It's all about the Little Things: 5 Daily/Weekly Habits to Develop to Stay Close to God

Sometimes, life can just be downright hard.

Sometimes, our lives can feel lonely, isolating, and unfigureoutable, like an undone jigsaw puzzle trying to put itself together but not having anyone there to help pick up and connect the pieces.

And when we feel like our lives are shattered, when we feel stagnant, when we feel completely alone, it’s easy to feel forgotten. We may feel like God has not alone left us, but that He has abandoned us.

However, I believe that He is there and wants to help us. He wants to have that personal relationship with us. Yet, a relationship is a two-way connection. One person cannot have a personal relationship with another if it is not reciprocated. We have been counseled to develop that relationship with God. President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “When you do your part, the Lord adds His power to your efforts,” (October 2015).

In my experience of hardships, I’ve come to realize that it is when we may feel the most alone that we are actually not. It is during those times where we may want to be blinded and believe that God isn’t there that we must open our eyes and look for the miracles. Most importantly, it is during those times that we should cling to the Lord. It's all about the little things we do that become habits to help us during our big storms.

There are so many ways to do so, but to start, here are five things that we can do daily/weekly that can help us stay close to God, especially during hardships.

1. Having Honest and Candid Prayers

Having daily prayer is one of the top ways to stay close to God. Sometimes, praying can become a lulling activity that we feel like we have to check off our list. They may feel monotonous. If we take the time to think about what we are praying about, our prayers can become precious moments where we can connect with God.

Think about what you are praying about. Are you repeating the same things over again? Have you said these things before? What kind of things are happening in your life? Have you shared those things in your prayers? Have you shared what you are feeling? Scared? Excited? Happy? Sad? Heavenly Father wants to know these things. Even though He already knows, He wants to hear them from you, because you are that important to him.

Have you said a prayer that is purely a gratitude prayer? Try it. Instead of asking for anything, simply express gratitude for the blessings that you have been given. You’ll be amazed at how eye opening the experience will be.

2. Daily Scripture Study

I once heard that prayer is how we communicate to God, and it is through scriptures that He communicates with us. Studying the scriptures daily will help you feel closer to him because they are His words that have been etched, saved, and preserved for this time. (If you want some tips on how to study the scriptures, click here.)

3. Serve Somebody Else

It is so easy to get caught up in our lives and everything that we are going through. When we feel sorry for ourselves, serving somebody else helps us to become grateful for what we have.

In the Book of John of the New Testament, chapter 3, there are many verses that teaches us of the results of serving others:

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren…. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another… and he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him (16, 18-19, 21, 23-24).

“Laying down our lives for [our] brethren” can be interpreted as sacrificing something of ourselves to help those in need. It may be time, talents, efforts, or physical items. We learn that as we serve others, we have confidence towards God and dwell with Him- in other words, we can come closer to Him.

The Christmas Season is a perfect time to get started on serving others more regularly. There is a plethora of ways that have been established for us to serve those around us.

Here are some examples and ways to serve:

· The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have their “Light the World” Challenge that anyone can be a part of. (If you are interested in this, click the link here.)

· Volunteer at the Salvation Army

· Go through your pantry and find any kind of canned food that you can donate to the food bank

· Deliver cookies to your neighbors, family members, or friends with a nice note saying how much you appreciate them

· Make a meal for someone you know that might need some help

· Visit somebody you know may be feeling lonely

· Sit with someone new at lunch

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17

The Savior has said, “Even if ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Perhaps that’s why serving others can help us feel closer to God.

Set a goal to serve someone else regularly, perhaps daily or weekly, without seeking any kind of praise. Making this a habit can help us feel closer to the spirit of God. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Work will cure your grief. Serve others,” (Hinckley, 2000).

4. Practice being Kind over being Right

Sometimes, it takes a lot from within us to put aside our pride and practice kindness, especially when we feel like we are not in the wrong when we are in an argument. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Our kindness may be the most pervasive argument for that which we believe... I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile on your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret,” (October 2007).

When we get in arguments, especially with those we love the most, practicing using soft spoken words will help us to learn to control our own anger and irritation. Learning to apologize right away after an argument will also help to cease any contentious feelings so that we can work on being happy again quickly, allowing us to have the spirit with us again.

5. Share your testimony with Yourself (and Others)

We often hear how we should share our testimonies with those around us. But I think it’s important to share our own testimonies with ourselves as well. If we share it with ourselves, we will be more comfortable sharing with others.

When your alone at home, in your car, or wherever else, share with yourself what you know to be true. Remind yourself of the miracles you have been able to receive and witness. Doing this regularly can help us feel gratitude towards God and feel closer to Him. It can also help you to feel more confident to share with others.

As we practice these daily habits (as well as others), we can feel close to the spirit and help to strengthen our own relationship with God and those are around us. We can feel happier and more at peace even amidst tribulation.

Question of the Day: What is something that you do to stay close to God daily?

Share in the comments. 😊

References

Eyring, Henry B. “You are Not Alone in the Work.” The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints Semiannual General Conference, October 2015, Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hinckley, Gordon B. “Slow to Anger.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Semiannual General Conference, October 2007, Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Hinckley, Gordon B. Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues that will Heal our Hearts and Home. Three Rivers Press, 2000.