
7 Steps to Opening Your Heart to God’s Love
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Come Closer
There’s a moment in every heart’s journey when love knocks, and we hesitate.
Not because we don’t want love, but because we’ve been hurt before. Because love—real love—requires surrender, and surrender is terrifying.
Maybe you’ve felt it. That small stirring in your chest, the one that longs for something more. Something deeper. A love that doesn’t waver with time or conditions. A love that sees every part of you—the good, the broken, the scared—and says, I want you anyway.
That’s the love of God. And it’s been chasing you all along.
But how do you let it in when your heart has learned to be guarded? How do you open yourself up to something so vast, so unshakable, when human love has taught you that love can leave?
Here’s how. Not in theory, but in the quiet, real ways that change everything.
Step 1: Acknowledge the Distance
There’s a reason love feels far away sometimes. Maybe it’s disappointment—prayers unanswered, dreams unfulfilled. Maybe it’s shame—mistakes you can’t forgive yourself for. Or maybe it’s just life. The slow drifting away, the distractions, the silence.
Whatever it is, name it. Say it out loud if you have to. God, I feel far from You because…
Here’s the thing: distance doesn’t scare God. He’s not looking at the gap between you and Him and deciding you’re too far gone. He’s already running toward you. But He won’t force His way in. Love always requires an invitation. That’s why James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” The first step is yours.
Step 2: Let Go of the Lies You’ve Believed
Somewhere along the way, you picked up a lie about love. Maybe you learned that love has to be earned, that you have to be good enough before God will truly accept you. Maybe you believe He’s distant, or uninterested, or that His love is for other people—the more faithful, the more worthy.
But none of that is true. God’s love is not a transaction. It’s not a test. It’s not given in portions based on how well you perform. It’s already yours. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If His love was conditional, Jesus never would have gone to the cross. But He did—because He loved you first.
Step 3: Make Space for Him
Love needs room to breathe. But in a world that moves too fast, it’s easy to keep God at a safe distance—pushing Him to the edges of our schedule, our mind, our heart. We say we want Him close, but do we give Him room to come in?
Turn off the noise for a while. Sit in stillness. Not with an agenda, not with a perfectly crafted prayer. Just be. Read His words and let them sink in—not as obligations, but as invitations. God doesn’t just want to be part of your life; He wants to be your life. Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” In the stillness, He speaks.
Step 4: Trust Him With the Heavy Things
If we’re honest, a lot of us keep God at arm’s length because we don’t fully trust Him. Not with the big things. Not with our heartbreaks, our losses, our deepest fears. But love—real love—wants all of you. Not just the cleaned-up, Sunday-morning version. The real, raw, unfiltered you.
Maybe you’ve been holding something back. A part of your heart that feels too fragile to hand over. A wound too deep, a fear too real. He wants it. And when you finally hand it over, when you say, God, I don’t know how to do this, but I’m giving it to You anyway—that’s when love begins to break through. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Not some of it. Not the easy stuff. All of it.
Step 5: Love Others the Way He Loves You
Love doesn’t just transform you—it moves through you. And sometimes, the best way to experience God’s love is by giving it away. Forgive, even when it’s hard. Show up for people, even when it’s inconvenient. Love without conditions, even when it’s not returned. The more you practice selfless love, the more you begin to understand God’s love for you.
1 John 4:19 puts it simply: “We love because He first loved us.” We don’t love because people deserve it. We don’t love because it’s easy. We love because it’s who God is, and He lives in us.
Step 6: Let Him Change You
God’s love isn’t just something to feel—it’s something that transforms. It softens hearts. It changes desires. It realigns everything. But transformation takes time, and it’s not always comfortable.
If you’re serious about opening your heart to God, then be ready for Him to reshape it—to take things apart, remove what’s holding you back, and replace it with something better. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” That’s what happens when you let love in.
Step 7: Choose Love—Every Day
This isn’t a one-time decision. Love is a daily choice. Every day, you get to decide: will I let fear close me off, or will I trust God’s love? Will I stay distant, or will I invite Him in? Will I keep my heart guarded, or will I let love break through?
You get to choose. But here’s the beautiful part: God has already chosen you. Romans 8:39 assures us, “Neither height nor depth… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.” Not your past, not your doubts, not even your worst days. Nothing.
Where Do You Go From Here?
Opening your heart to God is not a single moment, but a lifelong journey. Some days, it’s effortless—His presence feels tangible, and surrender comes naturally. Other days, it’s a struggle. We retreat, we resist, we wrestle with trust. But love is a choice. Every day, in the big and small moments, we have the chance to either open the door or shut it. What’s one thing—just one—that you can lay at His feet today? Start there. He’ll meet you in that space.
Let’s Walk Together
If this resonated with you, let’s keep the conversation going. What part of this journey speaks most to you? Where do you feel God is leading you? We’d love to hear your heart. And if you know someone who needs this reminder, don’t keep it to yourself—share the love.
💛 The Salt & Light Family