Closer to God-help

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PeterJohn

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How does one get closer to God? I’d very much like to get closer to God and keep him on my mind more of the day? Any advice on successful strategies for this? I try to pray little prayers thought the day but I’d like to develop a routine I think. Please advise.

Thank you. God bless. Please pray for my priest, he is new at pastor. Fr Mike of St Michaels Parish.
 
My wife found this site and we find it useful. There’s a daily blog post you can subscribe to as well:

catholicspiritualdirection.org/index.html

Also, from that site, we ended up buying **The Better Part **book by Bartunek.

Father Larry Richards’ book, Surrender, gives food for thought and practical steps as well–I’ve incorporated some of them into my routine.

And the rosary is good, too.

With all the distractions and busy-ness, it’s tough to do successfully, but we’re working on it as best we can.
 
The best way, is to speak to Him, with even simple thoughts of the day. Reciting memorized prayers are good, but to KNOW Him is to love him. While driving to work for instance, talk out loud to Him in your car, after all, He is right there with you. Tell him how you feel about where you are going, work, those you work with, or family. Especially when you have issues with those at work, in your family, neighbors, friends, just talk to Him and ask him for help, to bless you, to bless your daily decisions, your travels.

Stop once in awhile and just say, God, I know you are with me. Watch a sunset and tell Him how lovely it is. Tell him thank you for anything and everything as your day progesses.

God, thanks for getting me to work on time, and in one piece.
God, thanks for coffee, this is awesome.
God, I dont know how to tell my co-worker they need to improve, can you help me in this?
God, I dont know why my spouse is crabby, can you whisper a clue in my ear.

Etc, Begin by having a friendship with Him, its what he desires and aches for from all of us.

Hope this helps.
 
PeterJohn said:
How does one get closer to God? I’d very much like to get closer to God and keep him on my mind more of the day? Any advice on successful strategies for this? I try to pray little prayers thought the day but I’d like to develop a routine I think. Please advise.

Thank you. God bless. Please pray for my priest, he is new at pastor. Fr Mike of St Michaels Parish.
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I would think making something routine would give you the opposit effect of what you’re looking for.
 
Others have mentioned talking out loud to Him - I’m a big fan of that. Somehow that makes His presence more…tangible.

A thing I have recently adopted is saying, “God, You are so cool!” For example, I watched a nature program about hummingbirds the other night. (Love those little creatures!) As the program came to a close, I said, “God, You are so cool! You made so many varieties of hummingbirds and they are all so beautiful. How amazing You are!” I’m a very pessimistic person by nature, so actively choosing to be thankful and to praise God helps me in growing closer to Him.

For me, Bible study is huge. I can read something dozens of times, but then that day will come when the Spirit opens my eyes and it’s like - wow! I never saw that before!

May you be blessed as you seek to know Him more!
 
i’d say talking to you and having him be with you as a close friend helps.
also i think all the answers are within you for the search of life is to go inside of you and search for answers.
of course accepting help from others is also a big part.
i think the ultimate way to be closer to God is to read the bible and look for truth in The Book and if you think your bible is not clear enough search deeper to find answers.
maybe older bibles or a fellow man can help you find the answer.
hope you’ll be wise soon.
God bless you
 
Wonderfull ideas guys. Thanks! I’ve been trying to pray without ceasing during my work day and start my days off with a verbal “Good morning Jesus” prayer.
 
Just one more thing… Besides addressing, speaking to, and praying to Jesus and God, dont forget to include the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also God, and is the key to connecting, He will enlighten you, he will open your eyes and inspire you on how to “find God” all on your own.

Here is a favorite of mine and I include it with my daily morning “recited and memorized” prayer:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of we, the faithful.
Inkindle in our hearts the fire of your love.
Send us your spirit
Our hearts will be renewed,
and You shall renew the face of the earth,
Amen.

Please keep us posted, the light will click on soon
 
Talk to God as you do your friend ie be the informal you and not the formal share your emotions with God… and listen though that is harder I admit.
 
I recommend the book, Introduction to the devout life by St. Francis de Sales. It’s really easy to follow.

Aside from that, would suggest:

-Frequent confession (weekly or bi-weekly)
-Spending time in adoration
-Prayer, not just vocal prayer, but mental prayer and meditating as well ( I don’t recommend doing this while driving)
-Frequent penance/mortification (ie: fasting, abstaining from meat, prostrating oneself on the floor in a cross reciting litanies and offering them up for people, etc.)
-Going to daily Mass whenever possible
-Frequent communion reception, and making spiritual communions whenever actual reception isn’t possible
-Offering up all your sufferings throughout the day
-Praying the Liturgy of the Hours/Breivary daily

That’s a basic start. Essentially, if you want to be closer to God, go to where he is. (Yes, I know he’s omnipresent, but it’s not the same as actually being where he is physically) I’m sure if I followed my own advice I’d be better off than I am right now.
 
Please keep us posted. You will FEEL it. And you will know when you do.

in the meantime, I will keep you in my prayers.
 
NHeath said:
Please keep us posted. You will FEEL it. And you will know when you do.

in the meantime, I will keep you in my prayers.
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We’re not supposed to follow our feelings and look for consolations. If you do that, you’re going to be lost when spiritual dryness sets in.
 
Deo_Gratias42 said:
We’re not supposed to follow our feelings and look for consolations. If you do that, you’re going to be lost when spiritual dryness sets in.
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But we are meant to acknowledge our feelings and offer them all to God which will help a person to feel closer to God. 👍
 
I always feel much better after I partake of the Holy Eucharitst. 🙂
 
PeterJohn,

Oh, the Eucharist, isn’t it wonderful? Let’s take this and turn it around. You want to feel closer to God, Look at it from His point of view. He is everywhere but ignored by most of us… Have you ever gone to a party and been ignored, left out of conversations? or been given a courteous nod and how’s the weather, and they move on? God probably feels like that too. The fact you are searching for a way probably makes Him smile. I thought of another way to get closer to God for you.

God loves us like a father. How often do we phone or visit our fathers in our busy schedules? And how happy just a spontaneous hour-long visit makes our parents?
We go to church on Sundays, or Saturday evenings, sure. But its noisy, has distractions, and the Mass doesnt allow much quiet tme for your own reflections, except after Holy Communion, so, spend a little time other than Mass at church if you can.

Your church probably has a schedule of available times you can just quietly sit and visit with the Lord during adoration. The host is viewable and you can spend quality one on one time without even praying. Just BEing there is a prayer of action. Remember what Jesus said to his apostles? “Could you not spend one hour with me?”

That might be another way… Or just stop into a church on your way home from work for some quiet reflection…
 
Name: Kristine
Age:22 years old
Work: web design
Location: Caloocan city
Saying;“You know you are in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

would pay more attention to Him if you switched to a different Church?

And what makes you think that learning about God won’t help you get closer to Him?

If you wanted to get to closer to your favorite _____ (athlete, musician, actor, whatever), learning more about that person would be an excellent place to start. It’s the same with God.

You need MORE church, not less. Daily Mass, daily prayers, daily Rosaries, daily Bible studies.
 
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