God came down to save us, because “God so loved the World” (John 3:16 NKJV) The first and greatest commandment or we could say the number one commandment is, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NKJV). We are to respond to God’s love with love. Our motive in reading the Word, Godliness, prayer, service, etc… should be because we love God.
To grow closer to God, we must spend time with him, in His word and in prayer.
The Bible says, “man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV), just as our physical bodies need food, so our souls need the Word of God.
Not only do we need the Word, we also need to learn to pray.
Jesus said, “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” (Luke 18:1 NKJV). Prayer is fellowship with God, A time we both listen and speak to Him, Leaonard Ravenhill said, “Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade him to move things our way, but an exercise by which we are enabled by his Spirit to move ourselves his way.1 Praying is essential for growth; we cannot grow closer to God without talking to Him.
Beware of Worldly influences.
2 Corinthians 6:17 says, ‘Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”’ (NKJV). The Bible calls the church the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-23). To be set apart, to be holy, we must dwell with Christ and be set apart to Him, not turning to idols or our own path.
Go to a Bible-teaching church.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NKJV)
God designed us to grow with each other believers, not as loan rangers. Finding a church that teaches the Word of God faithfully, where you can be strengthened and build good relationships, is an important part of growing in Christ.
If you do not currently spend time alone with God every day, I would encourage you to begin the habit of reading the Word, every morning, starting in Matthew Chapter one, reading one chapter per day, making some notes, looking for the plain meaning of the text, and ask God to help you understand it, also, set aside some time for prayer and cut off things in your life that you know keep you from growing closer to God. Lastly, find a good church, look for one that teaches through the books of the Bible, and where you can plug in and begin to build closer relationships.
- Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2004), 35.