I had to think about my relationship with God with the topic “Is Praying Enough to Get Closer to God?” Often we believe if we pray alone then we are close to Him. Prayer is crucial and vital because it is through it that we communicate with God, that we express our gratitude to God, that we seek God's guidance, that we pour our hearts out before God. But, in this topic I learned that prayer by itself is not sufficient unless it is backed-up with obedience and faith and practice of God's commandments.
God not only wants us to pray but he also wants us to be obedient to his will. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15) This is because - the "closeness" to God is reflected in our acts and not just in what we say in prayer. One could pray on a daily basis, but if not trying to live by God's will and strive to obey Him, then the quality of one's relationship with God may not develop as it ought.
I also discovered that the Bible is a necessary aid to spiritual growth, both studying it and meditating on it. The word of the Lord is like a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Reading the Word of God is how God speaks to us; Praying is how we speak to God. In order to have a strong and meaningful relationship with Him, both are needed.
I had one experience which was related to this topic. At one time, I was praying daily and seeking God's guidance but I was feeling spiritually empty and disconnected. Later I noticed that I was praying, but not spending enough time in the Bible or on applying the lessons to my daily life. Once I became more attentive to the word of God and did what it said I made a difference. I was more peaceful, more confident in my faith, much closer to God than I was before. This was a lesson to me that prayer is very effective but it is most effective when coupled with obedience and spiritual growth.
In addition to that, James 2:17 tells us, “Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” This is a reminder that faith is a journey of doing; of doing. Prayer should give us the desire to be better servants of God and better examples to other people.
Finally prayer is an indispensable ingredient of coming closer to God but not sufficient in itself. We also must take his word and put our faith into action and obey his commandments, and learn his word. We can have a closer and deeper relationship with God by prayer, obedience, and living faithfully.