How to Know God Personally and Grow Closer to Him Every Day

There is a difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him.

We can attend church, read our Bibles, listen to sermons, and know many of the stories in Scripture without ever stopping to consider how well we actually know the One we worship.

I think this is something we need to examine in our own lives.

Are we spending time with God because we want to know Him, or because we believe it’s something a good Christian woman is supposed to do?

Are we reading Scripture to learn more about His character, or simply trying to finish our daily reading?

And when life becomes difficult, do we turn to Him because we trust Him, or do we spend our time trying to figure everything out on our own?

These aren’t always comfortable questions.

But if we want to grow spiritually, we need to be willing to ask them.

Knowing God is more than knowing what the Bible says. It is having a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and allowing His truth to change our lives.

And that relationship is where everything else in our Christian walk begins.

What Does It Really Mean to Know God?

Jesus tells us in John 17:3:

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (ESV)

Notice that Jesus doesn’t describe eternal life as simply knowing information about God.

He speaks of knowing God Himself.

We come into a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Because of our sin, we cannot make ourselves right with God through good works, religious activities, or trying harder to be better people.

Jesus came to reconcile us to God through His death and resurrection.

Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us that salvation is by grace through faith, not something we earn.

And once we belong to Christ, we have the privilege of growing in our relationship with God throughout our lives.

We learn to trust Him.

We begin understanding His character.

We recognize how His Word applies to our circumstances.

We become more aware of the areas where our thoughts and actions don’t agree with what He has said.

And through the work of the Holy Spirit, we begin changing.

Knowing God isn’t about reaching a point where we have everything figured out.

It’s about continuing to seek Him, believe His Word, and follow Him.

Get to Know God Through His Word

If you want to know someone, you spend time learning who they are.

The same is true in our relationship with God.

And one of the greatest gifts He has given us is His Word.

Through Scripture, God reveals His character, His purposes, His promises, His commands, and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.

But sometimes we approach Bible reading as another task to complete.

We open our Bibles, read a chapter or two, and move on with our day.

I’ve done that myself.

There have been times when I finished reading and realized I hadn’t really considered what the passage was teaching me.

I had read the words, but I hadn’t stopped to think about what they revealed about God.

That’s why I believe it’s important to slow down.

You don’t have to read several chapters every morning to grow closer to Him.

Start with a passage you can read carefully.

Pay attention to who is speaking, who is being addressed, and what is happening.

Consider how the passage fits within the surrounding Scripture.

Then ask yourself:

• What does this teach me about God’s character?
• What do I learn about His relationship with people?
• Is there a promise to trust, a command to obey, or a warning to consider?
• What does this passage reveal about Jesus and God’s work of salvation?
• How should this truth influence my relationship with God?

The more we understand God’s Word, the better we understand who He is.

And the more we know Him, the more we have reason to trust Him.

Begin With the Gospels

If you’re unsure where to begin reading, I often encourage women to start with the Gospels.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John help us understand who Jesus is, what He taught, how He treated people, and why He came.

As you read, pay attention to His compassion, holiness, patience, authority, and obedience to the Father.

Notice how He responded to people who were hurting.

Notice how He addressed sin.

Notice His conversations with those who wanted to follow Him.

And most importantly, learn what His death and resurrection mean for your relationship with God.

You can also spend time in the Psalms, where you’ll find prayers of praise, sorrow, repentance, fear, gratitude, and trust.

These passages remind us that we can bring our whole hearts before God.

Learn to Talk With God Through Prayer

Prayer is another important part of developing a close relationship with God.

But I think many women make prayer more difficult than it needs to be.

We worry about saying the right things.

We wonder whether our prayers are long enough.

We may even feel uncomfortable praying because we don’t know how to put our thoughts into words.

But God isn’t impressed by complicated language.

Jesus warned against praying simply to be seen by others and against thinking that many words make our prayers more effective (Matthew 6:5–8).

God knows what we need before we ask.

We can come to Him honestly.

We can thank Him for His goodness.

We can confess our sins.

We can ask for wisdom.

We can tell Him when we’re afraid, disappointed, confused, or struggling to trust Him.

And we can pray for the people He has placed in our lives.

Make Prayer Part of Your Everyday Life

Prayer doesn’t have to be limited to your morning quiet time.

