7 Ways To Grow Closer To God: From Lukewarm to On Fire

Summary

In this inspiring video, Ashley shares seven tangible ways to deepen one's relationship with God. She emphasizes the importance of daily 'secret place' time, consistent prayer, Bible reading, solitude, repentance, fasting, and worship. By integrating these practices into daily life, viewers are encouraged to experience true intimacy with God and grow closer to Him.

Takeaways

• 📖 Read the Bible daily to grow closer to God; start with books like John, James, Ephesians, Romans, Proverbs, or Psalms.
• 🙏 Make prayer a daily practice, talking to God throughout the day to build a closer relationship.
• 🕊️ Seek the 'secret place' for private time with God, where you can have personal conversations without broadcasting to others.
• 🔑 Prioritize time alone with God, making it more important than social media or other distractions.
• 🌟 Experience God's presence through solitude, sitting in His presence without the need to fill the space with words.
• 💬 Use prayer walks as a way to talk to God out loud, not caring about what others may think.
• 🧘‍♀️ Practice repentance to remove any wedges of unconfessed sin that may distance you from God.
• 🚶‍♀️ Fasting can help you feel closer to God by denying your flesh and focusing on spiritual growth.
• 🎶 Listen to worship music and Jesus-centered lyrics to honor God and enhance your spiritual connection.
• 🕊️ Embrace moments of deep worship, crying out to the Lord and expressing your love and devotion through tears and gestures.
• 🌱 Join a Bible reading community or use a devotional for a structured approach to daily Bible study and reflection.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Ashley's channel?

The main theme of Ashley's channel is to discuss ways to grow closer to God and reach one's full potential in faith.

What does Ashley consider the first step to growing closer to God?

The first step is to get into the 'secret place' every single day, which is a private time alone with God.

What does the 'secret place' mean according to the transcript?

The 'secret place' refers to a private and personal space where one can have a one-on-one relationship with God without the need to broadcast it to others.

How does Ashley relate the concept of the 'secret place' to friendships?

Ashley compares the 'secret place' to spending quality time with a friend, emphasizing that the more time you spend with someone, the closer you become.

What does Ashley suggest as the second step to having true intimacy with God?

The second step is to talk to God every single day, making prayer an essential part of one's daily routine.

Why is prayer important for growing closer to God, as per Ashley's perspective?

Prayer is important because it is a two-way conversation between you and God, allowing you to express your burdens, give thanks, and feel His presence.

What is Ashley's advice on how to approach Bible reading for those who find it intimidating?

Ashley suggests starting with books like the Gospel of John, James, Ephesians, Romans, Proverbs, or Psalms, and taking it one chapter at a time. She also recommends her Bible reading community called 'the tree' for a structured plan.

What is the role of solitude in Ashley's approach to growing closer to God?

Solitude is about being alone with God without the need for many words, allowing one to sit in His presence and feel refilled and at peace.

How does Ashley describe the importance of repentance in one's relationship with God?

Repentance is crucial as unconfessed sin can create a wedge between you and God. By repenting and confessing sins, one can turn back to God and feel closer to Him.

What is the significance of fasting in Ashley's spiritual journey?

Fasting is a way to deny the flesh and get closer to God. It helps in sensing God's presence more intensely and is considered worth the sacrifice.

How does Ashley recommend incorporating worship into one's daily life?

Ashley suggests listening to worship music and Jesus music with honoring lyrics, and setting aside moments in the day or week for expressing love and worship to God.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Building Intimacy with God: The Secret Place

Ashley introduces her channel's focus on spiritual growth and personal potential. She emphasizes the importance of establishing a 'secret place' for daily private communion with God, as stated in James 4:8. This private time is crucial for developing a close relationship with God, akin to nurturing a friendship. Ashley stresses the need to prioritize this time over social media and other distractions, and to recognize that God, like a gentleman, will only draw near to those who actively seek Him.

05:01

🗣️ Cultivating Prayer and Conversation with God

Ashley discusses the significance of maintaining a daily prayer life to deepen one's relationship with God. She uses the analogy of a friend to illustrate the need for consistent communication. She shares her personal practice of talking to God throughout the day, especially during prayer walks, where she openly converses with God, regardless of others' opinions. Ashley references Matthew 6:5-8 to highlight the importance of private prayer and the value of a two-way conversation with God, which includes sharing burdens and giving thanks.

