The dangers of a lukewarm faith are not to be taken lightly, but with God’s grace and our perseverance, He can ignite a blazing fire from even the dampest match.

Many of us have been led to believe being a follower of Christ is simply being a “good person.” Someone who’s generally nice, fairly passive, doesn’t cause any conflict; someone who cruises through life on peace, good vibes, and Jesus (..when He fits into the aesthetic). It’s wearing a cross necklace to the gym.

We have been deceived. Our faith, our lifestyle, is a radical one. We are called to be like Christ.

We are called to forgive the unforgivable. To speak the truth unashamedly. To praise God publicly. To give compassion to those who want it least. To be humble. To show mercy. To walk the narrow path. To take up our cross, and sacrifice. To love our enemies. To be a good samaritan. To be holy warriors. To thrive.

None of this can be accomplished by being lukewarm in our spirituality; by doing the bare minimum for God; by choosing to follow only some of His teachings and ignoring His laws that make us feel too guilty, too uncomfortable. We cannot have fun dancing with the devil Monday through Friday, and then sit in church on Sunday singing worship songs, as if we can somehow get the “best” of both worlds.

No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.

–Matthew 6:24

I know that you are neither cold nor hot, and I wish you were cold or hot. Instead, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

–Revelation 3:15-1

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? Did we not drive out demons in Your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in Your name?’

Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you evildoers.’

–Matthew 7:21

Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. None of us are perfect, and God knows this; it’s not an excuse to indulge in sin, but an opportunity to continuously seek His mercy and graces. Whether you’re working on building your faith for the first time, or you’re going through a tough spiritual season and are struggling to stay committed to your faith, you’re not the only one, and you’ve been brought to the right place.

What does a lukewarm faith look like?

Some of you are here because you’ve experienced some conviction that made you realize you’re called to live a deeper, richer faith than you have been. Others might think they’re doing just fine as is. WE’LL SEE.

Common signs of a lukewarm Christian include someone who…

• lives a “cafeteria faith” (picking and choosing which of God’s teachings they want to believe)
• has a self-centered faith (praying only when they need something; does good things specifically for personal praise or reward; focuses on serving themselves more than serving others)
• does the minimum with their faith, and doesn’t feel the need to learn more/deepen their faith
• follows the world’s currents, often going with what’s popular over what’s morally right
• identifies with sin more than their identity in Christ (“wish I was better,” “this is just the way I am”)
• justifies their lukewarmness by comparing themselves to those who are “worse” around them
• stays within their comfort zone, being unwilling to “walk on water” or live God’s truths boldly
• has conditions in their relationship with God, often practicing their faith until it gets challenging

If you felt your stomach drop because more than a few of those bullet points hit a little close to home, don’t give into despair. Instead, thank God for revealing this to you, tell the devil to drink his own poison, and keep reading on to learn seven ways you can begin reviving your faith today.

one | seek out the Holy Spirit

When was the last time you prayed to the Holy Spirit? It’s a weird thought for many people because we might struggle to visualize the Spirit like we can Jesus (our Brother/Friend) or God (our Father), but it’s an equally powerful and present Person within the Trinity. The Spirit is our Source of life.

the Spirit brought life into Adam | Genesis 2:7

the Spirit brought life to the virgin Mary’s womb | Luke 1:35

the Spirit brought spiritual new life to the Apostles | John 20:22

the Spirit brings spiritual new life to us, through baptism | Matthew 28:19

Here’s a simple prayer for you if you aren’t sure what to say (and you can pray this daily).

Come, Holy Spirit,

Fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in us the fire of Your love. Send forth Your spirit, and we shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.

Amen.

two | be aware of spiritual warfare

We are in a spiritual war, every day, whether we actively experience manifestations of that warfare or not. You’re not a threat to the devil when you’re lukewarm; when you barely take care of yourself, let alone live your life for Christ, so why would he waste his efforts and devils on you? You’re chillin’ with sin.

When you start truly chasing after Christ, though, that’s when the enemy sits up a little straighter. That’s when he starts watching you more closely, because if you manage to rebuild your faith after everything he did to try and break you… you’d become a radical beacon of hope, love, mercy, forgiveness, a giant glowing arrow pointing right to Christ — and he will have failed.

