This is Part Three of my survey results. In this post, you will see words of wisdom shared by respondents when asked to offer one piece of advice to someone who is trying to grow closer to God. I have passed these thoughts along unedited.

Find a community of brothers/sisters. You cannot do it alone.

Focus on relating to God – that is what it is all about

Lean into God through quiet contemplation and prayer. Journal your story and your situation. Ask God to help you in your quest.

Know it’s ok to cry to God. He can handle it. Love like crazy.

You have to have faith, and be prepared for Satan to start throwing stones.

It has to become the number one priority. God WILL speak to us when we seek Him.

Walking closely to God is more about walking in close community of love and loving and serving His people.

Study the writings & lives of Irenaeus, Basil, John Chrysostom and other Christians of the first millennium

You have to know that He’s there to listen to you cry, celebrate, yell, etc – every part. He loves you more than anyone else can.

Hearing from God is the normal Christian life, not the exception.

It is not supposed to be easy-It will be the hardest thing you will ever do. And ultimately you will become like Christ- you will know what it means to be a man of sorrows.

It is a daily journey

Pursue the relationship as you would with another person and be aware of your perspective (history, wounds) and how that affects your approach to God.

Trust that he works through you–you don’t have to be put together or figured out to be used. Live in the chaos of it all. HE is there!

Let go…

Start slowly. Write down what you want to accomplish and try to accomplish one goal at a time instead of taking the whole thing head on. Don’t feel like a failure because one step seems like it takes forever.

Not a step method to complete, it is a daily always working it out!

Even when you don’t feel like doing it, try anyway.

A relationship only works with consistent communication – it’s no different with our relationship with God.

Trust, believe, and have faith!

Just keep trying. Don’t give up.

Read, pray and connect – Read scripture, pray daily and connect with other Christians in a vulnerable way.

This sort of thing is fiercely opposed.

Do the 12 Steps whether you’re an addict or not.

God is a good, loving, intimate Father.

Challenge God, then give him a chance to show you.

God is God and you’re not. (I’m not).

Read the Psalms. Don’t expect perfection.

God wants to be with us more than he wants us to clean up our stuff. Intimacy is the priority.

Be honest with Him even when you’re mad at him.

Know that with Jesus anyone at any moment can start a new future.

Get into or create a close network of believers and share your lives together for support and relationship.

Believing is Receiving.

Walk with a community of believers.

Get someone to hold you accountable.

Nothing… I would ask them questions to let them understand what God is saying to them.

Discipleship is a key part of a believer’s growth in relationship to God. Seek someone who has a heart for discipleship modeled after Jesus’ relationship with the twelve.

Just for today!!

You have to make it a planned priority or else it will get pushed out by the day-to-day challenges that present themselves. Satan will see to the fact that you “don’t have time”.

Really seek His face by reading His Word and praying that he would reveal himself to you; Surround yourself with friends that are desperately seeking God

Reset your brain. Your purpose is to glorify God, to be in community with Him and to be a steward of His gifts. Get that right and everything else will flow.

Next Up: The Point. What I plan to do with all of this (blog, survey, etc.).