Many things don’t last; that is nonetheless incredibly important.
Take showering, for example. Showers don’t last permanently. We shower, we sweat, we stink, and we repeat. It is what it is. The effects of a shower don’t last forever, but showers are still necessary, especially if we are around other people.
Passion, too, wears off over time, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t essential. Passion is the bedrock of invention and follow-through; it is the drive for change and the stimulant for intimacy. Impassioned speakers stir their listeners to action and inspire hearts. Couples deeply in love grow closer together and become better partners. People’s passion for Christ overflows like living water from their filled-up spirit, and they are motivated to share His love with others and serve Him by serving people. The flames of their passion both warm their souls and keep them moving forward.
Until, of course, they don’t.
You might think that sounds probably pretty basic, and indeed it is, but just that simple statement has been lost to humanity. The Christian life is best defined as an ongoing love relationship between the believer and Christ, as implied in the book entitled, The Hands of God by Alford. People don’t need to talk about His love for all; that’s fixed. The issue is humanity’s love for Christ. If you are honest with yourself, you know that you often love Christ too little. You know you are saved, you know you must obey, and you have some basic desire to do better, to love Him more, but the lures and demands of this life get in the way. If you are not careful, it can be extinguished altogether. That’s why instead of bidding passion farewell and shrugging your shoulders over the loss of your spark of energy and excitement, you must instead work hard to stir the embers of your passion and rekindle its flame.
So, what does it look like to rekindle the flames of your passion for God? Is there a way to reignite the fire if it has died? Yes! Four daily habits can stir you to the passionate pursuit of Christ, even though it has been years since you experienced the spark of new love for Him. Read on.
Prioritize time with God
Remember that feeling will follow doing, not vice-versa. If you wait until you fall in love with Christ to start pursuing Him, the pursuit will likely never begin. You may not feel like spending time with Christ in the Word and prayer every day. You may feel like you don’t have time to read, study, and praise Him. You may feel like it is too hard to find time to pray with your spouse and lead your family spiritually. But the truth is that you need to stop using your feelings as an excuse for your spiritual apathy. Do what you know you are supposed to do, regardless of how you feel, and your love for Christ will be fed and will grow strong as you spend time with Him.
Examine your heart to see what your first love is
Where does your time go; where does your money go? What delights your heart? Those are your idols. The sad truth is that even good things can be idols. You can idolize your children, work, religious involvements, or even your spouse by putting them before you pursue Christ. However, it is often lesser things that steal your time and attention — your favorite movies, shows, or video games, obsession with possessions, your hobbies, or your time with friends.
Cultivate Trust
Every relationship must have trust to grow, and trust is always a heart issue, which is why it is so deeply connected to your passion. It is the reason Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Prov. 3:5a). The absolute power of faith is hearing, trusting, and obeying. Remember, your faltering love for Christ may be rooted in a faltering faith in Christ. Ask God to help you trust Him more thoroughly, and your passion will deepen along with it.
No Turning Back
Many people cannot look excitedly toward their future because of the labels of their past. Perhaps someone reading this today was called “stupid” when they were growing up, and to this day, they keep trying to prove to themselves and others that they are intelligent. That’s what darkness wants to do. It wants to define your identity based on your past failures. If it succeeds, it will render you passionless and powerless. You will never progress with God if you dwell on the label the enemy has tried to stick to you. Meditate on the truth—that you are a child of God, created in His image to do “good works” (Eph. 2:10b)—as often as it takes for God’s voice to become louder than the labels the enemy tried to put on you in the past.
Do not let your passion for the Father fade. Do not let the enemy extinguish the flames of your love for the things of God. Do not allow your flesh to settle for comfort and convenience over a life of purpose. You were made for passion. You were made to serve God and experience the joy and excitement only He can provide. Whatever it takes, seek Him first, and “all … things” (including passion) will be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).
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