The question of How can I get closer to God? is a really important question. Scripture says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). So it puts the ball in our court and shows us there are some things we can do.

One of those things is to first see what God has really said. That’s why I go to the Bible and meditate on it daily. I think about what God has said. I also pray and ask God to work in my life.

In order to have a close relationship with anyone, first and foremost, you must spend time with them. If I’m going to have a close relationship with my wife—which I desire to have—I must spend time with her. The same thing is true with our children. When we were raising our girls, and now we have grandchildren, there’s simply no substitute for spending time with them. That’s how you get to know them and draw close to them.

Another way we can draw close to God is by connecting with people. Our vertical relationship with God and Scripture is always linked to our horizontal relationship with people. Jesus said in Mark 12:28-31 that the first and greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart. And He said there’s a second command that is like it, and connected with it, and that’s to love your neighbor as yourself. People are created in the image of God. So we can actually learn about God from seeing His image reflected in people.

Scripture also tells us that the creation demonstrates what God is like, so even when we look at animals, we should be able to learn more about the Creator. He has created animals for His glory, and also to tell us something about Himself. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

So bottom line, how do we draw close to God? First and foremost we’ve got to spend time with Him.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

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