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.

“Hey, say a prayer for me, will you?” a quiet voice caught my ear as I rushed past some coworkers in my haste to get out of the workplace. I was late clocking out, and late with where I needed to be.

It was Wednesday, the day I leave work early to fulfill a personal commitment: every Wednesday, I go to my church (which, in the evenings, is dimmed and empty except for other people praying silently) to spend a holy hour with God in quiet prayer.

Most of my coworkers are aware (they find it amusing). I briefly glanced back in the general direction of the voice and was surprised to find someone looking at me with an expression of almost sadness.

Still not entirely convinced the question had been sincere, but now hesitating, I asked, “…what?”

The coworker slid away from the other people he’d been talking to, and when he got close enough to me, repeated under his breath, “Can you pray for me tonight, when you go to church?”

“Of course,” I replied, in an equally low tone, “But you know, you can always reach out to God whenever you’d like. I’m sure He’d love to hear from you.”

A sad smile crossed over his face before he turned away, “He doesn’t want to hear from me anymore.”

My heart ached as I watched him walk away, but.. I’ve been there.

Maybe you have too.

Maybe you’re convinced God doesn’t want to hear from you anymore either. Not at this point in your life. Not after all you’ve done; to Him, to others, to yourself. He can’t possibly love you anymore. Not you.

those thoughts are not from God; that’s the devil in your ear.

Some intrusive thoughts are our own, stemming from our own mangled subconsciouses and trauma-impacted brains. They occur without warning, and can either be because of a sudden external trigger, or because of an underlying mental health condition, like depression or anxiety. Oftentimes, it’s both.

…but there’s another source of intrusive thoughts, and that’s our spiritual enemy.

In the war that the devil has waged against humanity, you think he’s not going to attack your mind? Our minds are unfathomably powerful; our thoughts are a constant undercurrent in our lives, always narrating opinions about ourselves and others, easily influenced by pain and pleasure, and all too easily distracted.

In the war that the devil has waged against women, you think he’s not going to attack your heart? A woman’s heart, emboldened by the love of God, is intensely powerful; it becomes a beacon of light, a garden of life, a wellspring of support, a haven of trust and safety. A woman’s heart, transformed by the love of God, becomes a manifestation of His love on earth.

In the war that the devil has waged against men, you think he’s not going to attack your strength? A man’s strength, fortified by the love of God, is profoundly powerful; it becomes a lighthouse of leadership, a pillar of protection, a fount of virtue, a haven of trust and safety. A man’s strength, transformed by the love of God, becomes a manifestation of His love on earth.

The devil has been waging war against humanity since the Fall, when that first act of disobedience unleashed sin and suffering and pain and death into the world. The enemy sent his legions of devils to every corner of this earth to torment God’s children in every way possible: war, famine, poverty, addiction, crime and violence, homelessness, addiction, sex and slave trafficking, political corruption, injustice…

He knows every one of your most vulnerable weaknesses, most secret temptations, most painful traumas, and he’ll prick and poke and prod them all, without mercy. Anything to pull you away from Love.

…including, infiltrating your thoughts.

so, what are you supposed to do?

First, understand that you are not alone in experiencing this mental struggle, these fears, this anxiety.

God’s perfect goodness, His infinite love and boundless mercy are gifts none of us can fully comprehend, and that lack of understanding can make our brains short-circuit. As humans born post-Fall, we can only give imperfect love (so imperfect love is all we can imagine), but He is not limited as we are.

Understand, also, that this anxiety is a spiritual condition you’ve inherited from our First Parents.

In the form of a snake, the devil finds Eve in the garden (Genesis 3), but doesn’t immediately tempt her. First, he plants doubt in her heart about God’s trustworthiness and then goes further, claiming that what God has asked of them was not out of love and goodness, but out of control and power.

Eve’s fear won. Adam gave into his, as well, and as a result of the Fall, the rest of us entered this world with some level of spiritual doubt pre-programmed into our souls. It is, unfortunately, part of our journey.

Second, remind yourself that these thoughts — “you’re unworthy,” “He doesn’t love you, “you’ll never be good enough,” “just give up already” — are more lies, from the Father of Lies (John 8:44; the devil).

He may get you to obsessively replay memories of past sins to affirm your unworthiness; he may lead your imagination to fantasize about future temptations (then make you feel bad about doing so); he may fill your mind with relentless accusations, and increasingly instill in you the habit of not trusting God.

