14 Practical Ways to Cultivate a Deeper Relationship With God
White light breaks through smoky billows of fog. Climbing out of bed, I admire the scene out the window and ask God to help me be more aware of his presence throughout the upcoming day. I’ve been seeking a deeper relationship with God over the past few months.
I know that going deeper includes becoming more aware of what he is doing around me. Sadly, I tend to overlook his presence as I push through my days on autopilot.
This is not how I want to live.
I’m tired of rushing through my moments, wishing away long days, and living in survival mode.
How to Have a Deeper Relationship With God
Maybe you long for a deeper relationship with God, too.
You want to sense his presence and experience his guidance. Maybe you’d like more peace and joy in your life.
How do we go deeper with him?
Cultivating a Deeper Relationship With God
I asked these hard questions recently, and I sensed God leading me into his Word.
Today, I’m sharing some practices from my study. I invite you to read these words and try these practices for yourself. I pray these activities will lead you into a deeper relationship with God.
1. At the end of each day, list three places you saw God.
Matthew 1:23 reads, “And they shall call his name Immanuel, which means God with us.”
Jesus came to live and dwell among us, and when he returned to heaven, he left the deposit of his Spirit. The Spirit of the Living God dwells among us. We’re not talking about a shadowy phantom or a mist over murky waters. The Living God is in our midst.
God is present in your hard conversations, your long days of living in the difficult parts of your calling, and your isolated seasons of grief.
He shows himself in gentle sunrises, cardinals at the feeder, welcoming smiles from strangers, and blog posts from women who live hundreds, if not thousands, of miles from your quiet little corner of the world.
Here’s your challenge: For the next seven days, at the end of each day, write down three places where you saw God in your day. You might be surprised by the way this shift helps you step into the meaning you crave.
2. For the next week, pick a daily task and pair it with worship.
Remember the Magi?
Also known as the three wise men, these star-gazing intellectuals are famous for chasing down baby Jesus by following signs in the sky.
Their response to the young Messiah intrigues me: The first thing the Magi did when they encountered Jesus was worship him.
All too often, I miss Immanuel (God with me in the ordinary) because I don’t have a worshipful heart. I tend to grumble and embrace the emotional rewards of playing the hard-working victim.
Convicted of this selfish mindset, I decided to pick one task and complete it all week with a worshipful heart. My task was the daily chore of making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It’s a task through which I often hurry.
Much to my surprise, my attitude changed when I paired this task with worship. I put a different clip on the loaf of bread to remind me of my commitment, and when I saw that colorful clothespin, something inside me shifted.
I made sandwiches with a grateful, worshipful heart instead of a grumbling heart.
What task could you pair with worship this week? You don’t have to literally listen to worship music while you complete this task (although, you could!). Rather, aim to slowly and mindfully complete the task, remaining aware of God’s goodness and his presence with you. The King of Kings awaits this encounter with you.
3. For a deeper relationship with God, regularly ask him to search your heart.
How often do you practice the discipline of confessing your sins to God? Jesus models this kind of confession as he prays the famous words of Matthew 6:12, “And forgive us our sins.”
If we want transformation in our lives, we need God’s help to show us where we have fallen short. Without condemnation, he will gently show us where we have sinned and fallen short.
As a part of my journey, I spent a week confessing my sins to God at the end of each day. If you want a deeper relationship with God, spend a week confessing your sins to God at the of each day.
My prayers of confession often include the words of King David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:13-14).
After praying these words, pause to notice what thoughts come to mind.
Do you recall a misspoken word to a friend or loved one from some point in your day? An attitude that was filled with bitterness, envy, or ingratitude? A moment when you snapped at your kids or your husband? A pattern of turning to something other than God for comfort? Pause to confess this sin and ask God to help you turn away from your sin and turn to him instead.
4. Begin the day by soaking in his love.
Before I get out of bed each morning, I try to take a moment to soak in Jesus’ love. I turn my attention toward him, thank him for the gift of a new day, and imagine his love pouring over me.
Some days, my emotions are stirred by this time with him.
Most days, I still feel groggy and look forward to freshening up and drinking a cup of coffee to help me get moving. In either case, turning my eyes toward the Lord first thing every morning helps me to continue to turn to him throughout the day. I have a deep sense that he is pleased when I turn my attention to him.
5. Get closer to God by thanking him for his gifts daily.
After making breakfast for the kids, I slip away to a quiet place where I can talk to God.
I begin by thanking him for at least one blessing in my life. I might thank him for a moment from the previous day or a scene outside the window. Giving thanks shifts my mood and fills me with joy.
6. Spend time in his written Word.
I also try to read my Bible for even a few minutes each morning. Some days, I read several chapters. On other days, I only read a few verses and write about them in my journal.
I talk to God about the reading and ask him what he wants to show me as I aim to apply it to my life.
Some days, I struggle to find an application. On other days, the words seem to come alive and speak directly into situations I’ve been facing. Regardless of how this time goes, I always walk away feeling nourished.
7. Cultivate a deeper relationship with God by resting with him for a few minutes daily.
Before moving to the next part of the day, I take a few moments to rest in God’s love. I have no measurable goal and aim to simply enjoy sitting with him for a few moments.
Sometimes, he impresses a truth upon my heart. Most of the time, I find peace. This time together feels like resting with a close friend and enjoying the gift of being together.
8. Pause to talk to him in the middle of the day.
I’ve learned to purposefully pause in the middle of even the busiest days to talk to God. Over lunch, I talk to him about the morning and ask for wisdom for the second half of the day.
For years, I set a timer on my watch. It beeped at noon every day and reminded me to turn my attention to God in the middle of the day—for even a few seconds. This purposeful pause is centering.
9. Slip away to declutter your mind with him.
It’s not always easy to slip away to the woods and talk to God in the evenings, but I try to practice this as often as possible. Time in nature is restorative to me, and I’m thankful for a wooded trail next to our family’s home.
As I walk, I talk to God about the day, declutter my mind, and create space to rest with him.
10. Get closer to God by spending time with other believers.
Last spring, I read a book by Henry Cloud called How People Grow. One premise of the book was that we grow by spending time (and sharing our stories with) other people. Connecting with friends who love Jesus consistently helps me connect with God.
These friends point me to his Truth when I need it and encourage me in difficult times. They are the hands, feet, and voice of Christ in my life.
11. Hang Scripture where you will see it often.
Our family memorizes a Bible verse every week or two. We write it on paper, hang it on the fridge, and learn it by repeatedly looking at it. Hiding his Word in our hearts helps us grow closer to God.
12. Wear jewelry that reminds you to turn toward him throughout the day.
I often wear a different ring or bracelet to remind me to pause and look toward God throughout the day. This is a simple way to remind myself to check in with him often, moving closer to the admonition to pray without stopping.
13. Develop a deeper relationship with God by listening to worship music.
Listening to praise music throughout the day helps me stay focused on God as well. Whether I’m writing or working around the house, I often turn on a worship playlist to help me stay connected to God.
14. Turn off the music and talk to God while you drive.
I enjoy listening to music while driving, but I often turn off the music and use solitary time in the car to talk to God. As a busy parent with three noisy kids, these quiet moments are rare. Using them to talk to God helps me stay close to him.
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If these ideas blessed you, I invite you to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you develop a deeper relationship with God. Also, explore our family devotionals below!
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here! 
