Getting close to God is easy; staying close to God is more difficult. With the hustle and bustle of
everyday life, staying close to God requires commitment and dedication. Starting your morning
off with a conscious desire to draw close to God will ensure a day full of God's presence.

God created man with a free will. He is good and loving. and will never impose His will on you.
God is always willing to draw near to you, but you must first draw near to Him.

Every good and perfect gift comes from God above, but we are told there is a devil that prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to destroy. Always beware! The closer you get
to God the more opposition you'll experience. But take heed, God is greater and you can overcome.

Sing to God a new song. Psalm 40:3 says, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."
The hardest time of the day for getting closer to God is first thing in the morning. For some reason, upon
awakening is when every negative thought invades the mind. As soon as you open your eyes, begin by
singing a song to God. Singing a new song to God will wipe out every negative, depressing thought.

Start each day by saying good morning to God. Psalm 5:3 says, "I lay my requests before you Lord
in the morning, and I wait in hopeful expectation." Acknowledging God in the morning is a great way
to draw closer to Him and establishes a relationship that remains throughout the day. As you pray to
God your urgent requests, you will wait expectantly for His answers. Realizing that God wants to bless
you with the desire of your heart will keep you focused on Him as you wait.

Quoting scripture, God's word, puts God in the center of your heart and mind. Psalm 119:11 states,
"Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might sin against God." Memorizing scripture for daily devotions
is a great way to get closer to God. Choose one scripture to meditate on. Psalm 51:10 says, "Create in me
a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me." This is the perfect prayer request to start any day.
Ask God to mold you into the person He wants you do be. As you choose to live right, you will get
closer to God.

Throughout the day, worshiping God will keep you close to Him. Psalm 22:3 says, "God inhabits the
praises of His people." When we sing worship songs to God, He is there. Get closer to God by worshiping
Him. Psalm 95:6 says, "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for
He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.

Celebrating communion with others is a way to get closer to God. Take the elements, the bread,

and the cup, in remembrance of what God did for us when he sent His son Jesus to die on the cross
for our sins. Communion is done in fellowship with other believers as a reminder of God's love.
Communion means coming together and definitely gets us closer to God.

Entering Church, or God's house, gets us closer to Him. Hebrews 10:25 says, "Do not forsake the
gathering of yourselves together as some are in the habit of doing." Coming together in unity with other
believers invites God's presence. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three come together in my
name, there am I in the midst of them." If you want to get closer to God, get closer to others.
Unity among believers is powerful and effective.

Observing nature is a powerful way to get closer to God. Sit by a running stream or climb the highest
mountain. Watch the ocean tide or sit in the midst of a forest. Psalm 95:4, 5 says, "In His hand are the
depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for he made it, and His hands
formed the dry land." God created everything and nature is a representation of His glory, His splendor,
and His beauty. If you want to get closer to God, get closer to His creation.

By Lacy Enderson - Contributing Writer for eHow