If the devil can get you to believe you are alone, unloved, and no one is coming to save you… well, that’s when people run, with shattered hearts and broken minds, right into his arms. He’ll comfort you with all the pleasures of the world, all while purring in your ear, “See, I told you… God never loved you at all.“

Stay vigilant, my friend. Don’t believe every thought you have. When in doubt, when attacked by fear, run to our Father in prayer and beg His protection, ask Him to fight for you — He’ll win every time.

Third, root yourself in the truths of who God is, and how He sees you. Spend more quality time with Him, go into His word, surround yourself with people of faith, go out into nature and immerse yourself in the fullness of His creation. Let go of the weight of the devil’s lies. Allow yourself to experience Love.

but.. I don’t feel like God loves me.

Ahh, yes. Feelings.

One of the most dangerous idols the devil has placed in our modern world: the worship of emotion.

Emotions are natural and healthy — in this context, though, we’re talking about the worship of emotions.

Humans are creatures with reason, intellect, a conscience, and a soul. God gave us all of those faculties to use to become our truest selves, to glorify Him and bring Him joy through that holy flourishing (He’s a good Father, He wants us to succeed). To then go out into the world with our spiritual healing so we can bring other lost souls to Him, and they can also experience that incredible transformation.

But if the devil can get you to worship your feelings above all else, he’ll succeed in reducing you to worse than an animal — animals are creatures without reason or intellect (though many exhibit empathy), led by urges (survival instincts) alone.

You would be worse because you would have willfully chosen to reject the use of your higher faculties.

If the enemy can reduce you to less than an animal through your actions, you’ll form physical habits and mental thought patterns that make it more and more difficult to remember that you… aren’t one.

He’ll chip away at your mind so that you forget you are a daughter or son of God; so you forget you were made in the image of God; that you were created on purpose, for a purpose; that you are not a “one in a million,” but one in forever. The devil wants you blind, dumb, and despairing, following nothing but your primal instincts and slothful lusts, so that you have no intelligent defenses against his manipulations.

Aaand it’s working.

Most of us are just doing what we feel when we feel like it, and drowning in the consequences of numbly following our urges:

• heightened anxiety, depression, and loneliness
• inability to communicate clearly and calmly
• a lack of emotional intelligence
• extended mental immaturity
• the abuse of substances (weed, alcohol, nicotine vapes, pharma drugs)

Following your heart isn’t a Biblical practice, it’s a secular mantra — one that is very dangerous, because it replaces God as the leading authority in our lives with ourselves. While it’s usually well-intended when given out as advice, it’s a shallow sentiment and directly contradicts how God has called us to live: is in alignment with His perfect will, not in indulgence of our own flawed one.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own intelligence.” –Proverbs 3:5

“Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” –Jeremiah 17:5

“The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy.” –Matthew 15:18-19

“More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” –Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is fickle. Emotions are unreliable. Many situations may physically or emotionally feel good, but are actually destructive to our lives and our souls, which is why He teaches us to surrender our hearts and wills to Him; He is all-good, all-knowing, and all-perfect in what He desires for us — we are not.

but.. it seems like other people feel Him.

You are likely one of two types of people reading this article right now: 1) someone who has never experienced a “spiritual high” and are questioning your faith because of it, and 2) someone who has experienced a spiritual high, but are now trying to figure out why it’s gone and how to get it back.

Well, if you’ve never experienced a spiritual high, welcome to most of the Christians out there. Now you know. Gasp. We are choosing, quite unsensationally, every day, to practice our faith even when we don’t feel like it; to love God even when we don’t feel His love in return; to go to church on Sundays, even when we’d rather sleep in; to choose Him, to keep our eyes on Heaven, even when we’re being dragged down.

Now, for you who believe you have experienced a spiritual high… be careful. Yes, it may have come from God as a beautiful gift, a taste of His all-consuming love, a glimpse of Heaven, to inspire you on your faith journey. Know also, though, it could have come as a manipulation from the devil, to get you to hyper-fixate on the emotion, thus triggering you to abandon your faith once the emotion inevitably fades.

Do not give way to paranoia about this. Rather, do not hold so tightly onto those emotional experiences; be grateful for them, in case they are from God, but let them go just as easily, in case they aren’t.

Hold tight, instead, to the constant truths of our faith, the consistency of prayer, the discipline of love.

Choose to believe; choose to trust. Even if you don’t feel any differently at the end of this post.

The post If You Think God Doesn’t Love You..Read This. first appeared on the Way of the wretch.