Have you ever felt distant from God, like the passion you once had has faded? The good news is that it’s possible to restore your spiritual fire and desire for God. In this blog post, I put together 4 practical steps on how you can do just that!
STEP 1: Identify Your Lack of Fire and Desire for God
You have to acknowledge that your fire for God has dwindled, that you don’t desire God the way you once did, and that you don’t have a burning desire to read your Bible, to worship, or to pray like before.
How can you identify lack in your spiritual life?
The best way to do this is to compare yourself to scripture. This will help you to evaluate your walk and determine whether or not you truly have a longing for God.
It is essential to be very honest in this step. Don’t fool yourself. Don’t make excuses. Simply acknowledge that your fire and desire for God have decreased. You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. If you don’t take the time to identify the lack, you won’t be able to take the steps to restore your spiritual fire.
STEP 2: Get to the Root of Your Lack of Fire and Desire for God
Acknowledging is great, but it isn’t enough. You have to go a step further and identify the root cause.
Pray Psalm 139:23-24 and ask God to search you and uncover the root of your lack of fire and desire.
Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Some Reasons Why You Might Be Lacking Fire and Desire for God:
Distractions
Whatever can secretly draw you away from the secret place will slowly replace God. This can look like social media, sin, lies of the enemy, shame, etc. Nothing should occupy the space in your heart that God should have.
Nothing is wrong with your typical daily activities, but they do become a problem when they pull you away from God.
Anything that prevents you from seeking first the kingdom of God is a distraction
Don’t make peripherals priorities.
Distractions directly reflect the stability of your gaze upon Jesus.
Philippians 3:13 – Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
Condemnation or Shame
If you have fallen into sin, don’t run away from the secret place; run into it. If you repent, God is faithful to forgive.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Divided Heart
A Divided Heart is a heart that is not solely dedicated to God. You may believe in Him, but don’t commit every area of your life to Him. You may go to church on Sunday, but don’t intentionally seek God Monday through Saturday. This will inevitably cause a decline in your spiritual life.
When it comes to God, your devotion must be undivided. You must have tunnel vision. Wikipedia defines tunnel vision as “the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision.” Your heart must be fixed on God. An undivided heart doesn’t get pulled about by distractions or by the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Prayer:
Psalm 86:11 – Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
STEP 3: Confess Your Lack of Fire and Desire to Someone
There is an adversary, Satan, who is after your identity, your calling, and your soul. There is no room for negligence when it comes to reading your Bible, praying, and worshipping. I have noticed that it is common for some Christians to make it seem like it’s okay if you aren’t reading and praying because of a lack of fire and desire. This may be hard to hear, but not reading or praying isn’t okay. Lack of devotion to God isn’t okay.
I understand you might not feel like reading the Word and praying, but your devotion to God can’t be based on your feelings. Despite not feeling like going to work, you still go. The same thing needs to be done when it comes to the things of God.
Sharing your lack of fire and desire with someone is to have someone to hold you accountable.
STEP 4: Ask God to Restore Your Zeal and Take the Active Steps Necessary.
You can’t change without the power of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:13 – for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Active Steps to Restore Your Spiritual Fire
Move contrary to your feelings
No matter the circumstance, you should command your soul to praise God and to be devoted to Him. Put your soul under subjection.
Psalm 42:5 – Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
Psalm 146:1-2 – Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Meditate on God’s words.
You meditate on the Word of God by bringing His truth to memory. This requires actively recalling what you have learned about God through His Word.
Psalm 63:6 – When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psalm 1:2 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 119:15 – I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
Psalm 119: 99 – I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
Worship
Set aside time to worship God in song each day.
Psalm 96:9 – Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Praying
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing,
There may be times when you don’t know what to say in prayer. In those moments, pray the word of God. The Bible has 66 books, which means that the prayer points are inexhaustible.
Here is an example of what that would look like based on Psalm 23:1
- Scripture: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- Prayer: Father God, I thank you for being the Lord who is my shepherd. Because of you, I lack nothing.
Set spiritual goals.
Set aside a time and place to meet with God each day.
Plan your direction. This means planning what you will read from the Bible daily. For Example, if you want to read the Book of John, you can set a plan to read a chapter or two daily. However, if God leads you to read something different in His Word, that is completely fine. Always be open to following where God leads.
Study the person of Jesus
Read the Gospels to stay knowledgeable and remember what Jesus has done. This will help you not become desensitized to the work of Christ on the cross and also help you fall in love with Jesus over and over again.
Keeping the Fire Burning
Restoring your spiritual fire isn’t about chasing a feeling; it’s about staying close to the Source. The same God who lit the flame in your heart is faithful to fan it into a steady, enduring blaze. But we have to make space for Him, in our minds, our schedules, and our hearts.
If your desire for God has dimmed, it doesn’t mean He’s far from you. It simply means it’s time to realign your focus, silence the noise, and immerse yourself in His truth again.
Your Next Step: The 7-Day Reset Devotional
One of the most powerful ways to rekindle your passion for God is by intentionally filling your mind with His Word every single day. That’s exactly why I created the 7-Day Reset devotional, to help you:
- Clear the mental clutter that pulls you away from God’s presence
- Replace draining thoughts with life-giving Scripture
- Reignite your hunger for time with Him
Each day, you’ll walk through a short Scripture reading, a reflection to stir your heart, and a truth to anchor your mind. In just one week, you’ll notice a deeper peace, a renewed focus, and a genuine excitement to be with Him again.
You don’t have to wait for a spiritual breakthrough; you can start living renewed today.
