5 Habits To Help You Get Closer to God


A man kneeling in front of the cross as a sign of repentance for the mortal sins he has committed.

Originally published on laycistercians.com

In a world full of distractions, maintaining our relationship with God can be a challenge. Sometimes, we become so busy with daily life that we fail to notice we’re already drifting away from Him.

So how do you get closer to God with all these temptations around?

As we all know, building lasting relationships isn’t something that can be done overnight. It requires time, effort, and consistency. The same can also be said with our relationship with God. It’s not enough that you want to be closer to God. That desire has to be followed up with a constant effort.

Yes, it can be hard at first, especially if you’ve always kept God at arm’s length before. Or you’ve only just recognized His presence in your life. This is why the best way to get closer to God is to form habits. It helps you slowly get used to living life by His side.

If you don’t know where to start, here are five simple habits that will help you get closer to God.

1. Reading the Bible Daily

If you really want to get closer to God, you need to get to know Him first. And there’s no better way to do that than to read His written word.

Set aside a few minutes each day to read the bible. You don’t need to read it chronologically. Start with the verses you’re familiar with. If you’re having a hard time understanding the bible, you can also refer to our quick guide. You can do the reading before you get out of bed in the morning or before you retire at night. It’s all up to you, as long as you do it every day.

2. Talking with God

A classmate once told me that she considers God as her best friend. When I asked her why, she reasoned that she tells Him all her secrets. Before she goes to bed, she talks to him and tells Him all her worries and the thoughts that she didn’t dare voice out in front of others.

I have to admit that it was confusing to me at first. I mean, He is God. How can you just casually talk to Him like you would with others? But then I realized, isn’t that just what God wants? For us to open up and lift our burdens to Him? (Matthew 11:28-30).

Talking to God means you’re opening your heart to Him. You don’t necessarily have to do it in the context of prayer. Just talk to Him and tell Him about your day, your worries, and even your small victories.

human hands trying to get closer to god

3. Prayer

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. – Jeremiah 29:12

It’s undeniable that prayer is one of the most powerful tools in reaching out to God. When we pray, he listens. It’s through prayer that we express our adoration for him, ask for forgiveness, and tell him our heart’s desire.

Unfortunately, our busy schedule sometimes keeps us from praying. But prayer doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just set aside a few minutes every day to utter a simple prayer. It doesn’t even matter where you are. You can pray anywhere. As long as you pray from the heart, He will hear it.

4. Practicing Gratitude

If we can just look past our struggles, we’ll see how blessed we are. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the planet we live in – all of these are because of God’s generosity. So learn to appreciate what you have and you’ll begin to see just how much God loves you.

5. Bearing Witness to God

One great way of getting closer to God is by helping others get closer to Him too. Bear witness to God and spread His word whenever you can. You won’t only help others find their way back into God’s loving arms, you’ll also find your way there in the process.

Monastery of the Holy Spirit gift shop.

Are You Interested in Seeking a Deeper Connection with God?

Come, join us! We, the Lay Cistercians of South Florida, are a community of lay people who seeks to have a deeper connection with God by living a life inspired by the monks and nuns through Lay Monasticism. Anyone who aspires to do the same is always welcome to join us. We meet every second Saturday of the month at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Delray Beach, Florida. Visit our homepage to know more about what is a Lay Cistercian and the Lay Cistercian Formation Program.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 10 Most Common Types of Concrete

Image
Concrete is the  most widely used  construction material in the world by a large margin. It is present in nearly every major infrastructure and with good reason. Concrete  is known to be  incredibly strong, durable, and long-lasting. But not all concrete is the same. There are many different types made for various uses. Some are more appropriate for large-scale projects than others. Likewise, others are better for DIY projects. In this article, we’ll be going over the ten most common types of concrete. Why concrete? Walking down any street, you’ll find concrete everywhere; you’ll find it in buildings, sidewalks, even roads. But why is this material so commonly used in construction? Concrete is crucial to buildings, as it’s the material that provides strength and structure. It is a mix of  aggregates  and cement, which results in a super-strong material when dried. Whereas other materials like wood rot and degrade over time, concrete can get stronger through the years. It’s also inexpen
Read more

25 Encouraging Bible Verses About Self Control

Image
Originally published on  laycistercians.com Self-control is defined in the dictionary as the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in the face of temptation. In the bible, it is listed as one of the fruits of the spirit – a sign that Christ is in us. So it’s no wonder that bible verses about self-control are in no short supply. Aside from being a sign that Jesus dwells in us, self-control is also a symbol that we surrender ourselves to Him. For if we let Him take the wheel, mastering our thoughts and emotions will be so much easier. If we focus our sights on Him, we won’t be trifled with inconsequential things. But if we let our desires get the better of us, living a godly life would be next to impossible. This is why many Christian values have their roots in self-control. Patience, for example, happens when we learn to control our responses to people and situations. Having self-control also allows us to reign in our greed, gluttony, pride, anger, lust, and envy.
Read more