So, don’t be surprised if you start experiencing some suffering (spiritual attacks) the closer you begin growing to Christ. In choosing God, you’re rejecting the devil, and he’s not going to give up on you without a fight. For some, this might look like an increase of doubt or anxiety when it comes to accepting God’s truths; it may be through the loss of friends who now perceive you to be “boring”; it may be through the emotional distance of family members who feel like they “don’t know who you are now.”

Don’t lose hope. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Seek His protection. You will get through this.

three | stop ignoring or justifying your sins

Whether you’re attached to them out of pleasure, or you’re surrounded by worldly people who normalize them, or you’ve simply never learned the full truth of sin before, or all three — it’s time to learn, now.

The Bible is the Word of God; every individual ‘book’ within that sacred Book was divinely inspired by God Himself. His laws, His commandments, the sins He most condemns, His instructions for how His people (us) are to live well on this earth, His guidance through worldly trials and tribulations, it’s all in there. Take the time to immerse yourself in His Word every day; you’re feeling lost — allow him Him to guide and instruct you.

You can also do an “examination of conscience” at the end of the day. Doing this before bed can be a powerful spiritual defense if you tend to get ambushed with sensual temptations at night. Let your mind drift over the day, recognize where God guided your actions and words, see where your fallen nature took over. Recall your sins, not for self-punishment, but to seek His mercy and forgiveness. End with gratitude.

four | be more selfless, serve others often

Here’s a prayer to root that sacrificial love, the love of Christ, deep within your heart and soul.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

–Francis of Assisi

A beautiful prayer, but in a more practical sense, this could look like:

Offering the last slice of pizza (or the better-looking slice) to your friend. Cleaning up dishes (even the ones that aren’t yours) for your family or housemates, without needing recognition or praise. Making a little extra food for others in the house when you’re making a meal for yourself. Picking up a sandwich or cup of soup from the deli during your grocery run, for the homeless man always standing on the corner. Putting out a bowl of water for the birds in the middle of summer. Donating to a local thrift store. Volunteering.

five | surround yourself with holier people

It’s easy to feel like you’re a pretty exceptional Christian when you’re comparing your sheephood to the (scoff) hypocritical goats around you. Suddenly, your bare minimum efforts are something to be praised; at least you don’t gossip like she does, or sleep around like he does, or cuss as badly as they do.

As opposed to, if you surround yourself with Christians who are more devout than you. Christians who have a consistent prayer life; who immerse themselves in the Word; who live out God’s truths daily; who lead their boyfriend or girlfriend closer to God through prayer and chastity; who are patient, kind, loving, passionate people. People who ignite that calling deep within you to be better, by being around them.

Don’t let the devil convince you that they’re something rare, though, and that spiritual mediocrity is okay “for the rest of us”; as if those other Christians were born with an extra shot of grace, and that’s why they’re so strong in their faith. They’re people like you and me; they stumble, they sin, they suffer — but through it all, they choose God. They trust Him. They put His will above their own. They live, in Love.

six | set boundaries to protect your soul

The closer you grow to Christ, the clearer it will become who and what around you is not in alignment with the Lord. Things you used to laugh about won’t seem funny anymore; music you used to sing at the top of your lungs you’ll start deleting off your playlist; people you used to think were the highlight of the party, may now seem un-fun, depressing, or even dangerous.

Pay attention to these (often subtle) spiritual developments that start emerging in your life. Understand that there are certain people, activities, TV shows/movies, music, and whatever else is not helpful for your spiritual growth. Some of these things may be harmful to you, or even sinful; you’ll have to let go.

Be open to recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, and where boundaries will need to be set. Be willing to see the truth about certain activities, hobbies, interests, or people who are pulling you away from God; remember, the Way is narrow. If this were easy, everyone would do it. (Matthew 7:13-14).

seven | set spiritual goals each month

Our relationship with Jesus, just like our relationship with other people, requires effort, trust, love, and growth. We have to communicate openly and transparently; prioritize spending quality time with Him; sacrifice selfish desires to love Him better; strive not to hurt Him, not out of fear, but because we love Him so much, we don’t want to cause Him pain. We have to choose to love, and choose Love, every day.

