Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – “Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Here are six habits that will draw you nearer to God.
Everyone who follows God wants to draw closer to God, but that closeness does not happen on its own. It is nurtured through daily spiritual habits. These six habits will help you draw nearer to God in every season of life. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
6 Habits That Draw You Closer to God
1. Submit to God
James tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7–8). The first step is submitting to God and His Word. Then we resist the devil’s temptations, He delivers us, and we are no longer so easily influenced by the devilish habits that cling to us.
2. Be broken before God
Do you want to draw closer to God? Of course you do. The psalmist wrote, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). We cannot draw closer to God without being broken, because God cannot fix what isn’t broken. Interestingly, we are often closest to God in the darkest days of our lives. You could say the way up is the way down, through humility, brokenness and a contrite spirit.
3. Fast and pray before God
When we fast and pray, we should not tell anyone, because Jesus taught that it can become self-focused, especially when we announce it to others (Matthew 6:16–18). We should fast and pray privately, just between us and God. Fasting and prayer can draw you closer to God, but check your health first and make sure you are not putting yourself at any medical risk.
4. Help others
When we help the least of these on earth, we are doing it for Jesus Himself (Matthew 25:40). This can include visiting the sick or those in prison, helping those who have little or nothing, and showing hospitality to strangers (Matthew 25:35–36), since we too are strangers and sojourners on our pilgrimage to the Promised Land. What we do for others, we do for Christ.
5. Pray without ceasing
Do you want to know God’s will? Many people pray and seek God’s will for their lives. Here it is: “Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). To draw closer to Jesus, talk with Him more, and that begins and ends with prayer.
6. Abide in God’s Word
Jesus said that if we remain in His Word, He will remain in us. You want that, don’t you? Jesus told His disciples, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). Since we can do nothing apart from Christ, why not remain in His Word every day, for we do not live on bread alone (Matthew 4:4).
Conclusion
To draw near to God, we first need to submit to Him, which means submitting to His Word; we come to Him with broken hearts in true humility, because God is near to the brokenhearted; we can fast and pray to see our total dependence on Him in everything; we can help others because we are doing it for Christ; we pray without ceasing; and we remain in Christ and His Word, because without Him we can do nothing. Not a little, but nothing.
Start One Habit to Draw Closer to God
James 4:8 promises, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” God is always ready; He is just waiting for us to step toward Him. Choose one of these six habits to practice consistently for the next thirty days.
Write down what you learn each week. After a month, you will find you have drawn closer to God, not because of feelings, but because you persevered in His presence.
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Prayer
Lord, we want to draw closer to You. Form good spiritual habits in us and a longing for You every day. Thank You that You always draw near to those who seek You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Translation Team – Communications Ministry, Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church
Adapted from: FaithInTheNews.com
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