How can one develop a better relationship with God?

[Divine Power]

for a couple months now I’ve been praying to God everyday. Yea there’s been few days where I forget but overall I’ve been really praying. I’ve been really grateful for what I have, I’ve been asking for a job to hire me, to give me strength to cut off my porn addiction, to guide me and be there at all times, . I recently started to read the Bible I do it because I enjoy the knowledge and open for new gems. I enjoyed living in the past believing that he was always there with me, until certain things started to get worse. I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I have to climb over a big rock which is going to take a long time, things are getting worse everyday for me right now, How to get closer to God and form a deeper relationship so things can get better?

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Stop gooning

 

[Tsukasa Kadoya]

I'm going to refrain from bad language and be 100% serious.
The thing to understand with God is that no matter how badly you falter he'll be there for you. If you relapse and watch porn, don't feel like it was a failure and that you are unable to overcome your weaknesses. These are challenges, and just because you fail one doesn't mean you're unworthy in his eyes. Peter in the bible had a lapse in faith as he walked on the sea, but was he doomed because of it? No.
Every child makes mistakes. And (most) of these mistakes are easily fixed. God sent his ONLY son to die for you, yes YOU. If that doesn't tell you about his love, then nothing else will. He is forgiving and will see that through weakness you have a genuine desire to better yourself. And the act of TRYING and CHANGING is enough for him to be pleased with you.
You don't have to be perfect. You just have to try to be your very best, and honor yourself in the lord's eyes. And that is good enough IMO.
TLDR; God knows we're imperfect, but he knows when we try, and that is what matters.

 

[Neodanthril]

Pray without ceasing. Prayer should not be treated like a ten minute check in call to your mom. You should be in a state of prayer all day.

 

[Jinn in the phone]

https://www.holycrossoca.org/newslet/0907.html

The priest who anointed me and made me a Christian studied under the blessed Fr. Hopko and gave this to me. When I am in a state of grace, it is because I followed these, when I am in darkness it is because I did not follow these.

 

[MadStan]

He may not like you which is why he hasn’t written back.

 

[Schwarzwald]

How many times have you taken him out to dinner on Higher Power's Day? How many times have you called him on his birthday, or visited him during the holidays?

Exactly. Maybe start there.

 

[Mr. Racewar1488]

How can you develop a connection with something that doesn't exist?

Why don't you go pray to your zombie savior to cure those burns you got from my epic pwnage of you? If you'll excuse me I'm off to go read some books by Carl Sagan to celebrate my epic win.

 

[YouDoNotHaveTheRight]

Just keep praying and self improving. Sometimes in life God will test you and forge you in the fire to prepare you for future plans. If its getting more difficult it is by design to make you a better Christian and better man or woman. It doesn't last forever and when you come out the other side you will be glad you had gone through it.

 

[Brightstar777]

quiet your mind and keep listening to your spirit.

 

[Preacher ✝]

Prayer is a good start. If you feel called to prayer its because God want's you to pray as God is always the initiating force in prayer.

Aside from prayer for yourself its important to pray for others as well. The two most important things Christ ever said was to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.

If you havent yet you should find religious community. Naturally I recommend the Catholic Church.

 

[Trump's Chosen]

Every big journey starts with putting one foot in front of the other

 

[HarveyMCR]

Go on really long walks. Not pansy 2-3 mile walks. I am talking 12+ miles. Maybe start at 5-8, and work your way upward.

Light music is fine. But try to walk in nature if possible and try to think about everything around you.

 

[HarveyMCR]

How can you develop a connection with something that doesn't exist?
View attachment 6584860

Why don't you go pray to your zombie savior to cure those burns you got from my epic pwnage of you? If you'll excuse me I'm off to go read some books by Carl Sagan to celebrate my epic win.

I knew a guy who was exactly like that. Bro was Reddit incarnate. He was the kind of guy who would see "RIP my husband of 50 years Dave - I know we will see each other again in heaven" on Facebook and comment "Your God is a farce and you'll never see him again".

Anyways, he goes by 'Lilith' now

 

[ToroidalBoat]

If God is the source of love -- or there is just goodness if atheists are right -- then one can be closer by trying not to be a jerk.

 

[Devout Muslim]

Adoration of The Holy Eucharist is a popular method.

 

[Karen of Human Resources]

I've noticed people tend to have some of the most passionate invocations to God mid sexual intercourse.

That or when they break something.

 

[I'm Retarded?]

How to get closer to God and form a deeper relationship so things can get better?

this is your problem. there is no magical inflection point where things just get better because you're close enough to God or whatever. it's a mindset thing. God does not do for you; you do for yourself by doing for God. understand that from God's perspective, the world is an intentional design, and whatever bullshit you're going through is just part of the package. you transcend this through aspiration. things like positivity, optimism, goodwill, etc that you cultivate by pursuing biblical doctrine are what give you the inner strength to thrive. this is the power of faith. some quotes for posterity:

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

"Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
― Abraham Lincoln (apocryphal)

"To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.
Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue."
― Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai, The Teachings of Buddha

 

[The Crescent King]

Personally, I find icons and religious symbolism to be a big help. I used to struggle and am currently fighting my temptation to masturbate, which is the crux of porn addiction. I was never a porn addict and found it easy to quit once I learned off both the foulness of that industry and developed a spiritual life and recognised that my natural sexual urges would only be satisfied in a monogamous, loving covenant as opposed to masturbation. However, I have a high sex drive and pretty much have zero dating options currently due to a variety of factors, so it's easy to fall into that sin when one is lonely, bored and experiences sexual temptation. I wear a cross I bought off Etsy 24/7 and, no joke, when I'm wearing the cross I have never been seriously tempted to masturbate, even when I have sexual thoughts which were always a trigger for me. I think the best way to defeat any sin is to fill your cup with goodness the best way you can rather than framing your sin as a battle, because in that sense you've acknowledged the sin as a worthy adversary as opposed to the puny, pathetic leach that is really is.

God sees your struggle and is with you. Keep up with your prayers and believe that it will pass with His help. You're already half way there - you sin, but don't enjoy it. Sin is at its most destructive and powerful when you don't perceive it, misunderstand it, refuse to acknowledge it or even worse, revel in it. Getting pleasure from doing evil is far worse than doing it out of human failure and subsequently regretting it, so you're already in a far better position that many other sinners.

On a practical level, perhaps reducing your use of technology/social media might be a wise course of action. You could always buy a non-smart phone which only allows you to call/make texts, or only use a computer for work related purposes.

 

[AMHOLIO]

Unironically, use kiwi farms less and increase your IRL interaction with people more. Go and help out with church volunteering. Go dedicate some time to Bible study each day. Go on a walk and think about how nice nature is and how God made it. Kiwi Farms can make you bitter and insular if used too much or staying on certain subforms, go off and find real life people and or animals to help strengthen yourself. From doing good deeds to reflecting on verses helps people feel closer to God, and it's ok to log off to grab that.