What does the Bible say about getting closer to God?
Thank God for sweet fellowship. Thank God for Bible knowledge. Thank God for Christian music. All of these are incredible blessings. But having them doesn’t necessarily mean you are close to God.
Jesus didn’t just save us to forgive our sins. He saved us so we could know Him. There is more to the Christian life than simply being forgiven. There is more than just going to Heaven. You were made to walk closely with Jesus, to know Him intimately, to sense His nearness, and to be fully aware of His presence in your life.
You can know the voice of God—both through His Word and in the quiet, moment-by-moment leading of the Holy Spirit, because your heart is in tune with His. But ask yourself honestly: Do you want that? Do you truly desire that kind of relationship with Him? And if so, are you willing to surrender everything to get there?
The closer we want to be with the Lord, the more we must die to self and rest in Jesus. A deep relationship with God doesn’t happen by accident—it must be cultivated. Make time for Him in prayer and in His Word. Don’t just read Scripture for knowledge; read it to encounter the living God as He speaks to you through it.
Practice listening. Let the Holy Spirit lead—not according to what you want to hear, but what He wants to say. And when you pray, don’t just go through the motions. Be still before Him. Sit with Him. Let Him speak. Cry out for more of His presence—and do it daily. Stay in prayer until your heart breaks for the things that break His.
James 4:8 (NIV) – “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV) – “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Psalm 145:18 (NKJV) – “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
Hebrews 10:22 (NASB) – “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
John 15:5 (KJV) – “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Psalm 63:1 (NLT) – “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.”
Isaiah 55:6 (Holman) – “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.”
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Psalm 119:10 (ESV) – “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!”
1 Chronicles 16:11 (NKJV) – “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.”
Colossians 3:1-2 (NASB) – “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Psalm 27:8 (KJV) – “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT) – “But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”
Proverbs 8:17 (Holman) – “I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.”
John 17:3 (NIV) – “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Psalm 34:10 (ESV) – “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”
Hosea 10:12 (NKJV) – “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”
Philippians 3:8 (NASB) – “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”
Psalm 119:105 (KJV) – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Zephaniah 2:3 (NLT) – “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His instructions; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.”
Psalm 16:11 (NIV) – “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”
Psalm 119:2 (NKJV) – “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!”
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NASB) – “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.”
Psalm 42:1-2 (KJV) – “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”
2 Chronicles 15:2 (NLT) – “The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.”
John 14:23 (Holman) – “Jesus answered, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.'”
Psalm 119:97 (NIV) – “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”
Isaiah 26:9 (ESV) – “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.”
Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV) – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Psalm 119:135 (NASB) – “Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.”
1 John 4:16 (KJV) – “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Lamentations 3:25 (NLT) – “The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”
Psalm 119:36 (Holman) – “Turn my heart to Your decrees and not to dishonest profit.”
John 15:4 (NIV) – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV) – “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”
Galatians 2:20 (NASB) – “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.”
Psalm 119:11 (KJV) – “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Amos 5:4 (NLT) – “For this is what the Lord says to Israel: ‘Seek me and live.'”
Psalm 119:151 (NIV) – “Yet you are near, Lord, and all your commands are true.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) – “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Psalm 119:18 (NKJV) – “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB) – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 84:10 (KJV) – “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
1 Peter 2:2 (NLT) – “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.”
Psalm 119:130 (Holman) – “The revelation of Your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.”
John 8:31-32 (NIV) – “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
Psalm 119:165 (ESV) – “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Psalm 119:45 (NASB) – “And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.”
Revelation 3:20 (KJV) – “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT) – “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
Ephesians 5:18-20 (Holman) – “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord.”
Psalm 119:59 (NIV) – “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.”
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) – “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 119:133 (NKJV) – “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.”
Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB) – “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith.”
Psalm 119:66 (KJV) – “Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT) – “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
Psalm 119:80 (NIV) – “May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.”
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Psalm 119:114 (NKJV) – “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB) – “Pray without ceasing.”
Psalm 119:147 (KJV) – “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.”
Psalm 5:3 (NLT) – “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
John 4:24 (Holman) – “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Psalm 119:32 (NIV) – “I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”
Psalm 119:93 (NKJV) – “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.”
Romans 15:4 (NASB) – “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Psalm 119:25 (KJV) – “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”
Psalm 130:5 (NLT) – “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.”
1 Corinthians 1:9 (Holman) – “God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Psalm 119:49 (NIV) – “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.”
Psalm 34:8 (ESV) – “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Psalm 119:73 (NKJV) – “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.”
2 Peter 3:18 (NASB) – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Psalm 119:15 (KJV) – “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”
Psalm 46:10 (NLT) – “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
