Every Christian has that one moment—you know the one—where you’re trying to grow spiritually, but it feels like you’re assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions. You’ve got all the parts, you’re staring at them, turning them around, praying for clarity, and somehow there are still three mysterious leftover pieces that make you question your entire life.
Thankfully, growing your faith doesn’t actually require a Swedish engineer or a hex key the size of a toothpick. Sometimes it just takes a handful of simple, practical tools that make staying close to God a whole lot easier.
And no, I’m not talking about buying every fancy leather-bound Bible with gold edges (unless that’s your thing—no judgment). I mean the everyday, down-to-earth, “this actually helps me stay connected to God without overcomplicating my life” kind of tools.
Let’s start with the most basic one: a Bible you’ll actually read.
Not the giant family Bible from 1972 that weighs as much as a bowling ball and smells like your grandmother’s attic. A real, readable Bible—digital, physical, doesn’t matter—as long as you can open it without needing a forklift. The best Bible isn’t the prettiest; it’s the one that gets used. Highlight it. Mark it up. Bend pages. Let it look like it’s lived a life with you.
Then there’s a prayer journal. Now, before you roll your eyes and imagine calligraphy, stickers, and thirty pastel pens, relax. This isn’t Pinterest. Your prayer journal can literally be a $1 notebook from Walmart that looks like it barely survived middle school. The point is to write things down—your thoughts, your prayers, your questions, the moments God speaks, the “I’m frustrated and You know exactly why” entries. Looking back on old prayers reminds you God has been faithful even when you forgot He was working.
Another tool: a good Bible app.
Yes, your phone can be used for something other than doomscrolling and wondering why your cousin posts 14 memes a day. Most Bible apps have reading plans, reminders, audio Bibles, and devotionals from real people who’ve walked with God longer than five minutes. And let’s be honest—sometimes you need Scripture delivered in that little notification bubble, right between your email alerts and a text asking if you’ve paid the electric bill.
Speaking of Scripture, let’s talk about verse memorization. Before you panic, no one is asking you to recite Leviticus. But having a few verses tucked away in your mind is like carrying spiritual backup batteries. When life smacks you upside the head (as it tends to do), those verses show up like, “Hey, remember what God said?” Apps like Bible Memory, flashcards, or even sticky notes slapped on your bathroom mirror can help. Your reflection may judge your morning hair, but the sticky note won’t.
Next up: a church community that actually knows your name.
Not just a place you slip in and out of like a spiritual ninja. Real relationships. People who ask how you’re doing and genuinely want the answer. People who will pray with you, challenge you, laugh with you, and occasionally remind you that Jesus would absolutely not want you to yell at the grocery store self-checkout machine again. Community keeps you rooted when life gets weird—which is always.
Then there’s worship music. You don’t need a 40-song playlist that makes you feel like you’re floating through a Christian movie montage. Even a few songs that lift your perspective can change the entire mood of your morning. Bad day? Worship. Stressful week? Worship. Traffic making you reconsider your salvation? Oh, friend—worship.
Finally, one of the most underrated tools: margin.
Space. Breathing room. Time that isn’t rushed, overbooked, or filled with noise. God often speaks quietly—not because He’s dramatic, but because He wants you to slow down long enough to hear Him. A quiet walk, ten minutes in prayer, or simply sitting still with God can do more for your spiritual life than any thousand-page commentary ever could.
You don’t need complicated systems to grow in your faith. You just need simple tools used consistently. Tools that fit your life, your personality, your walk.
God isn’t impressed by complexity—He’s drawn to sincerity.
And sometimes the strongest Christians aren’t the ones who know the most…
They’re the ones who simply keep showing up.
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