If we draw near to God, he will draw near to us (James 4:8). But how do we draw near to God practically? What does closeness mean in proximity to Someone we can’t physically see, hear, or feel?
Naturally, disciples of Jesus Christ desire closeness with him, and for good reasons! The Bible provides at least five powerful reasons to draw near to God:
- To receive mercy (Hebrews 4:16)
- To find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)
- For eternal salvation (Hebrews 7:25)
- It pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)
- God invites us (James 4:8)
We’ve looked at the “why” of drawing near to God; next comes the “how”. I’m sure there are almost as many ways to draw closer to God as there are people, but I want to share my own experience with you.
12 Ways Writing Helps Me Draw Closer to God
Since I learned to write as a young child, I have found writing to be an effective way to draw near to God. The more I write, the more I experience nearness to God because of it.
1. Writing improves my prayers.
Distractions abound when I pray. To combat this, I write out my prayers. This keeps me focused and ensures that I remember to pray for everything I want to pray about. Writing out my prayers helps me to cast all my cares on God (1 Peter 5:7). Also, looking back through my prayer journal encourages me to persevere in prayer because I have a written record of answered prayers, proof of God’s care and faithfulness.
2. Writing refreshes my memory.
Science continues to prove that writing things down improves retention and recall.1 My memory is poor, yet I want to memorize Scripture because it shapes my thinking and helps me to live and act more like Jesus (Psalm 119:11). No matter how many times I read and recite a Bible verse, I struggle to remember it unless I write it down.
3. Writing helps me to meditate on God’s Word.
Meditating on God’s Word—mentally “chewing” on it to suck every morsel of spiritual nutrition out of it—leads to a blessed and fruitful life (Psalm 1). Writing out a passage of Scripture forces me to slow down and think about each word as I write it.
4. Writing renews my mind.
When I write a Bible study or an article for my website or another Christian site, I think deeply about the words I put onto the page. To ensure my writing is true, I constantly look up Scripture passages that relate to what I’m writing. And when I write out my prayers, I more easily recognize when my thoughts don’t align with God’s Word. Then, I “preach to my soul” by writing what is true, renewing my mind (Romans 12:2).
5. Writing improves my focus & soothes my soul.
When I declutter a closet, I take everything out of the closet, creating a big pile of stuff. Then, I sort through it all, one piece at a time, and only put back into the closet what belongs there. When I’m done, there’s always a pile of stuff I need to get rid of. Likewise, writing serves as mental decluttering by helping me to see all the thoughts that are troubling me and then sort through them to determine which are true, which are false, and which I need to prioritize (Proverbs 4:25–27). In this way, writing restores mental peace.
6. Writing enriches my study of the Bible.
I take the exhortation in 2 Timothy 2:15 very seriously—to “rightly handle the word of truth.” Because of this, when I write, my Bible is open, and I often enjoy an impromptu Bible study to ensure my words are true to God’s Word. What I learn through my study while writing enriches my normal, planned Bible study time.
7. Writing is a way to participate in God’s creative work.
God created us in his image to do good works (Genesis 1:1, 27; Ephesians 2:10). When I write for God’s glory, I get to participate in God’s kingdom work as a co-laborer with Jesus Christ.
8. Writing is an act of worship and obedience.
Eric Liddell, the 400m gold medalist in the 1924 Olympic Games, said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” That’s how I feel when I write. I consider my writing a gift God has given me, and I want to steward it well. I write in response to his saving grace, as an act of worship and obedience to his call.
9. Writing holds me accountable.
A call to write for God’s glory is a call to live for his glory. Romans 14:12 tells us that we’ll all give an account of ourselves to God. I’m ultimately responsible to God for how I live and what I do with my writing. But the Bible also says accountability to each other is wisdom (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22). Writing in a public sphere can be a form of accountability, but I also actively seek out accountability from the people who know me personally to ensure that my writing aligns with my living and, therefore, glorifies God.
10. Writing encourages community.
Writing presents countless opportunities to connect with others. I consider my writing an act of service to my readers, and I enjoy cultivating community with them through my writing, teaching, and mentorship. But I’ve also learned that I cannot write for long in isolation. I need the encouragement, support, and help of other writers, and I’ve found the Christian writing community extravagantly generous in that regard.
11. Writing keeps me humble.
The writing process reminds me of sanctification. Exposing my heart on a page for all to see leaves me vulnerable. The hard work of writing reminds me of my weaknesses, and the editing process chips away at the areas that need refinement.
12. Writing requires dependence on God.
I simply cannot write for God’s glory in my own strength (John 15:5). I rely on him for wisdom, inspiration, physical and mental and emotional strength, correction—the list goes on. This dependence on God is the best place to be, and I’m grateful writing keeps me there.
How to Draw Near to God Through Writing
We cannot draw near to God without Jesus, who said, “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).
The writer of Hebrews explains: “By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 10:19 NLT). The Most Holy Place was an area of the Tabernacle—the place of worship for the Israelites—that was set apart for God’s presence. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement, and only with a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. But Jesus Christ gave his life as the sacrifice to atone for our sins, once and for all. When he died, the curtain that separated people from God’s presence (the Most Holy Place) was torn. Jesus became our High Priest, and because of him, we can “draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22a ESV). “For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22b NLT).
So, when we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus for salvation instead of trying to earn our way into a right relationship with God, we can draw near to God with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).
God invites us to approach him through Jesus Christ in ways that are meaningful to us personally. For Eric Liddell, running was one way. For others, it may be through music, nature, art, or something else.
Another way we can draw near to God is through writing. If you’re interested in writing to draw closer to God, here are a few practical writing exercises to try:
- Turn to Hebrews 10 in your Bible. Write out Hebrews 10:19–22 on an index card and place it where you’ll see it often.
- Look up Hebrews 10:19–22 in various translations. Write them out. Choose one word from this passage and do a word study.
- Write about what you learned from Hebrews 10:19–22. How does it affect your life and your relationship with God? Does it challenge your beliefs, thoughts, or actions in any way? What is your response to the message of this passage?
- Write out a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for Jesus’s gift of grace and salvation.
What have you written recently that helped you draw closer to God? Share your experience in the comments.