Similarly, as believers, we have spiritual vital signs that indicate when something is wrong in our walk with God. One critical sign of spiritual trouble is a cold or non-vibrant spiritual life. This is truly an abnormality for someone in Christ.

To understand why this is abnormal, let’s examine God’s original design:

Genesis 2:16-17
New King James Version

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God created us to be in constant fellowship and communion with Him. Sin brought about a temporary disconnection, but the price for restoration has been paid through Christ’s death. For anyone who believes, the gap has been bridged.

Therefore, it is abnormal for a person in Christ not to function according to God’s original design—constant communication and fellowship with Him. A cold spiritual life indicates something is seriously wrong.

Now, you might be asking yourself: “Is it possible for me to burn again? Can that zeal and passion for God be reignited?” The answer is YES!

1 Kings 18:38
New King James Version

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.”

Elijah called down fire on a cold, drenched altar, and the fire not only consumed what was on the altar but also licked up the water. If Elijah, who didn’t have the indwelling Spirit of God, could do this, how much more can you do with the Holy Spirit living inside you? The fire on your altar can burn again—it can be reignited. All you need to do is stir it up.

However, stirring up this fire requires intentionality.

Galatians 5:16-17
New King James Version

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

Romans 7:15
New King James Version

15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”

Apostle Paul emphasized that he often failed to do what he knew was right and instead did what he knew was wrong. This happens because we live in a fallen world where our flesh constantly wars against our spirit. You may understand that living a life on fire for God should be your reality, yet find yourself falling short—not praying or studying the Word as you ought to. This demonstrates that knowledge alone is insufficient; practical action is required.

What practical efforts are you making to keep your spirit man on fire?

Perhaps your excuse for prayerlessness is that you don’t “feel” like praying. But understand this: your feelings regarding spiritual matters are unreliable even when you don’t feel like praying, PRAY.

The solution to prayerlessness is PRAYER.

Remind yourself of prayer’s importance—it does far more in you than it does for you. Whether you feel like praying or not, cultivate the habit of daily prayer by establishing a fixed prayer time.

Ask yourself: Do I have a specific time for prayer? Do I have a designated time for studying the Word?

You likely won’t do either if you don’t determine when you’ll pray and study. Set alarms and reminders, then stick to them. Let people know that at certain times, you cannot be disturbed because that time belongs to God.

Another practical step is creating an accountability structure. Surround yourself with people who help keep your fire burning. The best place to find such people is in church. You cannot complain about a cold spiritual life if you’re not taking advantage of structures designed to help you grow and maintain that fire. Being around vibrant believers influences you positively and shows you what’s possible in your own walk with God.

Get one or two accountability partners who will ensure your devotion remains fervent. This will keep you on track, and your seemingly dead spiritual life will begin to burn again.

From this week onward, understand that you must not live a spiritually cold life—it’s a sign something is wrong. When your fire seems to be dwindling, remember you have the Holy Spirit to stir it up. Be intentional about creating and maintaining that fire. On days when you don’t feel like praying, pray even more. Adhere to structures and relationships that spur you toward perpetual spiritual fire.

This is God’s plan for you—to be consistently aflame, without on-and-off moments, with an altar that burns continually for Him.

Prayer Point:
Father, I declare I am consistently on fire for You. Help me to be intentional about keeping my fire burning and to grow more zealous about the things of God.