How Do I Draw Closer to God in Everyday Life?

Simple, Real Ways to Begin

What It Means to Draw Closer to God?

You can begin to draw closer to God through honest prayer, reading Scripture, worship, and responding to what you learn. Set aside a manageable time to give Him your attention, and carry that relationship into your everyday choices and conversations.

You do not need to wait until life becomes quiet.

There may still be dishes in the sink, appointments on the calendar, and concerns you cannot easily put aside. You can bring those things into prayer rather than believing you must resolve them before approaching God.

Making room for Him does involve intention. Sometimes that means setting down the phone, changing a habit, or protecting a few minutes that would otherwise disappear.

Begin with the time you can give, and allow that beginning to grow.

What It Means to Draw Closer to God

Drawing closer to God involves more than feeling peaceful.

Peaceful moments can be precious, but a relationship with God also includes trust, repentance, obedience, and dependence on Him when life feels uncertain.

James writes:

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
— James 4:8, KJV

The surrounding passage speaks about submitting to God, turning from sin, and humbling ourselves before Him. Coming near includes an honest willingness to let Him address our hearts.

Read James 4:7–10 in context. Bible Gateway

We can come with gratitude, but also with questions, regret, weariness, and the things we would rather hide.

An honest beginning might be:

Lord, I want to know You more deeply. Help me recognize what is drawing my attention away from You.

1. Make Room for a Small, Regular Pause

Choose a time that fits your actual day.

Perhaps it is before the household wakes, during a lunch break, or after an evening walk. Morning may suit one person; another may be more attentive later.

Set aside a few minutes and reduce the distractions you can control. Put your phone out of reach, sit somewhere comfortable, and begin with a simple prayer.

You might say:

Lord, I am here. Help me give You my attention.

A short pause is a starting point. As circumstances allow, you can make room for longer reading, prayer, and reflection.

The purpose is to create an opportunity to turn toward God regularly.

2. Read a Short Passage and Stay With It

You do not have to cover several chapters for your reading to be meaningful.

Choose a short passage and read it carefully. Notice who is speaking, what is happening, and what the words reveal about God and our response to Him.

Then consider:

• What do I need to understand more clearly?
• Is there something to give thanks for?
• Is there an attitude or action I need to reconsider?
• How might I respond today?

In John 15:4–5, Jesus uses the picture of a vine and its branches to describe abiding in Him and depending on Him. Bible Gateway

You could carry that picture into your day, returning to it when you notice yourself trying to manage everything through your own strength.

Keep the verse connected to its passage. Give yourself permission to ask questions and seek help understanding it.

3. Speak Honestly in Prayer

Prayer does not have to sound polished.

You can tell God what is troubling you, acknowledge where you have gone wrong, and ask for help with what is immediately ahead.

That may sound like:

I am worried about this conversation.

Please help me respond with patience.

I know I have been avoiding this. Give me courage to take responsibility.

Thank You for the kindness I received today.

There is room for longer prayer, and there is room for brief prayers woven through ordinary moments.

When words are difficult, you can begin by reading a Psalm or writing one honest sentence. You do not have to manufacture an impressive prayer.

4. Practise Gratitude and Praise

An ordinary moment can become an opportunity to turn your attention toward God.

The light through a window, a meal shared with family, or someone’s unexpected kindness may prompt gratitude. You can pause and acknowledge the gift.

Praise also makes room to remember who God is, including when your circumstances remain difficult.

You might listen to a hymn, reflect on a Psalm, or write down something about God’s character that you want to remember.

Gratitude does not require pretending everything is well. You can be thankful for one kindness while remaining honest about the sorrow you are carrying.

5. Let Your Faith Shape the Next Choice

What we read and pray about can reach into how we live.

Perhaps you recognize that you need to apologize. Perhaps you have an opportunity to offer practical help, speak truthfully, or stop repeating something hurtful.

Choose one response you can put into practice.

If you have been praying for patience, notice the moment when you feel ready to interrupt. If you have been reflecting on mercy, consider how you speak about someone who has disappointed you.

These choices may feel small, but they give your reflection a place in everyday life.

You can return to God for forgiveness and help when you fall short.

6. Make Room for Faith Shared With Others

Personal prayer matters, and so does sharing life with other believers.

Worshipping with a church community, reading Scripture with someone you trust, or asking another person to pray with you can offer encouragement and perspective.

You may hear something you had not considered. Someone may help you understand a difficult passage or support you through a season when prayer feels hard.

Consider one step toward that kind of connection.

It could be attending a service, joining a small group, or telling a trusted Christian friend what you have been finding difficult.

When You Do Not Feel Close to God

Some days, prayer feels natural. On others, you may feel distracted, tired, or uncertain.

A difficult day does not have to become a reason to abandon the relationship you want to nurture.

Bring that experience into prayer, too:

Lord, I feel distant today. Help me keep turning toward You.

Review your routine gently. Is there a distraction you could reduce? Would a different time help? Do you need rest, support, or a conversation with someone you trust?

Closeness to God cannot be measured only by the strength of a feeling. Continue making room to listen, learn, and respond.

A Little Help Beginning Your Prayer

Sometimes we recognize what is stirring in our hearts but struggle to put it into words.

If you would welcome a starting point, visit the Prayer Starters widget in The Faith & Reflection Room. Take a moment with a prompt, then continue in your own words, bringing whatever you are carrying before God.

You might begin by asking Him for help with one part of your day—a decision, a relationship, a concern, or an opportunity to show kindness.

Explore Prayer Starters in The Faith & Reflection Room.

Exploring Closer Still

The desire to draw near to God is at the heart of Closer Still: A Journey of Desire and Action in Pursuing God.

In the book, I explore Prayer, Praise, Purity, and Perseverance—four themes that invite us to consider both our desire for God and our response to Him.

There is value in pausing long enough to reflect, pray, and notice where faith meets the life we are living.

If you would like to explore the book, learn more about The Closer Still Series here.

A Gentle Reflection

What could making room for God look like in your day tomorrow?

Choose something specific and manageable: a short passage before checking messages, a few minutes of prayer, or a conversation with someone who can encourage your faith.

Then consider what you may need to set aside to make that possible.

Let your answer become a beginning you can return to, as you draw closer to God.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, I want to draw closer to You. Help me make room to listen, pray, and respond to Your Word. Show me what needs to change, and give me the courage to follow through. Teach me to recognize Your goodness and depend on You in the ordinary moments of this day. Amen.

Final Thoughts

Drawing closer to God in everyday life can begin with an honest prayer and a small, intentional space in your day.

Read His Word carefully. Bring Him what is true. Practise gratitude, respond in obedience, and welcome the encouragement of other believers.

You do not need to have everything settled before you begin.

Come with the life you are living—and a willingness to let Him shape it.

Debbie Blower 💛
Author/Illustrator
Founder of The Story House
Stories that inspire. Words that heal.