You can pray while getting ready for the day.

You can ask God for patience before a difficult conversation.

You can thank Him when something good happens.

You can ask for wisdom when you don’t know what decision to make.

You can turn to Him when you recognize that worry is beginning to take over your thoughts.

First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing.” (ESV)

That doesn’t mean we spend every moment with our eyes closed in prayer.

It encourages an ongoing dependence on God.

Instead of treating prayer as something separate from the rest of our lives, we learn to turn to Him throughout the day.

And as we do, we become more aware of how much we need Him.

Learn to Trust God’s Character, Not Just Your Circumstances

One of the greatest challenges in knowing God is learning to trust Him when life doesn’t make sense.

It’s easy to talk about God’s faithfulness when everything is going well.

It’s much more difficult when prayers seem unanswered, relationships are strained, finances are uncertain, or something happens that we never expected.

Those are the times when what we believe about God becomes especially important.

Do we believe He is good only when our circumstances are good?

Do we believe He is faithful only when we receive the answers we hoped for?

Do we believe He loves us even when life is painful?

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts rather than lean on our own understanding.

That doesn’t mean we stop thinking, planning, or seeking wise counsel.

It means we recognize that our understanding is limited and God’s wisdom is not.

I have experienced seasons when I didn’t understand what God was doing.

I’ve also experienced times when I allowed hurt and anger to influence the way I viewed Him.

Looking back, I can recognize how much I needed to understand His character rather than judge His goodness by what was happening around me.

Remember What Scripture Says About Him

When circumstances cause you to question God, return to what His Word reveals.

God is faithful.

God is holy.

God is merciful.

God is wise.

God is just.

God is loving.

His character doesn’t change because our circumstances change.

That doesn’t mean we won’t experience sorrow or disappointment.

It means we have a trustworthy God to turn to in the middle of those experiences.

And sometimes growing closer to Him begins with a simple prayer:

Lord, I don’t understand what is happening, but help me trust what Your Word tells me about You.

What If You’ve Drifted Away From God?

Maybe you once had a close relationship with God.

You looked forward to reading your Bible, spent time in prayer, and wanted to learn more about Him.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

Life became busy.

You experienced disappointment.

Someone hurt you.

You became discouraged.

Or perhaps you made choices that gradually pulled you away from the relationship you once had with Him.

I understand what it means to drift away.

There were seasons in my own life when I turned away from God.

For a long time, I carried hurt, anger, and unforgiveness that affected my relationship with Him.

It wasn’t until I began honestly facing some of those things that I recognized how much I had allowed them to influence my life.

And I learned that returning to God required more than simply attending church again.

I needed to examine my heart.

I needed to acknowledge where I had been wrong.

I needed to forgive.

And I needed to begin trusting Him with the parts of my life I had been holding on to.

James 4:8 says:

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (ESV)

That invitation comes in a passage calling us to humility and repentance.

If you’ve drifted away, begin by coming to God honestly.

Confess what needs to be confessed.

Ask Him to help you recognize anything that has taken priority over your relationship with Him.

Return to His Word.

Spend time in prayer.

And remember that through Jesus Christ, forgiveness and reconciliation with God are possible.

You don’t have to pretend you’ve been faithful when you haven’t.

You can come to Him with a humble and repentant heart.

Recognize the Difference Between Knowing God and Religious Activity

One of the things we need to be careful about is allowing religious activity to replace our relationship with God.

We can become busy doing good things.

Attending church.

Volunteering.

Helping others.

Participating in Bible studies.

Listening to Christian podcasts.

Reading devotionals.

None of those things are wrong.

They can be wonderful opportunities to grow and serve.

But they cannot replace knowing God personally.

In Luke 10:38–42, we read about Mary and Martha.

Martha was busy with serving, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to His teaching.

When Martha became frustrated, Jesus reminded her that Mary had chosen the good portion.

That passage is a reminder that even good responsibilities can distract us from what matters most.

Sometimes we need to examine whether we are so busy doing things for God that we are neglecting time with Him.

Are we allowing Scripture to change our thinking?

Are we spending time in honest prayer?

Are we growing in obedience?

Are we seeking to know Him more deeply?

Our relationship with God isn’t measured by how full our schedules are.

