How to Get Closer to God: 15 Biblical Habits to Strengthen Your Faith
Are you longing to grow closer to God but aren’t sure where to begin? Maybe you’ve felt spiritually dry, distracted by the busyness of life, or even a little lukewarm in your faith. The good news is that God hasn’t moved. He is faithfully waiting for us to draw near to Him.
Recently, I’ve been studying Ephesians chapter 5, and it has challenged me in so many practical ways. Rather than giving us a checklist to earn God’s love, this chapter encourages believers to walk wisely, live intentionally, and imitate Christ in everyday life.
If you’d rather watch than read, I’ve shared all 15 of these biblical habits in my YouTube video below.
🎥 Watch the video here:
Whether you’re a busy mom, homemaker, wife, or simply a woman who desires a deeper relationship with Jesus, these habits can help you intentionally grow in your walk with Him.
1. Reset Your Heart Every Morning
Imagine a gas sensor in an industrial building. Every morning it has to be recalibrated to ensure it’s reading accurately. Without that daily reset, it slowly drifts away from the truth.
Our hearts can do the same thing.
Every day we’re surrounded by social media, news, entertainment, opinions, and distractions. Without spending time with the Lord, it’s easy for our hearts to become calibrated by the world instead of God’s truth.
Jesus modeled this beautifully.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” — Mark 1:35
Before reaching for your phone, spend time in God’s Word. Pray. Sit quietly in His presence and allow Him to reset your heart for the day.
2. Guard What Goes Into Your Mind
Everything we consume shapes us.
The music we listen to.
The books we read.
The television shows we watch.
The conversations we entertain.
Philippians 4:8 reminds us to think about whatever is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.
This doesn’t mean life has to become boring. There are wonderful Christian books, uplifting podcasts, wholesome entertainment, and worship music that encourage your faith.
A simple question to ask is:
“Is this drawing me closer to Jesus or pulling me away?”
3. Surround Yourself with Godly Women
Scripture reminds us that iron sharpens iron and that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
We need women in our lives who:
- Encourage us.
- Pray for us.
- Speak truth in love.
- Point us back to God’s Word.
The people you spend the most time with will influence your walk with Christ.
Choose relationships that strengthen your faith.
4. Watch What Comes Out of Your Mouth
Ephesians 5 reminds believers to avoid filthy language, crude joking, and careless speech.
Instead, let your words be:
- Kind
- Encouraging
- Truthful
- Gracious
Our homes should be places where people feel loved, respected, and encouraged.
5. Become an Imitator of Christ
One of my first teaching jobs was filling in for an experienced teacher.
Every morning I watched how she interacted with students, managed her classroom, and created a joyful atmosphere.
I naturally began copying her because I admired the way she taught.
Scripture tells us to do the same with Jesus.
Spend time reading the Gospels.
Notice how He loved people.
How He forgave.
How He served.
How He spoke truth with compassion.
You become like the One you spend time with.
6. Walk Wisely and Fear the Lord
The fear of the Lord isn’t about being afraid.
It’s living with deep reverence, humility, and respect for God.
His wisdom is greater than ours.
His ways are always better.
Walking wisely begins with trusting Him.
7. Learn What Pleases the Lord
One of the sweetest habits we can develop is simply looking for God throughout our day.
Thank Him for small blessings.
Notice His provision.
Invite Him into ordinary moments.
Those little moments become worship.
8. Make the Most of Your Time
Ephesians encourages believers to redeem the time.
As homemakers, this can look like:
- Meal planning
- Creating routines
- Preparing ahead
- Limiting mindless scrolling
- Living intentionally
Stewardship isn’t about perfection.
It’s about faithfully using the time God has given us.
9. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
Instead of allowing outside influences to control us, Scripture calls us to be filled with God’s Spirit.
The evidence is seen through the Fruit of the Spirit:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
Imagine those qualities filling your home each day.
10. Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude
Gratitude changes our perspective.
Instead of focusing on what’s missing, begin thanking God for what He’s already provided.
A thankful heart naturally draws us closer to Him.
11. Fill Your Home with Worship
Play worship music while:
- Folding laundry
- Cleaning the kitchen
- Cooking dinner
- Driving to work
Music rooted in Scripture has a wonderful way of turning ordinary moments into opportunities for worship.
12. Compare Everything to Scripture
Not every popular opinion reflects God’s truth.
That’s why it’s so important to know your Bible for yourself.
Read Scripture.
Study it.
Ask questions.
Allow God’s Word—not culture—to shape your beliefs.
13. Walk as Children of Light
Because of Christ, we no longer walk in darkness.
Our lives should reflect:
- Goodness
- Righteousness
- Truth
Others should see the hope of Jesus through the way we live.
14. Renew Your Mind Daily
Romans 12:2 reminds us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Transformation happens one faithful decision at a time.
One prayer.
One chapter.
One act of obedience.
God faithfully changes us from the inside out.
15. Practice Humility and Serve One Another
Ephesians teaches believers to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
In marriage, this means loving, serving, respecting, and honoring one another as we seek to reflect Christ’s love in our homes.
Biblical humility is one of the greatest testimonies of God’s work in our lives.
Bonus: My Simple Whipped Tallow Balm Recipe
One of my favorite simple homemaking projects is making my own whipped tallow balm. It’s easy to make, uses just a handful of ingredients, and stores beautifully.
If you aren’t interested in making your own, but want to try a great product, I highly recommend Pure Good. I use their products myself and LOVE them. Here is my affiliate link for Pure Good Products (which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you) if you are interested. https://shoppuregood.com/keepitsimpleannasue
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 g) grass-fed beef tallow
- ¼ cup (50 g) jojoba oil
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) vitamin E oil
- 10–20 drops lavender essential oil (or your favorite essential oil)
Directions
- Gently melt the tallow over low heat using a microwave-safe glass bowl, double boiler, or saucepan.
- Let it cool for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, and essential oil.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour, until the mixture leaves a slight indentation when gently pressed.
- Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
- Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in a cool, dark place.
Time to Be a Doer..Simple Steps
Growing closer to God doesn’t happen overnight.
It happens through small, faithful choices repeated day after day.
Spend time in His Word.
Pray often.
Guard your heart.
Fill your home with worship.
Seek relationships that encourage your faith.
As you continue studying Ephesians 5, ask the Lord to reveal the next step He wants you to take. He delights in drawing near to those who seek Him.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8
May these simple biblical habits encourage you to walk more closely with Jesus today.
Anna Barbour
Hey there, my name is Anna, and I am so excited to share Keep It Simple Anna Sue with you. I am a wife, mother of two young men, and currently in a pre-empty nester season of life. God knew I needed blogging way before I did. Being a pre-empty nester has left me with…extra time. I decided to use that time for creativity and for helping others to see that if I can do it, they can do it too. Learn more about me.
