A captivating black and white image of a solitary figure, bathed in ethereal light, kneeling in front of a towering and radiant staircase leading towards an unseen divine realm.

What Happens When You Get Closer To God?

Getting closer to God can dramatically transform your life. If you feel like something is missing or you want more meaning, joy, and peace, then pursuing a deeper connection with God may provide the fulfillment you’ve been looking for.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Drawing near to God through prayer, study, and community can fill your life with greater purpose, comfort, wisdom and love. As you open yourself to God’s presence and leading, incredible changes can happen in your heart, mind and circumstances.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what it really looks like to draw closer to God and the many benefits you can experience as a result. We’ll cover how getting closer to God impacts your perspective, priorities, character, relationships, and more.

We’ll also discuss the key spiritual disciplines that help you grow nearer to God each day. If you want God to feel more real and present in your life, keep reading to discover what awaits you on the journey of pursuing intimacy with your Creator.

A Transformed Perspective

Seeing the World Through God’s Eyes

As we grow closer to God, He opens our eyes to see the world from His perspective. We start to see people as eternal souls rather than just faces passing by. We develop greater compassion as we understand their struggles more deeply.

Life’s circumstances seem less random as we grasp God’s sovereignty over all things. We find purpose even in pain knowing God works all things for good (Romans 8:28). As 20th century writer C.S. Lewis puts it: “Now that I come to think of it, I’ve never met a mere mortal.

Every person I’ve ever met has been immortal.”

A Deeper Sense of Meaning and Purpose

Getting closer to God instills life with richer meaning. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 86% of religiously committed adults in the U.S. say they feel a deep sense of meaning and purpose, versus only 50% for religiously unaffiliated adults.

As we understand God’s love and plans for us more fully, we find purpose even in mundane tasks knowing that God cares about every detail. Our work takes on greater significance when done as worship unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

We realize our short time here prepares us for eternal joy in God’s presence.

Increased Wisdom and Discernment

A closer walk with God grants wisdom beyond facts and intelligence. As King Solomon discovered, beginning with the awe of the Lord is the foundation for true wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This manifests practically in greater discernment – accurately assessing people, situations, opportunities and challenges from God’s perspective rather than simply reacting emotionally.

We gain insight to make wise decisions that align with biblical values. We receive timely guidance from God’s Spirit within us prompting strategic words or actions (John 14:26). We develop patience in ambiguous situations knowing God has a good plan unfolding.

We find freedom in difficult relationships when we can step back and see others as broken – yet deeply loved – children of God.

A Shift in Priorities

When people grow closer to God, it often leads to a fundamental shift in their priorities and values. As the eternal Creator, God deserves first place in our hearts. Making Him the supreme focus helps order other desires under His lordship.

Let’s explore how an authentic relationship with God realigns our investment choices for greater meaning and legacy.

Desiring God Above All Else

Seeking God with all our being implies enthroning Him above all competing affections. As Creator, the Lord alone offers enduring purpose and satisfaction. Augustine expressed this reorientation poignantly when he prayed “You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You.

When God becomes our supreme Treasure, it revolutionizes motivation and liberates us from lesser loves.

John Piper, a respected evangelical pastor, describes the essence of salvation as “being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus.” Such soul-contentment transcends circumstances. It also elevates our choices – enabling investment in that which matters most.

For fulfillment and meaning are only found beneath God’s smile in harmony with His worth and ways.

Living for Eternity, Not Just the Moment

As the eternal God without beginning or end, the Lord dwells outside of time – yet His Kingdom invades the temporal. Those who walk with God begin viewing earthly life through an eternal lens. Such insight received by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.

After experiencing every pleasure and project the world offered, he concluded it was all “vanity and grasping after wind“. How tragic to gain the whole world yet lose one’s soul.

In contrast, storing up heavenly treasure impacts not only the afterlife – it imbues present purpose. Investing in God’s Kingdom manifests both now and forever based on His promises to reward steadfast faith. Our earthly bank accounts may build worldly wealth to be left behind.

But resources given to eternal causes yield dividends that outlast this age. For, as Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. “

Investing in Things of Lasting Value

When life centers on knowing and enjoying God, disrupted priorities fall back into harmony with eternity set in our hearts. As one prayer declares: “Turn my eyes from worthless things and give me life through Your Word.”

What consuming focus could be higher – for every good gift traces back to the Giver of life.

Such realignment impacts investing preferences as well. One Barna study revealed 48% of engaged Christians shifted resources toward Kingdom-causes during the pandemic – valuing outreach over personal comforts. Clearing out cluttered affections liberates generosity.

And channels for digital donations now make giving more convenient than ever before.

Of course, the Lord also calls some to radical abandonment – leaving livelihoods and property behind for higher service. Jim Elliot exemplified that consecration as a missionary martyred while reaching isolated tribes.

