If your passion for God fades, spend time in His Word to restore the vibrancy in your relationship with Him.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 2 Timothy 1:1-11

Scripture assures us that as God’s children, we can never lose our salvation (John 10:27-28). However, it’s possible for our spiritual passion to wane. Today’s passage reveals that even Timothy’s excitement for God waned at times. That’s why Paul wrote to him, encouraging the young man to fan the flame of his faith.

Spiritual “cooling” can happen to any Christian. For instance, say tragedy or jealousy diverts our attention. Then instead of crying out to the Lord and finding shelter in Him, we may gradually pull away from Bible reading. But God’s Word is like wood in a fireplace: The flames can be kept alive only when there are logs to burn. As less time is spent in Scripture, other aspects of our relationship with God can be affected. Perhaps church attendance decreases, giving becomes sporadic, and prayer—which seems stale—is used only for emergencies. That’s how joy, contentment, and peace can get replaced by worry, doubt, and fear.

A believer who allows himself to drift will miss out on the comfort and fulfillment of a close, vibrant relationship with the Lord. Think back. Is your excitement about the things of God stronger now? Or has it diminished? If your fire needs help to burn brightly, ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to make that happen (John 16:13).