10:01

📖 Embracing the Word of God through Bible Reading

Ashley admits her initial intimidation with the Bible but has since made it a daily practice to engage with the scripture. She recommends starting with books like John, James, Ephesians, Romans, Proverbs, or Psalms and suggests a structured Bible reading plan through her 'tree' community. Ashley also mentions her morning devotional, 'The Joy of the In-Between,' as a less intimidating way to start the day with God, focusing on trust and timing in relation to God's plan.

🕊️ Experiencing God's Presence through Solitude

Ashley explains the concept of solitude as a time to be alone with God without the need for words. She describes her weekly Sabbath as a time for quiet reflection and sitting in God's presence, which she finds rejuvenating. Ashley encourages others to embrace solitude despite their personality type, reminding them that God is always present and that this time alone can be spiritually fulfilling.

💔 The Necessity of Repentance in Spiritual Growth

Ashley believes that unconfessed sin can create a barrier between an individual and God. She encourages repentance as a means to restore closeness with God, sharing her personal experiences where she felt distant from God due to unrepented sin. She advises confessing sins and turning towards obedience and God's ways to maintain a close relationship.

🕉️ Fasting as a Means to Draw Nearer to God

Ashley views fasting as a powerful way to deny the flesh and grow closer to God. She admits that fasting is not always easy but finds it rewarding as it heightens her awareness of God's presence. Ashley offers a free fasting guide for those interested in learning how to fast and emphasizes the spiritual benefits of this practice.

🎶 The Transformative Power of Worship in Spiritual Connection

Ashley discusses the impact of worship, particularly through music, on one's spiritual journey. She shares her transition from secular to worship music and how it positively affected her walk with God. She encourages setting aside time for worship, both through music and in moments of heartfelt devotion, as a vital part of nurturing a relationship with God.

Keywords

💡Intimacy with God

Intimacy with God refers to a close, personal relationship with the divine. In the context of the video, it is the main theme where the speaker discusses how to achieve a deeper connection with God. The script emphasizes the importance of daily practices that foster this intimacy, such as spending time alone with God and engaging in prayer.

💡Secret Place

The 'secret place' is a metaphor used in the script to describe a private and personal space where one can connect with God without distractions. It is derived from James 4:8, which encourages drawing near to God for His closeness. The video suggests that this place is essential for developing a deeper relationship with God, as it allows for private conversations and moments of solitude.

💡Prayer Life

A 'prayer life' is the practice of communicating with God through prayer. The script highlights prayer as a vital component of growing closer to God, emphasizing the need for daily conversations with the divine. It is portrayed as a two-way communication, where one shares burdens and gives thanks, facilitating a sense of closeness and understanding with God.

💡Bible Reading

Bible reading is the act of studying and reflecting on the scriptures. In the video, it is presented as a key habit for spiritual growth and intimacy with God. The speaker recommends starting with certain books of the Bible and suggests using a structured plan or community for guidance, illustrating the importance of engaging with the word of God as part of a daily routine.

💡Solitude

Solitude in the script refers to the state of being alone with God, which is distinct from isolation. It is a time for quiet reflection and being in the presence of God without the need for words. The speaker mentions the benefits of solitude, such as recharging one's spiritual energy and experiencing a sense of peace and fullness.

💡Repentance

Repentance is the act of acknowledging one's sins and seeking forgiveness from God. The video discusses the importance of repentance in maintaining a close relationship with God, as unconfessed sin can create a barrier. It is portrayed as a necessary step towards reconciliation and spiritual purity.

💡Fasting

Fasting, as mentioned in the script, is the practice of abstaining from food or other physical needs for spiritual purposes. It is presented as a way to deny the flesh and focus on spiritual growth, leading to a heightened sense of God's presence. The speaker shares personal experiences with fasting and offers a guide for those interested in practicing it.

💡Worship

Worship in the context of the video is the act of honoring and adoring God, often through music and prayer. The speaker encourages the audience to listen to worship music and to set aside time for expressing love and devotion to God. Worship is depicted as a powerful means of connecting with God and experiencing His love.

