How to Grow Closer to God
The process of how to Grow Closer to God Is About a Relationship, Not Just Rules
Many children think Christianity is mostly about learning Bible stories, following rules, or trying to be good enough for God.
While obedience matters, it isn’t where our faith begins.
The Bible teaches something far more exciting.
God wants a relationship with us.
Just like any friendship, relationships grow through spending time together. The more time we spend with someone, the better we know them. The same is true with God.
James 4:8 reminds us:
“Come near to God and He will come near to you.”
Growing closer to God isn’t about impressing Him.
It’s about discovering the God who already loves us.
Why Growing Closer to God Matters
Every healthy relationship needs time and attention.
Friendships become stronger because people talk, listen, laugh together and learn about each other.
Our relationship with God grows in exactly the same way.
Many preteens are surrounded by distractions:
- School
- Sport
- Homework
- Gaming
- Social media
- Friends
None of these are wrong.
The challenge of how to Grow Closer to God is making sure God doesn’t become the last thing on the list.
When young people intentionally spend time with Him, they begin discovering His character, His promises and His love.
That foundation helps them make wise decisions throughout life.
1. Spend Time with God Every Day
One of the simplest ways to grow closer to God is consistency.
You don’t need an hour every morning.
Five or ten focused minutes can make a huge difference.
Encourage preteens to:
- Pray
- Read a short Bible passage
- Thank God
- Talk honestly about their day
Faith grows through regular connection, not occasional effort.
2. Read the Bible to Know God Better
The Bible isn’t simply a rule book.
It’s God’s story.
Every page teaches us something about His character.
When children begin reading Scripture for themselves they discover:
- God is faithful
- God keeps His promises
- God forgives
- God guides
- God never leaves His people
Instead of reading large sections, encourage one chapter or even a few verses each day.
Consistency beats quantity.
3. Talk to God Throughout the Day
Prayer isn’t only something we do before meals or bedtime.
Prayer is simply talking with God.
Children can pray:
- Before a test
- Walking to school
- Before sport
- When they’re worried
- When they’re thankful
These small conversations help build a real relationship with God.
4. Learn to Trust God
Growing closer to God also means learning to trust Him.
Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we planned.
Friendships become difficult.
School feels overwhelming.
Family life changes.
These moments become opportunities to discover that God remains faithful.
Faith grows most when we choose to trust Him even when we don’t understand everything.
5. Obey Because You Love God
Many people think obedience comes first.
The Bible teaches the opposite.
Love comes first.
Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands.”
Obedience becomes a natural response to knowing God better.
Children obey because they trust Him—not because they’re trying to earn His love.
6. Keep Going Even When You Miss a Day
One of the biggest mistakes young Christians make is believing they’ve failed if they miss a day of Bible reading or prayer.
That’s not how relationships work.
Missing one conversation doesn’t end a friendship.
God invites us to begin again.
Every day is another opportunity to take one small step closer to Him.
7. Remember That Spiritual Growth Takes Time
Plants don’t become trees overnight.
How to grow closer to God is not a switch, it’s a process.
Friendships don’t develop in one conversation.
Neither does faith.
God patiently grows His children over time.
Every prayer.
Every Bible verse.
Every act of trust.
Every decision to obey.
These small choices become a lifetime of spiritual growth.
How Parents and Teachers Can Help
Parents and teachers play a huge role in helping children build lifelong habits.
Rather than making faith feel like another school subject, create opportunities to enjoy growing with God together.
Simple ideas include:
- Reading one Bible passage together.
- Asking one faith question each day.
- Praying before school.
- Talking about where God was at work during the day.
- Celebrating small spiritual victories.
Children usually learn more from what adults model than from what adults say.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to grow closer to God isn’t about learning how to become perfect.
It’s about knowing Him more.
Every small step matters.
Every prayer matters.
Every Bible reading matters.
Every act of trust matters.
The wonderful news is that God wants this relationship even more than we do. He promises that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or Sunday School leader, helping preteens discover this truth may become one of the greatest gifts you ever give them.
Ready to Help Preteens Grow Closer to God?
If you’re looking for a complete low-prep Sunday School lesson on this topic, our Growing Closer to God lesson includes engaging discussions, Bible discovery activities, real-life applications, printable worksheets, games, and take-home resources that help preteens build a genuine relationship with God. It’s the first lesson in our Growing with God series and is designed specifically for ages 10–13.