3 Small Ways to Grow Closer to God

By Chuck Fenwick

How to Strengthen Your Faith

I was recently watching one of favorite movies of all time – Tommy Boy. 

I know, I know, it’s a silly old movie. But one of the quotes from this movie resonated with me during my most recent rewatch. 

If you aren’t growing, you’re dying. 

I feel like this quote applies to so many aspects of our lives, from your health journey, to your relationships with your spouse and kids, and even your relationship with God. 

If you aren’t actively pursuing growth in an area of life, that area is suffering. And I think for many of us, our relationship with God is suffering because we aren’t putting in the time and effort. 

So if this sounds like something you’re struggling with, I have a few tips for you! I’ve been in this situation so many times. From your work life, to busy family schedules, pushing off time with God just happens. 

But incorporating these three steps will help your faith journey grow stronger.

Prioritize Prayer

Praying to God can be super intimidating. You might question what to say or how to say it. But take a step back and simplify it. 

Prayer is simply having a conversation with God. You have conversations all the time. All day long, you are communicating with others. Whether it’s through a verbal conversation, email, or over the phone. 

Find a way of communication  that is most comfortable for you. Maybe you are more comfortable writing an email or sending a text. Try this method when you are praying. There is nothing wrong with typing out your prayers to God if that is what works best for you. 

If you’re more familiar with verbal communication, find a spot where you are alone and speak your prayers out loud (or in your mind) to God. I have a friend that loves to pray when they are commuting to work or taking a walk outside. 

Journaling is another way of praying, too. You can sit down and write out your prayers if that works best. This is a great way to spend time reflecting on what you’re praying for as well. 

Personally, journaling isn’t something I am good at! And that is totally fine. You don’t have to do all of these methods, or just one of these methods. Find what works best for you and do it. Then, just talk to God like you would talk to a friend.

Spend Time in Scripture

Finding time to read the bible is difficult  – especially when you have a super busy schedule. But try starting small. Look for small pockets of time that you have in your daily routine. 

If you make coffee every morning, keep your bible by the coffee pot and read for 3-4 minutes while it’s brewing. If you typically scroll social media during lunch, swipe over to the bible app and read a few passages before you watch a few TikToks. If you are a regular nighttime reader, keep your bible on top of your evening read. Then, read for 3-5 minutes before you pick up your bedtime page-turner.

You definitely have 5 minutes of time in your schedule each day. Try and find those few minutes and incorporate reading the bible during those chunks of time. 

If you don’t know where to start, try the first four books of the New Testament. These are the stories of Jesus’ life. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are a great place for you to begin!

Commit to a Community

Prioritize being part of a positive community. The people you surround yourself with have an enormous impact on who you will become as a person. Surrounding yourself with people that build you up and encourage you will have a tremendous effect on your faith journey. 

If you aren’t sure where to start, try attending a church. Find a place that looks like it fits your lifestyle. If you’re more traditional, find a traditional church that feels comfortable for you! If you’re more laid back, look for a place that prioritizes that laid-back feel. 

Wherever you go, being with supportive and encouraging people is crucial. It’s even biblical, too. Jesus surrounded himself with a small group of friends that built him up. And Jesus did the same for them. 

Being part of a community can look different for everyone. It could be as simple as gathering regularly for a meal, being part of a sports league (pickleball, anyone?), or joining a small group. You don’t have to dive in and lead a bible study right away. Start small and you’ll see significant growth overtime.

Keep me updated!

Ultimately, growth is something you have to actively strive to achieve. You can’t expect growth to happen if you don’t put in the effort. Incorporating prayer into your life, reading the bible, and pursuing relationships with others will make a huge difference – I promise. 
If you try any of these tips, I want to know! Send me a text and let me know which one worked best to help you grow in your faith journey.