This could look like choosing a new faith-based podcast to listen to on the way to school or work. Maybe you bookmarked some post on social media where someone you admire shared their favorite faith-based book, but you never got around to buying it (you could replace night scrolling with this reading). You could spend the first 15 minutes of every morning reading the Bible, or going on a prayer walk every Saturday evening where you talk to God about what’s been on your heart lately. Set a goal for this month, even if it’s halfway through the month, and commit to doing it for the remaining days. Start today.

Final words of encouragement.

God is a fire that warms and kindles the heart and all inward parts. So, if we feel in our hearts the cold which comes from the devil — for the devil is cold — let us call on the Lord. He will come to enflame our hearts with perfect love, not only for Him, but also for our neighbor, and the cold of the one who hates what is good will flee before the heat of His countenance.

–Seraphim of Sarov

The post Lukewarm Christians: 7 Ways to Ignite Your Faith first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

The post The Our Father Prayer first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within Your wounds, hide me.

Permit me not to be separated from You.

From the enemy, defend me.

At the hour of my death, call me and

Bid me come to You, that with your saints

I may praise You forever and ever.

Amen.

believed to be composed by Ignatius of Loyola.

The post Anima Christi (“Soul of Christ”) first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

Wherefore, O gracious God, O dread Majesty, I, a wretched creature caught in difficulties, have recourse to Thee, the fount of mercy; to Thee do I hasten to be healed and take refuge under Thy protection.

I ardently desire to have Him as my Savior, Whom I am unable to face as my Judge. Unto Thee, O Lord, I show my wounds, unto Thee I lay bare my shame. I know that my sins are many and grevious, and hence I am afraid. I trust in Thy countless mercies. Look upon me, therefore, with the eyes of Thy mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and Man, crucified for men.

Hearken unto me whose trust is in Thee, have mercy upon me, who am full of sin and misery, O thou fount of mercy that will never cease to flow. Hail, saving Victim, offered for me and all mankind upon the Cross. Hail, noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the world. Remember, O Lord, Thy creatures Thou redeemed with Thy Blood.

I am sorry because I have sinned; I desire to make amends for what I have done. Take away from me, therefore, O most merciful Father, all my iniquities and sins; that, being cleansed both in body and soul, I may worthily taste of the Holy of Holies.

Grant that the holy sacrifice of Thy Body and Blood, of which I am unworthy, do hope to partake, may obtain the remission of my sins, the perfect cleansing of my offenses, the banishment of all evil thoughts, the renewal of all holy desires, the accomplishment of works pleasing to Thee, and the strongest protection of soul and body against the wiles of my enemies.

Amen.

by Ambrose of Milan.

The post Prayer for Forgiveness and Renewal first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

We ask You today for Your truth

As a belt tight around our waists.

We put on the zeal

To announce Your good news of peace

As shoes for our feet.

We put on Your righteousness, O Christ,

As our breastplate,

And the hope of salvation

As a helmet for our head.

Father, we take up faith as a shield

Which will put out all the fiery darts of the enemy.

We take up the sword of the Spirit,

Which is Your Word Itself, O Lord.

Father, may the love with which You have loved Jesus

Be in us, and may Jesus be within us always.

We ask You for the grace of a servant’s heart.

Amen.

author unknown.

The post Prayer for Spiritual Armor first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

Help me, O Lord, that my eyes be merciful, so I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors’ souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, O Lord, that my ears may be merciful, so I may give heed to my neighbors’ needs and not to be indifferent to their pains and moanings.

Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so I should never speak negatively of my neighbors, but have words of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deads, so I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, O Lord, that my feet may be merciful, so I may feel and not forget all the sufferings of my neighbor, and be sincere even with those who may abuse my kindness.

May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me. O Jesus, transform me into Yourself.

Amen.

by Maria Faustina Kowalska.

The post Prayers to be More Merciful first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

Act in me, O Holy Ghost,
— that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Ghost,
— that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Ghost,
— to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Ghost,
— that I always may be holy.

Amen.

by Augustine of Hippo.

