5 Things to STOP Doing If You Want to Grow Closer to God

Most Christians who feel distant from God don’t need to try harder—they need to stop doing what’s quietly pulling them away.

Spiritual growth isn’t just about adding new habits. Sometimes, it’s about removing the distractions, patterns, and mindsets that keep us stuck.

If your faith has felt stagnant lately, it might not be what you’re missing—it might be what’s holding you back.

Here are 9 things to stop doing if you want to experience deeper intimacy with God:

1. Stop Waking Up and Rushing into Work

🚨 Your morning shapes your soul more than you think. When the first thing you do is check emails or stress about work, you’re subtly training your heart to focus on the world before God.

📖 Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

✨ Try This: Keep a Bible or journal by your bed. Before checking your phone, spend 5 minutes in prayer or scripture.

✅ Why This Works: Small shifts in the morning lead to massive spiritual transformation.

🎯 Takeaway: What if your first thoughts in the morning weren’t about work—but about worship?

2. Stop Checking Your Phone First Thing in the Morning

The first thing you see in the morning affects your mindset all day. If social media, emails, or notifications are the first voices in your head, it’s no surprise that God’s voice feels quieter.

📖 Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

✨ Try This: Put your phone across the room at night. When you wake up, spend time with God before reaching for your screen.

🎯 Question to Reflect On: What’s the first thing shaping your heart every morning?

3. Stop Mindless Scrolling

Social media is designed to capture your attention and shape your desires. The more time you spend consuming, the less time you spend communing with God.

📖 Ephesians 5:15-16 – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.”

✨ Try This: Set a time limit on your apps or take a weekly digital Sabbath to realign your focus.

🎯 Reflection: Is social media forming you more than scripture?

4. Stop Hanging Out with People Who Don’t Push You Toward God

The people closest to you shape your faith—whether you realize it or not. If your inner circle isn’t encouraging you toward Christ, they’re likely pulling you away.

📖 1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good character.”

✨ Try This: Be intentional about surrounding yourself with faith-filled friends, mentors, and a strong church community.

🎯 Challenge: Are your closest relationships strengthening or weakening your walk with God?

5. Stop Waiting for a “Better Time” to Follow God’s Call

It’s easy to say, “I’ll take my faith more seriously when life slows down.” But the truth? Life never slows down.

📖 James 4:14 – “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

✨ Try This: Take one small step today—whether it’s committing to a Bible plan, joining a church group, or saying yes to something God has put on your heart.

🎯 What’s one step you’ve been putting off? Take it today.

🔥 A Moment with God

Many of us feel spiritually stuck, not because God isn’t speaking, but because we’ve unknowingly become comfortable with distractions.

The enemy doesn’t always need to tempt us into outright sin—sometimes, he just needs to keep us busy enough that we never fully step into what God is calling us to.

👉 What if instead of striving harder, you simply asked the Holy Spirit:
"Lord, what is forming me more than You right now?"

Let Him reveal it to you. And when He does—respond in obedience.

🎤 Drop a comment on the Youtube video and let me know what stood out to you! I’d love to hear how God is speaking to you.