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In this week’s show, I’ll uncover…
- what it truly means to be close to God.
- why you’re feeling distant from Him, and what you can do to change that.
- how you can use prayer to draw closer to Him.
What Does it Mean to Be Close to God?
Before we can get into HOW to feel closer to God, we first must understand what it means.
Feeling close to God is more than showing up for church once a week. It’s knowing Him personally. You see, there’s a difference between knowing ABOUT God and actually knowing Him. For as long as I can remember, I believed in our Father and knew Jesus was my Lord and Savior, but I had no idea I could have a real relationship with Him.
This an intimate relationship where you begin to feel His presence, trust in His guidance, and communicate with Him regularly.
Think about one of your besties. That relationship is built on trust, understanding, and constant communication, right? The same applies to your relationship with God.
Knowing facts about God is different from experiencing His love and guidance in your daily life. And in this episode, I’ll dig into scripture and give you some personal insights as I explore this deeper.
Why You Don’t Feel Close to God
You believe in God and want to feel closer to Him, so why does He feel so distant? Let’s break down some common roadblocks that are likely keeping you from feeling close to God.
You Aren’t Spending Time with Him
Feeling close to God begins by spending time in His presence; by creating new habits of praying throughout the day, and finding time to get into The Word.
In John 15:4, Jesus, Himself teaches the importance of spending time with Him in order to feel closer to Him,
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” NLT
This isn’t as overwhelming as you might think.
Start by incorporating prayer anchoring throughout the day. Simply put, prayer anchoring is choosing a few of your daily tasks, and rather than mindlessly working through them, say a quick prayer instead.
You can pray when you’re…
- washing the dishes
- folding clothes
- making the bed
- on your morning walk
- in the carpool line (BONUS: you’re instilling the importance of prayer to your children.)
It doesn’t have to be formal, nor do you need “the right” words. When you learn to prayer anchor, you’re inviting God into your daily activities — and that’s exactly what He wants.
You Are Living in Your Past Mistakes
One of the biggest barriers to feeling close to God is dwelling on past mistakes.
Guilt and shame can create a wall between you and God, making you feel unworthy of His love.
The thing is, God’s forgiveness is real and always available. In fact, Hebrews 8:12 teaches us that when we repent, God not only forgives us for what we’ve done, He forgets about it as well.
“And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” NLT
When we hold onto our past, we miss out on the life God has for us, and we definitely won’t feel close to Him.
You’re Too Focused on the Future
Another reason you might be feeling distant from God is that you’re too focused on the future.
We often find ourselves getting caught up in worrying about what’s next, but this prevents us from living in the present. God wants us to trust Him with our future and spend time with Him in the moment.
When I’m feeling anxious about what lies ahead, I repeat Psalm 119:24 throughout the day. This scripture will ground me and bring me back to the present with our Father every single time.
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” NLT
You Are Caught up in the Busyness of Life
There’s no denying it, life is busy and chaotic. Our hectic schedules can crowd out our time with God.
If we want to feel closer to God, we must make time for Him — even on those crazy days. This is a perfect time to incorporate the prayer anchoring I mentioned earlier.
And when you don’t have time to get into The Word, pull up a Bible app and have it read scripture to you. My absolute favorite is the Glorify app. It’ll read a passage, a quick, but powerful devotional, and walk you through a few minutes of setting your mind on God.
Listen to it while you’re working around the house, on your morning walk or commute to work. I’m telling you, starting your day by getting into The Word is one of the most powerful ways to feel closer to God.
How to Draw Close to God Through Prayer
So as I mentioned above, if you want to grow closer to God, you’ve got to spend time fostering this relationship with Him.
There are many types of prayer you can use, but we’ll break down four types that I use when I’m feeling distant from our Father.
Contemplative/Meditative Prayer
Contemplative or meditative prayer is a powerful way to feel closer to God. This type of prayer allows us to set our minds on Him and listen for His guidance and promptings.
It’s about quieting our minds and allowing His peace to fill us.
And in the episode, I’ll talk about what meditative prayer ISN’T, and how I use it in my own life.
Prayer Anchoring
I mentioned prayer anchoring earlier, but it’s such a powerful way to stay connected with God, that it more than earns its spot here.
This type of prayer is about creating physical or mental reminders that bring you back to a prayerful state in the midst of your busy day.
Prayer Journaling
Prayer journaling is another way to feel more connected to God. In fact, it’s when I feel most connected to Him.
Now I want to caution you for just a moment. If you’re thinking, “Yeah, but Tammy, journaling just isn’t my thing,” I hear you, my friend.
For most of my life, when someone mentioned the word journaling, I’d roll my eyes and immediately say, “No thanks.” But about 15 years ago, I knew something had to change. I had a hunger for God and was ready to try anything to feel more connected to Him.
And when I started journaling, everything changed.
My point is…give it a try. You’ve got absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Praise &Amp; Worship Music
Praise and worship music has a special way of connecting us to God. It can uplift our spirits when we’re feeling down, help us set our minds on Him, and in turn, foster a deep and meaningful connection with The Lord.
There’s just nothing like belting out those beautiful words to help you feel closer to God. Be sure to follow my praise and worship playlist because I’m always adding more songs to keep it fresh for you.
Why Don’t I Feel Close to God
If you’re ready to feel more connected to God through prayer, this episode is for you.
Grab your earbuds and your favorite beverage and join me for, Why Don’t I Feel Close to God.
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:44 What does close to God mean?
- 08:51 Why you aren’t feeling close to God
- 15:55 How to draw close to God through prayer
- 25:02 Wrapping Up
[Check out everything mentioned in the show here.]
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Mentioned in Today’s Show
5 Prayer Pitfalls Free Masterclass
Episode #112: How to Feel More Connected to God
Episode #129: 7 Effective Prayer Types for a Deeper Connection to God
