At one point in my Christian journey, my passion level for Christ and all things spiritual was extremely low. For years, I went through the motions. I was going to church each week and reading my Bible daily, but I still lacked the eagerness and zeal for God’s word. I wasn’t growing spiritually or maturing in Christ. I met a fellow Believer, who admitted to having a similar experience. After sharing our experiences, we agreed to start a small Bible study group. Our dedication to this small initiative was an instant remedy for the lack of passion we both had encountered. If you’re experiencing a lack of passion, here’s my advice:

CHECK YOUR SPIRITUAL PULSE

The first step is to be honest about your spiritual condition. Are you alive in a spiritual sense? Can you feel God’s presence? Does He answer when you cry out to Him or pray? Has the practice of sin caused separation between you and God?

a. Romans 6:1-7– “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

RETURN TO GOD

Even as confessed Believers, baptized with water and the Spirit, we can still find ourselves in a predicament in which we need to step closer to God.

a. James 4:8- “Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

b. Don’t believe the lies and accusations of the enemy. One of Satan’s many tactics is to play mind games with us. When we allow opportunities, Satan can use our thoughts and insecurities to condemn us, leaving us feeling unworthy, ashamed, or even embarrassed of any insufficiencies exposed in our Christian walk. Yet like the prodigal’s son was welcomed into the arms of his father, Jesus is ready to welcome us with open arms. Remember, Jesus never lost one of those given to him by the Father. Read it for yourself in John 18:9.

c. Check out Revelation 2:4-5– in the prophecy as told by John, Jesus rebukes the church. Yes, the church—the confessed Believers, that’s us, y’all. Jesus rebukes us for leaving Him—our first love. As the scripture reads: “4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

d. This, Friend, is your life line! Read the scripture again. Thanks to the covenant of the New Testament, for which Jesus was the mediator, what He requires us to do is repent. Repentance, quite simply means to turn away from any mindset and behavior that does NOT bring God glory. Then the natural progression is to return to a more Godly posture of mind and behavior.

INTERACT WITH GOD IN AN INTIMATE WAY, ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

a. Spend quiet time alone with God. It’s easy to get so busy and preoccupied in life that we neglect this intimate part of our Christian walk. Quiet time is important because we often spend so much time talking to God that we rarely take time to LISTEN. Other times, we can simply be too busy to hear God’s instruction. Matthew 14:23 indicates that a little QT was important to Jesus too. “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.” Similar scriptures include Mark 6:46-47 and John 6:15.

b. Study His Word daily. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus reminds us that, “man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Read Proverbs 2.

• Start small with a measurable, easily obtainable goal like reading one scripture daily. You’ll naturally increase to two scriptures, a passage, then a chapter before you know it. Another suggestion is to implement a Bible reading plan. A daily devotional book or journal may also prove effective with developing a consistent habit of daily study.

• Pray first, before beginning each study session. The Holy Spirit is purposed to teach us spiritual things that we do not know nor understand. When we ask for His help, the Spirit will oblige us.

• Use various resources, such as an online Hebrew and Greek dictionary. You’d be surprised how common words often have a much different meaning in another culture. It can change how we interpret God’s word! Other recommendations include using a bible concordance. Access the free online versions until you are ready to commit to a physical copy.

c. Pray always with thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6– “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”