right after saying “Amen,” we doubt and question whether God will really come through for us. We must put our faith in God alone (James 1:6) before coming to God with our prayers. (Mark 11:23)

Fast

Fast to grow spiritually, not for personal pleasure. Isaiah 58 is a passage on fasting that tells us the correct and incorrect ways to fast. I suggest reading this passage before starting a fast or every day of a fast to keep at the forefront of your mind.

Worship and Praise God

Worshipping God typically involves singing worship music and revering God by bowing our minds, hearts, and souls before Him (Psalm 29:2). When we praise God, we do so by thanking Him for who He is. Thank Him for being I am that I am, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Nissi, our helper. Praise in Hebrew means to boast, to celebrate, to be foolish. Therefore, to praise God, we boast aloud our thanksgiving for our God who is glorious and wonderful. (Psalm 147:1)

Talk to God about everything, as He's your best friend

I enjoy this step. I found that by talking to God and bringing Him into every detail of my day, my connection and friendship with Him grew. By talking to God about everything, I learned that God is simple, gentle, intentional with my heart and life, and that His love truly is indescribable. The closeness of God that comes from developing a friendship with Him is best described as feeling like He’s with you in the flesh. He feels closer than our own flesh and bones.

If you are wondering where to begin, here are some starting points.

Examples of things to talk to God about:

Tell God about the outfit you are thinking of wearing.

Talk to Him about your favorite skincare products.

Tell Him about the new restaurant you want to try.

Anything. Talk to God about the things you talk to your best friend about. At first, it will seem as if you are talking to yourself, but God is listening, and He will respond. After a while, you’ll hear God speaking back to you, that He cares about everything you have to say, and you’ll encounter God as your best friend. (Jude 1:21; Luke 10:39; 42)

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dying on the cross for me. Because of your sacrifice, I now have the chance to know You deeply. Lord, soften my heart and give me pure intentions. Thank you for meeting with me and drawing closer to me as I draw closer to you. Amen.

Reflection

Have you found it easy or difficult to draw closer to God? Was this post helpful to you? What did you learn from James 4:8? How can you apply this scripture to your life this week? Comment below your thoughts and takeaways.

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#devotional #encouragement #james4 #james48