5 ways to improve your relationship with God in 2022
This article was contributed by a local member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed may not represent the views and positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the Church's official site, visit churchofjesuschrist.org.
By Shelby Moore
As 2022 begins, people are setting goals and making plans to improve themselves: plans to work out more, learn new things, perform better at work, etc. One of the most important things we can do this year, in my eyes, however, is to come closer to God. As we grow closer to Him, He will help us accomplish everything else.
Now, every relationship with God is personal, but here are 5 ways that have been especially helpful to me in the past to grow my relationship with God. I hope it will be a strength to you as it has been for me as you strive to feel more abundantly of His love and grace.
1. Start every morning with a prayer.
Prayer is a conversation between Heavenly Father and us, His children. Talking to God about your hopes, plans, and feelings about the day first thing in the morning helps you start the day focused on Him and ready to understand His will for you. I have found from personal experience that God is ready to communicate with us when we take the time to talk to Him and listen to Him, as well.
2. Set aside time to study His word.
Setting aside time to study the word of God is imperative to growing your relationship with Him. Scriptures such as the Bible and Book of Mormon were written specifically for us with messages that can help us face the challenges of our day. Making the necessary sacrifices to prioritize Him in your daily life will help you hear His voice and come closer to Him. God recognizes and loves effort and compensates for any sacrifice we make by blessing us more generously than we can imagine.
3. Ask your local missionaries if you can meet regularly.
Regardless of if you’ve been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for years, if you are a member of another faith, or if you’re getting to know God for the first time, the missionaries are here to help you feel Heavenly Father’s love for you and come closer to Him! Missionaries in your area would be happy to study the Bible with you, teach you how to pray, discuss the things you’re already studying, or help in any way they can.
Don’t know the missionaries in your area? Contact us, and we can help you find them!
4. Listen to a conference talk, or devotional, every day.
General Conference may be held twice yearly, but the shared messages can sustain us throughout the year. Elder Ezra Taft Benson, the 13th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught that the prophetic words from General Conference “should stand next to your standard works and be referred to frequently.”
Swapping the buzz of radio chatter and news updates during your daily commute for uplifting messages from prophets called of God is the perfect way to recenter your day on what matters most and internalize the messages God has prepared for us today through living a living prophet and apostles.
5. Perform at least one act of service daily.
The best way to know someone better is to live like them. Pure love and service are the core of who God is, and by striving to emulate those characteristics and serve His children, we become more like Him and feel closer to Him.
Strengthening a relationship with a spouse, family member, or friend usually revolves around spending more time with them, trying to understand them better, and truly listening. The process of strengthening our relationship with God starts with the small things we do every day. As we spend time with Him through study, understand His teachings in the way we speak and act, and listen for what He is trying to tell us, we can come closer to our loving Heavenly Father.
Coming closer to God is the process of a lifetime. But the good news is we can start today. God wants to have a relationship with you more than you can imagine. As you take steps to come closer to Him, you will feel His love stronger than ever before and receive guidance for your life.
What will you do to strengthen your relationship with Him today?
