Loving God wholeheartedly is the greatest commandment according to Jesus (Matthew 22:37-38). However, many Christians struggle with feelings of apathy or indifference towards God at times in their walk with Him. What should you do when you realize your love for God seems to have grown cold? Here are some biblical insights on reigniting your love for the Lord.
Examine the Reasons Behind Your Lack of Love
First, reflect honestly about what has caused distance between you and God. Ask Him to reveal any unconfessed sin, anger, disappointment, hurts or doubts that may be at the root (Psalm 139:23-24). Common culprits that can erode our love include:
- Harboring hidden sin or rebellion (Isaiah 29:13)
- Placing other idols before God (Ezekiel 14:3)
- Relying on our own self-sufficiency versus God’s strength (Revelation 2:4)
- Going through the motions of spiritual disciplines without true heart engagement (2 Timothy 3:5)
- Allowing busyness and distractions to crowd out time with God (Luke 10:38-42)
- Becoming spiritually complacent and neglecting to pursue greater intimacy with God (Revelation 2:4)
- Suffering unresolved wounds, offenses, disappointments or anger towards God (Hebrews 12:15)
- Being weighed down by cares of this world (Luke 8:14)
- Struggling under the weight of legalistic religion versus grace-filled faith (Galatians 5:1)
Ask God to reveal if any of these issues lie behind your lack of love so they can be addressed. Repent and receive His forgiveness for anything that is revealed (1 John 1:9).
Remember God’s Great Love for You
One of the best ways to rekindle love for God is to meditate on and remember His deep, perfect love for you. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Reflect on truths like:
- God loved you before you did anything to earn it (Ephesians 2:4-5).
- He proved His love by sending Jesus to die for your sins (Romans 5:8).
- Nothing can separate you from God’s eternal love (Romans 8:38-39).
- God delights in you as His beloved child (Zephaniah 3:17).
- His thoughts about you outnumber the sand (Psalm 139:17-18).
- God loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
Soak in the truth of God’s lavish love until your heart is stirred with gratefulness. This fuels greater love in return.
Spend Time in God’s Presence
You will find it easier to love someone you know versus a stranger. The same is true in our relationship with God. Set aside regular time to seek His presence in prayer, worship, Scripture reading and meditation. Some specific ways to encounter God’s presence include:
- Praise and Worship: Sing or listen to worship music focused on God’s loving attributes (Psalm 103:1).
- Prayer: Have honest conversations with God, sharing your heart and listening for His voice.
- Scripture Reading: Take in the truth of God’s Word and let it renew your mind (Psalm 119:47).
- Meditation: Reflect on God’s names, character and promises until your heart connects with truth.
- Silence and Solitude: Unplug distractions to sit quietly before God.
- Creation: Look for evidence of God’s beauty, power and care reflected in nature.
- Journaling: Write out prayers, notes from God and reflections on your spiritual journey.
Schedule consistent times to practice these “spiritual disciplines” so you can know and encounter God deeply. This cultivates greater love.
Serve and Obey God
“If you love me, keep my commands” Jesus taught (John 14:15). Actively serving God and obeying His Word helps strengthen our love. Steps you can take include:
- Identify any areas of known disobedience and repent.
- Study Scripture to understand Christlike conduct.
- Present your body as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).
- Use your gifts to serve in the church and help others (1 Peter 4:10).
- Look for everyday opportunities to care for others and reflect God’s love.
- Find an accountability partner to discuss progress and struggles.
As we follow God’s ways, we experience the benefits of His path. This reinforces our love and devotion. And when we stumble, His grace compels us to get back up again.
Devote Time to Prayer and Fasting
Adding elements of deeper devotion like prayer and fasting are powerful ways to realign our hearts with greater love for God.
Extended times of fervent prayer help us disconnect from distractions and reconnect with God in a focused way. Pour out your heart, worship His attributes, make petitions and listen for His voice (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Fasting is a biblical discipline of voluntarily abstaining from things like food, entertainment, shopping or social media for a period of time to devote deeper focus to God. It expresses dependence on Him over earthly comforts (Matthew 6:16-18). Fasting combined with prayer humbles our hearts before God.
Setting aside days or weeks devoted specially to prayer and fasting can help restore and intensify love when you feel distant from God.
Receive God’s Love Through Christian Community
God designed believers to reflect His love towards each other in the context of Christian community. Make sure you are plugged into a local church or small group where you can:
- Be discipled and encouraged in God’s love by mature believers.
- Develop friendships based on loving accountability and unity in Christ.
- Exercise your spiritual gifts in service to the body of Christ.
- Walk through struggles alongside a community of support and care.
The Lord often pours out His love into our hearts through the Body of Christ. So stay meaningfully connected to nourish your soul.