💡Faith

Faith is the trust and belief in God, which is a recurring concept in the script. It is the foundation upon which the practices of intimacy with God are built. The video suggests that faith is essential for understanding and applying the teachings and practices that bring one closer to God.

💡Sabbath

Sabbath in the script refers to a day of rest and spiritual reflection, typically observed once a week. The speaker describes it as a time for solitude with God, emphasizing its importance for spiritual replenishment. The Sabbath is portrayed as a sacred time for connecting with God and experiencing His peace.

Highlights

Ashley introduces her channel's focus on growing closer to God and reaching full potential in Him.

The importance of establishing true intimacy with God and understanding what closeness to God looks like.

Step one: Entering the 'secret place' daily to foster a personal relationship with God as per James 4:8.

The 'secret place' is a private space for individual communion with God without the need for public display.

Drawing near to God results in His drawing near to you, akin to nurturing a friendship.

The necessity of prioritizing time alone with God over other daily activities for a close relationship.

Ashley shares personal experiences of feeling distant from God and the importance of making Him a priority.

Step two: The significance of daily prayer and maintaining a conversation with God as a means of getting to know Him.

Prayer is a two-way conversation that involves speaking to God and listening for His response.

Matthew 6:5-8 advises prayer in private for genuine communication with God, away from the desire for recognition.

Step three: The transformational power of reading the Bible daily to understand God's word.

Ashley recommends starting with specific books of the Bible for those new to reading it.

The introduction of 'The Tree' community for a structured Bible reading plan and support.

Step four: Embracing solitude to simply be in God's presence without the need for words.

The benefits of solitude in restoring spiritual energy and experiencing God's peace.

Step five: The necessity of repentance for unconfessed sin to avoid a wedge between you and God.

Step six: Fasting as a means of denying the flesh and drawing closer to God.

Ashley provides a fasting guide for those interested in beginning this spiritual practice.

Step seven: The impact of worship through music that honors God and facilitates a deeper connection.

The importance of scheduling dedicated times for worship to pour love onto God.

Ashley encourages viewers to engage with her on social media for ongoing support in their spiritual journey.

