HOW TO GET CLOSER TO GOD
You get closer to another person by spending time with that person. It is the same with God. You get closer to God by spending time with him. If you want to get closer to God, it is very important that you spend time alone with him daily.
HOW TO SPEND TIME ALONE WITH GOD
Set a time in the day to be alone with God. You might find it helpful to make it the same time each day. It would be good if you spent time alone with God first thing in the morning. That way, you would be starting each day with God, and you would be allowing him to prepare you for the day ahead. Whatever time you choose, make sure it is not a time when you will be tired or sleepy. You want to be wide awake so you can enjoy your time with God.
Find a place where you can be alone. Make sure it is not a place where things like the phone or the T.V. will bother you. You need a quiet place where you can talk to God, and listen to what he is saying to you.
Talk to God honestly about anything that is on your mind.
Allow God to talk to you and teach you about himself.
HOW TO TALK TO GOD
When you are talking to God, you can speak to him out loud or silently in your heart. You don't need to use any special words. Just talk to him in the same way that you talk to other people.
You can talk to God about anything that is on your mind. You can:
- Tell him how you're feeling, whether good or bad.
- Talk to him about your problems, and ask him to help you.
- Ask him for the things you need.
- Ask him to show you the right way to live your life.
- Ask him to help the people around you.
There is nothing too big or too small to talk to God about.
Be very honest when you are talking to God. Remember, he already knows everything anyway.
HOW GOD TALKS TO YOU
God talks to us in many different ways. He talks to us through nature, through other people, through the things that happen around us, and especially through the Bible.
What is written in the Bible is God's message to all people. One way you can allow God to talk to you each day is to read the Bible.
HOW TO READ THE BIBLE
Pray before you read. The Bible says no one can understand the things of God unless God helps them. Ask God to help you understand what you are about to read.
Take your time as you read. Don't rush. Take time to think about what you are reading and how you can use it in your life.
Talk to Jesus about what you’re reading. Tell him what you’re thinking about the things he’s saying and what he might be trying to teach you through them. You can even write down your thoughts. This will help you remember them for a long time to come.
Ask God questions about the things you don't understand. God can give you the answer in many different ways. He may answer by putting a thought in your mind, or through writings in other parts of the Bible, through things that other people say, or through things that happen in your life. He may answer right away or he may answer later, but he always answers.
Keep reading. Don't let the things you don't understand stop you. Look for what you can understand and hold on to that.
Use what you learn from each letter in your life. If you do, God will teach you even more about himself. And you will enjoy a closer friendship with God.
WHERE TO BEGIN IN THE BIBLE
If you are wondering where to begin your Bible reading during your time alone with God, I believe you will enjoy reading about the life of Jesus from the book of Luke and the book of Acts. (The Bible is made up of different parts called “books.”)
Make sure to use a version of the Bible that is easy for you to read and understand. The New Century Version (NCV) and the New International Version (NIV) are good examples. You can find them at any bookstore or library near you.
As you read the Bible, remember not to let the things you don't understand stop you. Keep on reading. Find what you can understand, and hold on to that!