7 Ways to Get Closer to God Now

Below are seven pathways to the presence of God. The first 2 listed are in a specific order of importance. They are foundational to the rest, which are listed in no particular order.

The Word

If you’re looking for access to the kingdom, you have to start with the instructions He left for you. God has left us letters, messages. And He says that these words have the power to speak life into you (Hebrews 4:12, John 6:63, Proverbs 4:20-22)

…God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen. – Hebrews 11:3

It is so easy to deceive ourselves let alone to be deceived by spiritual forces. If you have not studied for yourself what the Bible tells us about…

• Who God is
• Who you are
• What is good
• and What is evil

…you may find yourself cozy in false teachings that look and sound good but effectually keep you from knowing God to the salvation of your soul.

A Healthy Prayer Life

This should be common sense – as in there should be a common sense of the power inherent in direct and consistent communion with God.

When you align with God, he will make you to work like the ant and eat like the elephant.

Shortcuts are available to you. Divine intervention, guidance, and favor speed up and will sometimes BYPASS a process. You are literally being helped by God.

…whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

If you are reading this and you are not experiencing God in a full and active prayer life, try this simple structure. Talking to God regularly is quintessential to your connection with Him. Jesus suffered and died to grant you access. Use it!

Perseverance

Sometimes you’re just not feeling it. I feel safe saying that we’ve all been there. Not only do we have to contend with our own flesh, but life is also like the weather – sun, rain, wind, and storms – wearing you down. We consistently face negative energy from spirits, friends, foes, family, media…most people and things are liable to be a conduit. And finally, there are times when it’s “just one of them days.”

I stress, do press! Every time I decide to keep going until something changes, something changes. Here are some strategies that have worked for me to get me over the threshold:

• Singing old hymns
• Remembering great things He’s done for me that I can never thank Him enough for
• Having a candid conversation with God about how hard it is to stay tuned right now
• Watching a short clip on YouTube that offers specific encouragement or counsel that is relevant to something I’ve been praying about

Community

Birds of a feather flock together. There’s strength in numbers. You are the company you keep…

The people you regularly commune with will undoubtedly affect your thoughts, behaviors, and opportunities.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” – 1 Cor 15:33

Staying active in a social community of believers who have a relationship with God is a support system. Each person around you who has a relationship with God has the capacity to channel the Holy Spirit. They are a functioning part of the body of God and just as you can be the blessing they need, they also can be useful to every type of success in your life via Godly love, favor, wise counsel, and power. It is so much easier to “keep in touch” with God when you keep in touch with people who reflect Him.

Forgiveness

You aren’t forgiven because you deserve it, you’re forgiven because He wants to be close to you. He wants you to be with Him. He suffers greatly for you to be in an intimate, loving relationship with Him. There is nothing you could do or have done that He did not already know you were capable of. He wants you anyway. Know that. Forgive others. And approach God with confidence and thanksgiving.

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15

You need to forgive others to be forgiven by God. If you are struggling to forgive someone in your life, talk to God about it.

• Be straight up with him. I have no doubt that if forgiving others is something you earnestly hope to do, and you give your struggle to God in prayer, He will give you whatever you need to be able to let go, and love someone who has wronged you, the same way He loves you. Remember, you don’t deserve God. Acknowledging that in prayer and being grateful for God’s grace and mercy towards you, has the power to erode grudges and warm your heart towards someone who has done you wrong.
• Pray for the person you can’t forgive. Hurt people, hurt people. God may even reveal the hurt that the person who hurt you struggles with. Their hurt may even be something that you relate to, which can fill your heart with compassion for them.

Praise & Worship

There’s a verse in Psalms that illustrates how our praise creates an environment for the Spirit of God to occupy – He’s enthroned there.

The love, closeness, forgiveness, gratitude, awe, and reverence that can be experienced within sincere worship and praise of God, is transformative. It can move your mind, heart, spirit and soul into alignment with the Spirit of God, essentially ushering you into full awareness of His glorious presence.

Fasting

Denying the desires of your flesh weakens its power over you, making it easier to tune in to your spirit. Consistent indulgence of our carnal cravings often begets a comfort and complacency that competes with the perfect peace and soul satisfaction that come from intimacy with the Spirit of God. The absolute center of who you are is intangible – it is an eternal energy within your physical body. Therefore, the true essence of your wants and needs can not be fulfilled by physical things.

Consider this also: the entire world and the great complexity that is a human being was created by the intangible – that which can not be seen. What power then, might you be able to wield should you practice denying your flesh and walking in the spirit?

…bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things… – 1 Timothy 4:8