“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Lk 8:14-15)

Before the first freeze last fall, I brought my herbs inside my house. Each one grew in its own container, so I made a place for them in my laundry room, which receives a lot of sunlight. There were four: basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.

One by one, the herbs died until the oregano was the only one left. At first, I watched it diligently for rot or dryness. Soon, I became distracted and forgot to check it as often as it needed. One day, I noticed its dry leaves and realized with chagrin that I had forgotten to water it. Overnight, it seemed, many of the leaves dried up and fell on the floor. My neglectfulness led to the eventual death of the oregano plant.

Our spiritual life is much like that plant. When left untended, our souls become parched, and we no longer produce the fruit we once did. If neglected long enough, we fail to grow and thrive spiritually.

How can we prevent this from happening? I’ve listed a few of the ways we can grow closer to God below. This list is not exhaustive, but is designed to get you started. A word of advice: don’t try to implement all the options at once, or you will be overwhelmed. Choose the option that fits your lifestyle and personality, and then add others over time as you feel comfortable.

1. Prayer. Prayer is a conversation between you and God, and as such, you should feel comfortable talking to him. This comes from spending time with him. Include praise and thanksgiving in your prayer (Ps 100:4), and then tell him your concerns. Your prayers don’t have to be long and elaborate to be effective. But don’t neglect the second part of prayer: listening. When we listen for the Holy Spirit, we begin to recognize the sound of God’s voice and see him at work in our lives.
2. Read God’s Word. You can read through the Bible in a year, or you can move more slowly through the Word, parsing each chapter and verse for meaning. Create a plan you can stick with. If you don’t have a Bible reading habit, then develop one by reading one verse a day. Over time, you can add another verse. Before long, you’ll be reading a chapter or more a day.
3. Community. As believers, we were not created to do life alone (Gen 2:22-24). As with the oregano, when left alone, we falter. When we walk together, we can rely on each other for prayer, support, and encouragement (Ecc 4:10; Gal 6:2).
4. Participate in group Bible studies. This technique combines two of the previous techniques: reading God’s word and community. You can participate in a YouVersion Bible plan with friends (or even on your own), or you can join an online or real-life Bible study group. Reading the Bible in a group will expose you to new interpretations of the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment, and he will help you know if these interpretations are correct. You will have something to think about and to pray about as you learn more.
5. Write in a journal. As a writer, I feel compelled to include this one. Write down your prayers, what you’re thankful for, what you see God doing in your life, what you read that resonated with you. The entries don’t have to be long – they can be as short as one word or phrase. The important thing is to write it down. The act of writing helps with retention, and after some time has passed, you can look back at what God revealed to you along your journey.

Dear Jesus, thank you that there are so many techniques we can use to grow closer to you. Help us to choose the ones that best fit our lifestyle and personality. Show us how to grow closer to you each day. Amen.