Developing Spiritual Relationships that Help You Get Closer to God

Do you want to draw closer to God and other people at the same time? Developing spiritual relationships with others can help you do this. You can go deeper with people who will help you go deeper with God too.

I remember when this became a reality for me. When I became a new mom, I joined a small group for moms at my church. We met each week for Bible study, and new friendships soon flourished.

Most of my new friends were older than me with more life experiences. They also had different experiences with God than I did. By listening to their stories, asking questions, and seeking their feedback, I grew closer to God while I grew closer to them.

These dear sisters in Christ helped me want to be more Christlike. They expressed the qualities of the spirit (Gal. 5:22,23) in abundance and encouraged me to do the same. At times they challenged me to break free from ungodly thinking and behavior to grow in my spiritual walk.

My relationships with these women were fun and friendly. But they were also spiritual in nature. It was refreshing to talk about my faith with them and learn more about God from their perspectives and insights in Bible study discussion.

Do you want deeper, spiritual relationships like these? Ones that help you draw closer to God while getting closer to others? We are created for community, and when we find others who share our faith, that’s a real treasure worth exploring.

Here are a few tips for developing spiritual relationships to help you draw closer to God.

1. Pray that God will lead you to other people who will be safe, healthy connections for you and help you deepen your faith.

2. Contact your church to join a Bible study group or start a new one. Make sure you balance your group time with both fellowship and Bible-based discussion, so your faith is continuously growing.

3. Ask local friends if they know about any Bible studies starting up. You may be able to join a study at another church, or an interdenominational study, if your church doesn’t have one.

4. Attend local faith-based meetings, seminars, and conferences. Be friendly and try to make new connections there, which could lead to deeper friendships in time.

5. Use social media to your advantage. Seek out local faith-based groups and schedule some in-person meetings.

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” By seeking out spiritual relationships with others, your faith will be stronger, and your ability to share Jesus with others will be sharper.

It's well worth the time and energy to seek out friendships that can deepen your faith.

Scripture for meditation

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Discussion & journal prompt

What practical step will you take this week to seek a spiritual relationship with someone new?

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