Transcripts

God wants to be near to you hello you

guys my name is Ashley welcome back to

my channel on this channel I talk about

how to grow closer to God and reach your

full potential in him today I'm really

excited because I'm going to be sharing

about how to have true intimacy with God

and what closeness to God really looks

like before we get into it I want to

just remind youall to subscribe if you

have already I post videos around Faith

morning routines Wellness fashion and I

would love to have you in this community

step number one to growing closer to God

get in the secret place every single day

James 4:8 says draw near to God and He

will draw near to you so y'all might be

wondering what is the secret place is

there a secret I'm confused the secret

place is a place where you get alone

with the Lord and you don't need to

broadcast that you're doing this you

don't need to tell everyone shout to the

rooftops that you're getting alone with

God you are getting alone with him just

you and him in private it's giving

private moment private conversation

private time together you are just alone

with the Lord and what it says here in

James is when you draw near to God He

will draw near to you the more that you

you draw near to God the more that you

are going to sense his closeness think

about it like a friendship if you have a

friend but you never spend any time with

them and you never even make an effort

to spend time with them then you're

probably not going to feel close to that

friend right the same thing goes for God

if you are not hungry for the Lord and

you are not getting alone with him every

single day and seeking that time with

him every single day then you cannot

expect to be close to God period like if

you are making your time on scrolling on

social media more important and more

valuable than you getting alone with God

first thing in the morning or right

before you go to bed at night if you are

going to your friends and you're going

to your family more than you are going

to the Lord and you're you're like

Desiring online shopping more than

you're Desiring to be alone with God

then you cannot be upset that God feels

distant and far away like you cannot be

upset if you're not close to a friend

when you make no effort to be with that

friend you just can't be like so the

father is so kind he's so patient and he

doesn't force himself on anyone right

like God is a gentleman he don't force

himself like he he is going to see the

people who are drawing near to him and

he is going to be close to them y'all

I'm going to keep it a buck like there

have been seasons in my life where I

have sensed that God feels so far away

and I've had to look Inward and go how

much of a priority have I made getting

alone with him right I've been so upset

oh God where are you where are you but I

haven't really made him a priority and

then there have been Seasons where I

make him a priority and he is the most

important part of my day and getting

alone with him I I like need it like I

need water like I need food when I get

to that point it's like God and I we

good we on Cloud9 because I'm making him

a priority and that is why I feel near

to him so get in the secret place every

single day make getting alone with God

your number one priority every single

day if you want to get closer to him

this year number two talk to God every

single day your prayer life is so

important when it comes to getting to

know your creator let's get back to that

friend analogy say you have a friend

right you love this friend like they

mean the world to you but you never talk

to this friend you literally never say

anything to them ever okay you wonder

why they feel far away you wonder when

you want to get close to God you got to

talk to God you got to talk to him every

single day what I do every single day is

after I spend time with him in the

morning and I read my Bible I am talking

to him throughout my morning I am

praying without ceasing as it says in

first Thessalonians it says Rejoice

always pray without ceasing and give

thanks in all circumstances like we are

to pray and talk to him all the time but

there are moments where like maybe in

the morning after you read your Bible

you want to just talk to him even if

it's for like 10 minutes just talk to

him about what you're struggling with

maybe journal and share with him what

you're struggling with what the burdens

that you're casting on him are maybe if

you're like me you like to go on walks

and you like to talk to God on your

walks I look like a crazy person every

time I do this I don't care I literally

have people walk by me and I'm still

talking out loud to God I literally

don't I literally don't care I'm like

you're my father they I don't even know

this person what am I going to do stop

talking to my father for this person to

just think that I'm cool I don't care

y'all I talk to him every single day on

my prayer walks and I sense his presence

so strongly and I know that you guys

want to sense his presence you want to

feel his presence you want to hear him

speak to you you guys got to get alone

with him and talk to him like he wants

to talk to you he's waiting to talk to

you he's waiting to give you peace but

you're just not making space for it

Matthew 6 5-8 says this and when you

pray you must not be like the Hypocrites

for they love to stand and pray in the

synagogues and at the stre street

corners that they may be seen by others

truly I say to you they have received

their reward but when you pray go into

into your room and shut the door and

pray to your father who is in secret and

your father who sees in secret will

reward you so again you're getting along

with him it's a secret place you're

talking to him you're you're praying to

him you don't have to like shout it from

the rooftops you're just spending

quality time with him prayer is a

two-part conversation with you and God

it involves you speaking to God but it

also involves him speaking to you give

him your burdens than thank him for

things Praise Him confess your sins to

him get alone with him and talk to him

like he is your friend and I promise you

will feel closer to the Lord number

three read the Bible I used to be so

intimidated by the Bible y'all I didn't

even grow up really reading the Bible at

all and Christianity was new for me I

found the Lord later in my teen years

and I didn't know how to read the Bible

but I have made it a diligent practice

every single day to be in my word every

single day at the start of my day I know

some of y'all are like I don't even know

where to start and there are a couple of

books that I would recommend starting

out with um The Gospel of John is

amazing the Book of James the book of

Ephesians The Book of Romans I also love

the Book of Proverbs or Psalms and just