The post Daily Prayer to Become Holier first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

You say, “You chose the wrong person.”
He says, “You are not a mistake; you are chosen, royal, and holy.” —1 Peter 2:9

You say, “I’m too exhausted.”
He says, “Turn to Me, I will refresh you.” —Matthew 11:28

You say, “I don’t know what to do.”
He says, “Trust in Me, not your own intelligence; I will guide you.” —Proverbs 3:5

You say, “It won’t work, it can’t.”
He says, “With Me, all things are possible.” —Matthew 19:26

You say, “I’m not able to do this much.”
He says, “I will supply you with all that you need.” —Philippians 4:19

You say, “I’m frustrated, nothing is working.”
He says, “Do not grow weary in doing good works; in due time, you will reap.” —Galatians 6:9

You say, “I’m afraid of failing.”
He says, “A righteous man may fall seven times, but still rise again.” —Proverbs 24:16

You say, “I’m not smart enough for this.”
He says, “Ask Me for wisdom, and I will give it to you.” —James 1:5

You say, “I’m scared.”
He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; do not hide, for I am your God.” —Isaiah 41:10

You say, “There’s nobody who loves me.”
He says, “There is no greater love, than the love I have for you.” —John 15:13

You say, “I feel so alone.”
He says, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” —Deuteronomy 31:8

You say, “I don’t know if I can forgive myself.”
He says, “Forgive yourself and others, so that I may forgive you.” —Mark 11:25

You worry, “Will all of this be worth it?”
He says, “The pain you endure now is not worthy to be compared to the glory to come.” —Romans 8:18

The post 14 Biblical Reassurances from God first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

God, the Son, redeemer of the world…
— have mercy on me.

God, the Holy Spirit…
— have mercy on me.

Holy Trinity, one God…
— have mercy on me.

Father, creator of the world…
— have mercy on me.

Father, peacemaker of the world…
— have mercy on me.

Father, eternal wisdom…
— have mercy on me.

Father, infinite goodness…
— have mercy on me.

Father, most bountiful…
— have mercy on me.

Father, fount of everything…
— have mercy on me.

Father, most sweet…
— have mercy on me.

Father, of infinite mercy…
— have mercy on me.

Father, our defender…
— have mercy on me.

Father, our glory and our happiness…
— have mercy on me.

Father, wealth of all people…
— have mercy on me.

Father, triumph of all nations…
— have mercy on me.

Father, hope of all Christians…
— have mercy on me.

Father, splendor of Your Church….
— have mercy on me.

Father, splendor of all kings…
— have mercy on me.

Father, overturner of idols…
— have mercy on me.

Father, consolation of all people…
— have mercy on me.

Father, leader of religious leaders…
— have mercy on me.

Father, guide of men…
— have mercy on me.

Father, gift of family life…
— have mercy on me.

Father, help of the poor…
— have mercy on me.

Father, guide of the youth…
— have mercy on me.

Father, friend of children…
— have mercy on me.

Father, freedom of slaves…
— have mercy on me.

Father, light of those who are in darkness…
— have mercy on me.

Father, destroyer of the proud…
— have mercy on me.

Father, wisdom of the just…
— have mercy on me.

Father, rest in tribulations…
— have mercy on me.

Father, hope in desolation…
— have mercy on me.

Father, harbor of safety in danger…
— have mercy on me.

Father, consolation of the lost…
— have mercy on me.

Father, comfort of the afflicted…
— have mercy on me.

Father, refuge of the hopeless…
— have mercy on me.

Father, refuge of the orphans…
— have mercy on me.

Father, refuge of the aged…
— have mercy on me.

Father, refuge of the dying…
— have mercy on me.

Father, life of those in Heaven…
— have mercy on me.

Father, glory of the faithful, Your saints…
— have mercy on me.

We beg you, dear Father,
Forgive me of all of my sins,
Hear each of my petitions,
Have mercy on us all.

Amen.

author unknown.

The post Prayer to Receive God’s Love and Mercy first appeared on the Way of the wretch.

I pray that this be not a condemnation to punishment for me, but a saving plea unto forgiveness.

May it be unto me the armor of faith and the shield of a good will.
May it be the emptying out of my vices and the extinction of all lustful desires;
An increase of charity and patience, of humility and obedience, and of all virtues;
A strong defense against the snares of all my enemies, visible and invisible;
The perfect quieting of all my evil impulses of flesh and spirit, and binding me to Thee, the one true God;
And a happy ending to my life.

I pray Thou would bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet where Thou with Thy Son and the Holy Spirit, are to Thy saints true light, fulfillment of desires, eternal joy, unalloyed gladness, and perfect bliss.

Through the same Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

by Thomas Aquinas.

The post Prayer for Spiritual Strength and Perseverance first appeared on the Way of the wretch.