If you’re reading this, you’ve probably been feeling this urge to draw near to God and know him. That’s no coincidence. God is calling you home. Here are some practical things you can start TODAY to build intimacy with our Lord and live the abundant life he has for all of his children.
1. PRAYER: SET A DIVINE APPOINTMENT EVERY DAY TO MEET WITH GOD.
Prayer is simply a conversation. Like all relationships, you must dedicate time to grow intimacy. Setting a daily appointment builds Intimacy and prioritizes what matters most. Now, I'm going to address the elephant in the room. It can feel like your prayers aren't being heard. I remember thinking: why would God listen to ME? I'm nobody. I was so caught up in what I was FEELING. However, your feelings aren't facts. God is listening all the time. As you start walking by faith, something becomes very clear: my feelings are not God. God is God. Gods truth defines Truth and his word says he is always near. God is always close. Don’t listen to your flesh.
As you meet with God, keep in mind that conversation requires both talking AND listening. I will be the first to admit my prayer life lacked the listening part. God wants to do life WITH you. It’s important to allow space for him to speak. This doesn’t mean he’s going to speak audibly with a voice, but he could speak through images that pop up in your mind, dreams, through his word, or through other people. He’s always speaking, the key is to allow room in your heart to seek and hear.
Lastly, Pray with boldness, believing he hears and answers (because he does). Pour everything out that is in your heart so God may pour in. He knows EVERYTHING. Don’t try to leave anything out. He wants to do life WITH us.
2. DAILY SURRENDER
Pray and commit your day to him before you get out of bed in the morning. Give God your first and last of days. This daily practice aligns my heart with his will. It sets the foundation for what my day will bring. If I start my day understanding that it is by God’s mercy and grace that I woke up, it eliminates selfish daily pursuits and instead prioritizes loving God and his people.
3. IMMERSE IN HIS WORD: DIVE DEEP INTO SCRIPTURE.
I used to be someone who never read her Bible. I thought it was boring, but man was I completely wrong. My life completely transformed when I began dedicating time daily to read his word. I noticed my mind and heart were being transformed and as a result, my behavior was influenced in the most positive way. You can start with just a chapter a day to meditate on. I have a rule in my morning routine that I refuse to touch my phone until I’ve picked up my Bible. It sets the tone for my day and quiets all the noise in my mind about the day ahead of me. When you tune out and tune into scripture, you build the necessary foundation to tackle the day and renew your mind.
3. LISTEN TO WORSHIP MUSIC.
It’s so easy to get stuck in negative and selfish thinking patterns. The world is loud. When you listen to music that glorifies our lord, you quiet the world and focus on God’s goodness. Your entire perspective changes and you no longer think about the small matters. There's nothing like jamming out and devoting your heart to the lord and as a result, having a good cry of joy.
4. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Gratitude shifts our perspective and sets our mind to all that we already have. If you know me, you know if you’re going to complain about life to me, I’m going to hit you with the “Name 3 things you’re grateful for. right now”. I think it’s easy to dwell in what’s going wrong in life and sometimes we need to zoom out, and see what’s going RIGHT instead. This allows us to see the problem with a clearer view and make better decisions. When you go through life in mental state of lack then that’s all you will ever see and attract. What you think, you become. I highly encourage you to set a daily gratitude alarm and train your mind to dwell in gratitude the next time you’re in a storm. It’s life changing.
5. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS
I can’t tell you how good I feel after leaving a conversation with a sister in Christ. It’s comforting to engage with someone who views life in the same way you do, who understands the power of prayer, and sees life through a spiritual lens . With man things may seem impossible, but with God, ALL things are possible. Being surrounded by people who understand this makes you tackle things differently and always leaves you feeling capable.
6. KEEPING A PRAYER BOOK
I can’t recommend this enough. A prayer book is a record of prayer requests and the date it was submitted. When God answers my prayers, I highlight and jot the date when it was answered. More recently, I went back to see his goodness in my life and it brought me to tears. Partly because I knew him as Lord and seeing his faithfulness in my life shifted the relationship to loving father. I’m left in awe to know THE creator sees and hears me.He’s so gracious, truly there are no words. As David said “when I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place. What is mankind that are mindful of them? Human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4).
A prayer book is also a good reminder that we serve a God who fulfills promises. Remembering his work in the past helps me hold captive thoughts of worry or doubt.
I hope these practical ways will help guide you towards him. This isn’t a formula. Everyone’s walk looks different. These are just some things that I practice personally that prioritize what matters most. Our strength comes from him. We can produce nothing if we are not connected to the vine. This is your sign to Tap In. God is waiting for you. I love you but God loves you more.
HOLY HOLY HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY! WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME!!!