take a Chapter a day and read it if you

want something more structured I have a

Bible reading community

called the tree and it is a place online

where we give you a plan a Bible reading

plan every single day so you never have

to wonder what to read and we also give

you an entire community of women to read

the Bible with so if you are interested

in that you can join in the link in my

description also if reading the Bible is

too intimidating for you and you're like

freaked out by it I have a devotional a

morning devotional and I find that

morning devotionals are a great way to

start spending time with God and just to

have that intro with him without feeling

intimidated by you know a big Bible I

have scriptures at the start of every

single day that you can read in my

devotional called The Joy of the in

between y'all can get it at Target now

which is absolutely nuts like in Target

stores let's go it's all about waiting

on the Lord trusting in the Lord and

waiting on his perfect timing number

four Solitude Solitude is getting alone

with God and not really feeling the need

to fill the space with many words at all

so on my Sabbath my weekly Sabbath I

like to just have time where I'm alone

with God and I don't really say much I'm

just sitting in his presence and there

are some days that it's a challenge to

do this because like I want to socialize

I want to be with my friends I want to

like do all this stuff all day on my

Sabbath but I need time alone with God

like it fills my cup when I'm feeling

empty at the end of the week and I hit

my Sabbath it's like I have got to get

alone with the Lord and let him refill

me and let him speak to me and let him

um speak his promises over me like just

abide in the Holy Spirit and like be

alone with him when I get to that place

y'all like I am overflowing I'm

overflowing and your girl's an extrovert

right like some of y'all are like well I

am not an introvert Ashley I don't want

to be alone ever I'm scared of being

alone but you're never alone because God

is always with you like right now he is

with you so much more than I'm with you

right now like God is literally sitting

right next to you right now he's with

you and he wants to spend time with you

something I'll also do and I've

mentioned this on my channel before but

at the end of every single night I will

literally just like lay limp on my bed

I'm not even kidding guys like I will be

just it I'll have the whole day that I

just finished the whole day and I'm like

in my bed and I maybe just like read a

couple of pages of my book and I'm just

like laying there and I'm just praying

and I'm just talking to God and

sometimes I'm just praying in the spirit

because I have no words and I'm just

praying and like I'm just alone with God

and my eyes are just fixed on God and

it's like my whole body just floods with

this crazy peace it's actually insane

and it's the most random place like I'm

not even in a church and I'm feeling

this peace I'm in my bed

number five is repentance so I believe

that unconfessed sin will create a wedge

between you and the Lord like again in

my own life there have been times where

I

have not repented of things and I have

like been walking and living in sin and

I question why I feel far from God y'all

if you feel that in your heart right now

I just encourage you to just repent to

the Lord confess your sin say God I am

so sorry that I've been doing this that

I've been practicing this that I've been

taking part in this mindset that is not

aligned with your word and I turned to

you and I turn to being obedient to you

and I turn to your way of doing things

right so repent and turn to the Lord and

I promise it will help you feel closer

to him number six is fasting so a great

way to get closer to God and feel closer

to the Lord is denying your flesh I like

to fast often

and I like to just have this time I'm

never looking forward to it but in the

middle of my fast I'm always sensing the

presence of the Lord so much that I'm

like okay wow it is so worth it that I

am denying my flesh today it is so worth

it that I'm not eating the cookie it is

so worth it that I'm not you know that

I'm that I'm skipping lunch today

because I know that God is so close to

me right now I actually have a fasting

guide for y'all I know so many of you

guys don't know how to fast and I didn't

know for the longest time and so I put

together this free guide and you can get

it in the description below and it's all

about how to get started with fasting

yeah I really hope that that helps you

guys number seven is worship one of the

ways you can get closer to the Lord is

just worshiping him in the music that

you listen to so y'all I used to listen

to mostly secular music mostly music

with like bunch of cuss words in it and

not good things in it and I didn't think

it was a problem and I was even like a

Christian at this point and I just

didn't really think it was a problem and

I didn't realize how this was affecting

my mind and it was affecting my soul

when I started switching over to

listening to Jesus music and not just

like you know like corny cheesy

Christian music but like genuinely good

music that's like viby like it's like

new music New Wave Christian music when

I started listening to that it changed

you know my walk with the Lord in the

music that I listen to too and so I just

recommend y'all like listen to worship

music listen to Jesus music listen to

music with lyrics that that are honoring

to God and it is going to help you grow

closer to the Lord and not only that but

have moments in your day and in your

week where you are just worshiping God

and you are like crying out to the Lord

and you are just worshiping him and you

are on the ground weeping worshiping him

like your tears are just like flowing on

the ground cuz you just can't stop

worshiping put that time into your

schedule and into your week because it

is just like so vital to your

relationship with the Lord for you to

just like Pour Your Love on him in

worship okay y'all so my camera just

completely died the amount of things

that came in between this recording just

goes to show how powerful this message

is the enemy did not want me to record

this message but anyway that is seven

ways to grow closer to God

that are tangible ways that you can

actually practice in your everyday life

if you made it to this point in the

video comment a burning heart emoji so I

know who is still here make sure that

you subscribe if you haven't already and

follow me on Instagram tiktk and

Snapchat for more content to help you

grow closer to the Lord and reach your

full potential in God this year I love

you guys so so much thank you for

watching and I'll see you guys in the

next video mAh

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