His conviction holds true in every age: “He is no fool who lays down his present pleasures to gain eternal treasures. “

Changes in Your Character

Becoming More Loving

As we grow closer to God, He transforms us to become more loving people. His perfect love casts out fear and selfishness from our hearts (1 John 4:18). We become more patient, kind, unselfish, and gentle.

Our love expands beyond just family and friends to include strangers, enemies, and the marginalized. We develop a deep compassion for the hurting and desire to serve others sacrificially. The fruit of God’s Spirit working in us is love (Galatians 5:22).

Cultivating Patience, Kindness and Self-Control

Getting closer to God enables us to cultivate patience and self-control. As we spend time in God’s presence and meditate on His Word, we receive more of His patience, kindness and self-control. We become slower to anger and abound in mercy and grace towards others.

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can override sinful impulses and exercise restraint. We respond gently even when provoked. According to a 2019 Pew Research study, 72% of Americans who feel close to God say they are more patient and can better control their temper.

Growing in Humility, Integrity and Purity

As we recognize God’s holiness, we become more aware of our own shortcomings and need for grace. This leads to greater humility. We focus less on our achievements and more on God’s love. We desire integrity and strive for moral purity in thoughts and actions.

According to the Barna group, 87% of spiritually mature Christians see God’s definition of success as living a moral, upright life. Getting closer to God elevates our perspective – we want to align with His standards, not cultural trends. We long for wholeness and wisdom more than wealth and comfort.

Strengthened Relationships

Deepening Intimacy with God

As we draw nearer to God in faith, our connection and intimacy with Him grows deeper. Through consistent prayer, Bible study, and worship, our knowledge of God’s character expands and we begin to align more fully with His will.

This strengthened bond brings profound peace, comfort, purpose, and fulfillment that transcends circumstantial happiness.

According to a 2021 Barna study, 28% of practicing Christians in the U.S. say their relationship with God has “greatly deepened” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Investing time and focused attention to spiritual growth pays rich dividends.

Receiving Grace and Forgiveness

God extends unlimited grace and complete forgiveness to those who sincerely seek Him. As we become more aware of God’s holiness, we also become conscious of our shortcomings and sins. But Scripture promises that if we confess our sins, God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

This cleansing and redemption sets us free from guilt, shame, and condemnation.

God’s gracious forgiveness also enables us to forgive others. According to psychologists, the ability to forgive is linked to better mental, relational, and even physical health.

Encouraging Others in Their Faith

As we mature spiritually, we yearn to see others experience the hope, purpose, and fulfillment we have found by pursuing Christ. We encourage friends and family members in their faith journeys through heartfelt prayers, authentic sharing of our personal testimony, and grace-filled conversations.

We also seek out opportunities to faithfully love and serve anyone God brings across our path.

Research indicates that over 80 percent of people who embraced Christianity did so through the influence of friends or family. Our sincere encouragement, given at the right time, could be the tipping point to transform someone’s eternity.

How to Draw Near to God

Reading and Meditating on Scripture

One of the most powerful ways to draw nearer to God is by reading His Word in the Bible and meditating on it (Psalm 119:15). As we read the Bible, we come to know God’s character, promises, and instructions for life.

We can ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Word and transform our thinking (Romans 12:2). It’s amazing how spending regular quiet time in Scripture helps us know Christ more intimately.

Prayer and Fasting

A dedicated prayer life is essential for drawing closer to God. Through prayer, we cultivate our relationship with Him by praising Him, confessing our sins, giving thanks, and bringing our requests before Him (Philippians 4:6). We should pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17) about everything.

Fasting intensifies our prayers and focuses our hearts on God. When we deny ourselves food or activities to spend extended time seeking the Lord, powerful breakthroughs often happen.

Christian Community and Worship

Getting connected with other believers helps us draw closer to God too. In community, we are inspired by testimonies of God’s work in people’s lives; we are encouraged to love God and serve others more wholeheartedly.

According to Hebrews 10:24-25, meeting together regularly for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship and outreach motivates us to live godly lives. As iron sharpens iron, Christians sharpen one another (Proverbs 27:17).

Obedience and Service

Obeying God’s commands positions us to experience more of His presence and blessings. Jesus promises that those who love Him by obeying His commands will be loved by the Father, and Christ will reveal Himself to them (John 14:21).

As we serve God out of love and gratitude for His sacrifice on our behalf, we align ourselves with His purposes and draw closer to Him. We were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Serving God and others should flow out of an intimate relationship with Him.

Conclusion

Pursuing closeness with God can utterly transform how you see yourself, others and the world around you. As you open your life fully to God’s presence and leading, He will fill you with greater purpose, wisdom, peace, joy and love.

It all starts with taking those first steps to draw nearer to Him each day. There is no greater adventure than the journey into the heart of God. You have a loving Father who wants you to experience the wonders of His Spirit. Will you accept His invitation?

Drawing closer to God yields a life rich in meaning, hope and blessing. What are you waiting for? Begin your journey toward greater intimacy with Him today.

Similar Posts