Let God’s Love Flow Through You
An important key to strengthening love for God is sharing that love with others. As we channel God’s love and care to those around us, it powerfully reinforces our own love relationship with Him. Ways to let His love flow through you include:
- Meeting practical needs of the poor and hurting.
- Speaking words of scriptural encouragement.
- Praying blessings over friends, family and even enemies.
- Sharing your personal story of God’s work in your life.
- Forgiving others freely as God forgave you.
- Refusing to return evil for evil.
- Living with selfless humility, kindness and compassion.
When you actively love others in Christ’s name, it refoches your perspective on God’s amazing love for you as well. This fans the flames of devotion in your heart.
Rely on the Holy Spirit’s Empowering
Our human emotions and effort can only take us so far. Thankfully, God gives believers His very Spirit to enable supernatural love. “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Cooperate with the Spirit’s work in you:
- Ask Him daily to fill you afresh with divine love.
- Yield control of everything in your life fully over to the Spirit.
- Trust Him to empower you to obey God and walk in love.
- Listen for the Spirit’s guiding voice and prompting.
- Stay spiritually connected through the means of grace He provides.
Though we cannot manufacture love, we position ourselves to receive the Spirit’s infusion of love within us. He brings God’s love alive in those who are willing.
Remember Your Identity in Christ
One key to loving God intimately is remembering all He declares you to be in Christ. You are:
- Forgiven and redeemed (Colossians 1:14)
- A new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- A child of God (John 1:12)
- A temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- Chosen and loved by Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5)
- A citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
- A joint heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17)
When you lose sight of your identity, it’s easier to become spiritually lifeless. But remembering who you are empowers you to reflect God’s heart. You are His beloved possession.
Keep Eternity in View
One of the most rejuvenating spiritual exercises is keeping the coming reward of eternity in focus. Remember:
- This world is temporary, but eternity is forever.
- God’s glory we can only glimpse now will overwhelm us later (1 Corinthians 13:12).
- The trials of this life are producing an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
- We will inherit the kingdom prepared for us since the world’s foundation (Matthew 25:34).
- We will see Christ face to face in unspeakable joy (1 John 3:2).
When you meditate on the unmatched bliss of eternity with God, it helps you endure temporary struggles and ignites greater passion for Him. We love Him most when we see Him clearest.
Recall Times When You Felt Close to God
If your love for God seems cold, take time to remember seasons when your relationship felt more vibrant. Reflect on:
- Key moments when you encountered God’s presence and love.
- Meaningful times in Scripture or worship.
- Prayers God clearly answered.
- Ways He met your needs.
- Moments you were filled with awe at His greatness.
This reminds your heart of all the reasons you have to love God deeply as His beloved child. Don’t let temporary feelings eclipse your eternal spiritual reality.
Enjoy Growing in Love Over a Lifetime
Ups and downs are normal in every relationship, including with God. Don’t become discouraged but see spiritual highs and lows as opportunities to grow. Consider seasons of lesser love as times for:
- Developing patience and perseverance as you wait on God (James 1:2-4).
- Practicing relying on faith versus feelings (2 Corinthians 5:7).
- Discovering God’s all-sufficient grace at work in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
- Learning to fight for greater intimacy through spiritual disciplines.
- Exploring new depths of God’s love you’ve yet to experience.
With an eternal perspective, you can see God using all seasons – deserts and mountaintops – to ultimately deepen your capacity for greater love.
Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus
A vital key to growing your love for God throughout life’s ups and downs is keeping your eyes fixed on Christ. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross.” As you focus on Christ, remember:
- Jesus is the perfect revelation of God’s love for you to behold (John 3:16).
- He is able to relate to all your struggles since He was fully human (Hebrews 4:15).
- Jesus pioneered the path of loving God through sufferings.
- He endured the cross for the joy of bringing you into God’s family.
- Christ intercedes for you constantly as your high priest (Romans 8:34).
- Your love relationship with God is made possible by Christ’s work.
Gazing at Jesus – His love, grace, example and glorious vision for your life – ignites greater love for God in the most powerful way. He is the perfect object and source of divine love.
Draw Near to God
If your love for God has waned, the single most important thing you can do is draw near to Him again. Don’t wait for feelings first. As James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Take steps to actively pursue closeness, and God will meet you with open arms of grace. He is looking for those whose hearts are “fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). When you seek Him, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Be willing to do what it takes to encounter His presence, obey His Word, and receive His love afresh. He delights to revive the hearts of those who turn to Him.
Keep pressing into intimate friendship with God. There is no greater love that will ever satisfy your soul. As Deuteronomy 6:5 urges: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” By God’s grace and the Spirit’s enabling, you can walk in the greatest commandment every moment of life’s journey.