Build Simple Daily Practices That Help You Grow Closer to God

You don’t need a complicated schedule to begin growing in your relationship with God.

What you need is a willingness to make Him a priority.

Here are a few simple ways to begin.

Start your day with God.

Before becoming overwhelmed with everything you need to do, spend a few minutes in Scripture and prayer. If mornings aren’t possible, choose another time when you can give Him your attention.

Read Scripture for understanding.

Instead of focusing only on how much you read, ask what the passage teaches you about God and how you should respond.

Keep a prayer journal.

Write down what you’re praying about, what you’re learning, and the ways you’ve recognized God’s faithfulness.

Talk to God throughout the day.

Bring Him into your decisions, concerns, relationships, and responsibilities.

Examine your heart regularly.

Ask God to reveal attitudes, beliefs, and choices that need to change.

Stay connected with other believers.

Christian fellowship, worship, and encouragement are important parts of our spiritual growth.

Put what you’re learning into practice.

When Scripture reveals something you need to obey, don’t simply move on to the next passage.

Take time to respond.

These practices aren’t a way to earn God’s approval.

They are opportunities to grow in your relationship with the One who has already shown His love through Jesus Christ.

How Do You Know If You’re Growing Closer to God?

Spiritual growth isn’t always something we notice immediately.

Sometimes we expect a dramatic change.

We want to feel closer to God, understand everything we read, and never struggle with the same things again.

But growth often happens through small changes over time.

You may begin recognizing when your thoughts don’t agree with Scripture.

You may find yourself praying before reacting to a difficult situation.

You may become more willing to admit when you’re wrong.

You may recognize that you are learning to forgive instead of holding on to resentment.

You may begin trusting God with something you previously tried to control.

Or you may simply discover that you want to spend more time in His Word because you genuinely desire to know Him.

Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit.

As the Holy Spirit works in our lives, our character should increasingly reflect Christ.

We won’t become perfect in this life.

But we should be growing.

And when we recognize areas where we are still struggling, we can bring them before God rather than allowing discouragement to keep us from Him.

Frequently Asked Questions About Knowing God

Can I know God personally without knowing much about the Bible?

Yes. A relationship with God begins through faith in Jesus Christ, not through having extensive Bible knowledge. As you grow in faith, Scripture becomes essential for learning more about Him and understanding how He calls you to live.

What should I do when I don’t understand Scripture?

Begin by reading the surrounding verses to understand the context. Compare the passage with other Scripture, use reliable Bible study resources, and ask God for wisdom. Don’t be discouraged if understanding takes time.

How can I hear God?

God has given us His Word as the trustworthy foundation for knowing His character and will. The Holy Spirit helps believers understand and respond to Scripture. We should test our thoughts, impressions, and decisions against biblical truth rather than assuming every feeling is a message from God.

What if I don’t feel God’s presence?

Our emotions aren’t always reliable indicators of our relationship with God. Continue seeking Him through Scripture, prayer, and fellowship. His faithfulness doesn’t depend on whether we experience a particular feeling.

How long does it take to grow close to God?

There isn’t a set timeline. Our relationship with God develops throughout our Christian lives. As we continue learning His Word, trusting Him, and following Christ, we grow in spiritual maturity.

Knowing God Is Where Everything Begins

If there is one thing I want you to remember, it is that knowing God is not about becoming a woman who has everything figured out.

It’s about becoming a woman who genuinely wants to know Him.

A woman who turns to His Word because she wants to understand His truth.

A woman who prays because she knows she needs Him.

A woman who is willing to examine her heart and recognize where she needs to change.

A woman who continues trusting Him even when life doesn’t make sense.

You don’t have to begin with an elaborate Bible study plan.

Start where you are.

Open your Bible.

Talk to God.

Ask Him to help you understand who He is.

And be willing to follow what He teaches you.

Because the more deeply we know God, the more our lives should begin reflecting the One we follow.

Take the Next Step: Draw Near to God

If you’re ready to become more intentional about growing closer to God, my Draw Near Bible Study was created to help you spend meaningful time in Scripture, strengthen your prayer life, and recognize what may be keeping you from a deeper relationship with Him.

Explore the Draw Near Bible Study

You can also continue exploring the Know God category for encouragement on prayer, Scripture, trusting God, and growing in your relationship with Him.