5 Biblical and Practical Ways to Chase After God

In this article, we will be going over 5 practical ways you can chase after God. Each way is applicable and can be easily pursued in your life.

The desire to experience more of God is always knocking on the doors of our hearts. As spirit beings, God created us with an inbuilt hunger for Him that nothing else can satisfy. This hunger makes us chase after God so that we can know Him more.

When I was in High School I went to a private school at church all about growing in God. I absolutely LOVED it. One of the very first books that I read during that time was Tommy Tenney’s, The God Chasers: My Soul Follows Hard After Thee.

This little book stirred my heart for the Lord and installed importance in chasing after God. But in that, we also need to know the right way to chase after God so that we do not end up falling for the deception of false teachers and prophets.

Just because something looks and feels spiritual doesn’t mean it’s part of God’s ways a.k.a biblical.

The good news is that we do not have to go anywhere to look for God. He lives right in our hearts by His Spirit. I love what James 4:8 says…

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:8 NKJV

The last part might seem almost harsh, especially in our modern society which can’t handle criticism. But James says it out of love. Because without repentance and cleansing we stay separated from God. It’s that simple.

Sin puts a wedge between us and the Lord because He is HOLY. We can’t draw near to Him without a repentant heart. It’s that simple.

How Can We Stir Up Our Hunger for the Lord?

Stirring our hunger for the Lord starts with having a relationship with Jesus. He said in John 6:35 that He is the bread of life and anyone who comes to Him will never hunger, and the one who believes in Him will never thirst.

Jesus satisfies the hunger in our hearts and gives us the desire to live for God. When we spend time with the Lord daily, we will develop an intimate relationship with Him. Just like you would when you spend time with your spouse or significant other.

To stir our hunger for God, we have to focus on the things of God.

When our hearts and minds are tuned to God and His desire for us, we will find ourselves hungering for more of Him.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. – Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV

Colossians 3:1-2 tells us that we should seek those that are above, where Jesus is.

According to Jeremiah 29:13, we will find God when we seek Him and search for Him with all our hearts. Our hunger for the Lord is what makes us seek Him. This means that God will satisfy you as you seek Him with all your heart.

But spiritual hunger is different than earthly hunger. Once you have eaten in the natural you are full and no longer desire any more food until your body uses it up. Spiritual hunger actually grows into more hunger as you eat. You are satisfied since God fills you up, but then a deeper hunger for more comes.

Alright, now let’s take a look at how we can practically learn how to run after God!

Practical Ways We Can Chase After God

I want to make it clear that there is no formula for chasing after the heart of God. Reading your Bible, or praying doesn’t guarantee you will be close to God or that you are even chasing Him. Remember the Pharisees and Sadducees knew scripture and would fast and pray. Yet they were far from God.

The key is to keep your heart soft towards the Lord as you pursue Him. That your desire for HIm is solely to know Him more.

1.   Spend Time with Him Daily

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. – John 15:14 NKJV

Having daily devotional times will bring you closer to God and His will for your life. I like taking time in the morning to spend time with Him. I know some Christians that like to spend time with the Lord in the evening. Some do both.

When you leave all else behind and give God your attention, you are chasing after Him. He will be sure to respond to you. During this time, you can worship God, read and meditate on the Bible, and journal the things God says to you. Or a combination of things. The key is to give Him your undivided attention.

If you are distracted easily make sure to put those distractions away. This could be your phone, TV, a messy room…etc.

2.   Listening to Worship Music

This may sound simple but it’s an amazing way for us to draw closer to God.

Music that drives us to worship God ushers us into His presence where He fills us with His joy and peace.

Through worship songs, God touches our hearts and draws us closer to Him. We experience more of Him when we are in awe of who He is to us and all the blessings He gives us each day.

We can declare Psalm 9:1 as we praise and worship God through music. “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” Music prepares our hearts to usher in the presence of God.

3.   Listen or Read Teachings on God’s Word

As we read our Bibles and understand what God is saying to us, we can also listen to ministers who preach the Word. Nowadays, we can access godly teachings on YouTube or other platforms and hear the Word of God. As you consume content that builds your spirit, you will find that you desire to know more of God and His ways.

This also can be done by books, published or online articles (like the one here), and Bible studies.

When the Berean Jews heard the apostle Paul preaching the Word, they received his teaching with gladness. They also went back to the Scriptures to find out if what he was saying was the truth (Acts 17:11). Like these believers, we can listen to godly teachings and check them against God’s Word to make sure that we are only holding on to the truth.

4.   Serving God

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. – 1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

When we become children of God, our desire is to serve God using the gifts He has given us through the Holy Spirit. It’s our way of pouring out what God has poured into us. (Matthew 10:8) He then pours into us again and again. It’s an amazing way for us to chase God!

A good reminder too is that we don’t only serve God when we are in church but out in the world as well.

5.   Prayer

Now, this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. – 1 John 5:14 NKJV

One way we can chase after God is by praying. 1 John 5:14 says that we have the confidence that God hears us when we ask anything according to His will. You connect to God when you go before Him in prayer. If you find that your hunger for God has died, pray and ask God to revive your heart. He will stir that hunger within you in response to your prayer.

When we pray, we are inviting God into our lives to transform us and make us more like Christ. Prayer releases the power of God into our lives where we experience God in miraculous ways. It’s usually in these times when God speaks to us.

Check out more on prayer on my Prayer & Intercession page. I share many tools on how you can grow in your prayer life.

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Chasing after God is never in vain because He will respond to our hunger for desiring to experience more of Him. When we focus on God and His kingdom, we will feel a hunger for Him rise up within our hearts. Pray and ask God to show you more ways that you can draw closer to Him so that you can have an intimate relationship with Him. 

Feel free to leave me a comment below! I would love to hear from you.