How to Seek the Lord: 7 Practical Ways to Draw Closer to God
If you’ve ever wondered how to seek the Lord in a practical, life-changing way, the Bible gives us clear and encouraging guidance for drawing closer to Him every day. To seek the Lord simply means to pursue Him—to long for more of His presence and to intentionally draw closer to Him. It is a lifelong journey of getting to know God better. The apostle Paul expressed this desire when he wrote, “That I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10).
The wonderful truth is that we never completely reach the destination in this life, because there is always more of God to discover. But the journey itself is the reward. Keep moving forward. Never quit. Never give up. Whatever season you are in, continue seeking the Lord.
Here are seven practical ways to pursue Him.
1. Read Scripture
God is found within the pages of His Word. The Bible contains history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, and instruction—but above all, it reveals a Person: Jesus Christ, who came to reveal the Father (John 14:8–11).
John begins his Gospel by declaring,
“In the beginning was the Word…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1–18)
Read the Bible relationally. Don’t simply study it for information; read it as God’s personal letter to you. As you read, ask, “Lord, what are You showing me about Yourself today?” God delights in making Himself known through His Word.
2. Pray
Prayer is simply conversation with God.
Talk honestly with Him. Tell Him your joys, fears, disappointments, and questions. But don’t stop there—ask Him about Himself.
Ask:
- “Lord, what are You teaching me?”
- “What is Your will in this situation?”
- “What do You want me to understand about You?”
I’ve discovered that God doesn’t always answer immediately. Often, the answer unfolds over the next several days as I continue walking with Him. That’s part of seeking Him.
Second Chronicles 7:14 beautifully connects prayer and seeking God:
“If My people…will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face…”
Seeking God happens in conversation.
3. Worship
Worship is our spirit reaching toward God.
When we worship, we honor Him for who He is. We lift our eyes above our circumstances and fix them on His greatness. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8).
David understood this well. Regardless of what he faced, he continually returned to worship. Spend time in the Psalms until David’s prayers become your own.
Jesus said,
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
Worship softens our hearts and helps us experience God’s presence in a deeper way.
4. Obey
Seeking God always leads to obedience.
It’s one thing to say we love God; it’s another to follow Him.
During King Asa’s revival, Scripture says,
“He commanded Judah to seek the Lord…and to observe the law and the commandment.” (2 Chronicles 14:4)
Seeking and obeying belong together.
Each act of obedience deepens our relationship with God and moves us one step closer to Him.
5. Repent
The closer we draw to God, the more clearly we recognize the things that hinder our fellowship with Him.
Repentance simply means changing direction.
God lovingly reveals attitudes, habits, or sins that keep us from experiencing Him more fully—not to condemn us, but to restore us.
Romans 2:4 reminds us,
“The goodness of God leads you to repentance.”
Because of Christ’s finished work on the cross, we can leave those things behind and continue pursuing Him with a clean heart (Psalm 24:3–6).
6. Be Still and Listen
Sometimes God is not found in the noise.
Life becomes busy. Our schedules fill up. Our minds become crowded.
One of my favorite passages is 1 Kings 19. Elijah expected to encounter God in dramatic displays of power. Instead, God spoke through a gentle whisper.
Sometimes seeking the Lord means stepping away from the activity, sitting quietly in His presence, and simply listening.
His whisper often changes us more than the world’s loudest voices.
7. Fellowship with God’s People
God never intended us to seek Him alone.
There is something deeply encouraging about spending time with believers who sincerely love Christ.
Whether through worship, Bible study, meaningful conversation, or simply hearing someone else’s testimony, God often uses other believers to strengthen our faith.
John wrote,
“Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)
Healthy fellowship with God’s people strengthens our fellowship with God Himself.
Keep Seeking
These seven practices are not a checklist to earn God’s approval. They are invitations into a deeper relationship with Him.
Find your own rhythm.
Walk at your own pace.
But be intentional.
God promises that those who seek Him will find Him. As you continue drawing near to Him, you’ll discover that He has been drawing near to you all along.
Keep seeking. Keep growing. Keep discovering the wonderful heart of God.
Personal Growth Questions
- Which of these seven practices is strongest in my life right now? Which one needs the most attention?
- What is one practical step I can take this week to intentionally seek the Lord?
- Is there anything God is asking me to surrender or obey as I draw closer to Him?
- When was the last time I intentionally became still long enough to simply listen for God’s voice?
- How has God used other believers to encourage me in my walk, and how can I encourage someone else this week?
A Special Resource Coming Soon
If you’ve ever felt like your prayer life has become routine or spiritually dry, I’m preparing a free devotional guide called When Prayer Feels Stale: A 6-Day Prayer Renewal Journey. It’s designed to help you rediscover freshness in your conversation with God through simple biblical encouragement and practical daily exercises.
I’ll be sharing more about it soon. I pray it will become a helpful companion as you continue seeking the Lord and growing in your relationship with Him.
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