Growing in passion and love for God is so vital in the Christian walk. It takes your relationship with Him beyond just religious duty to a place of true intimacy and depth. Here are some practical steps you can take to stir up greater passion for God in your life:

Examine Your Priorities

Take time to evaluate if your schedule and activities reflect a hunger for God’s presence. The Bible says in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Make sure God is not just an addition to your busy life, but the very center and priority. Give Him first place in your day and week.

As Psalm 27:4 says, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” Let your priorities line up with David’s passionate pursuit of God’s presence.

Increase Time in Prayer and Worship

Passion is cultivated through spending consistent, quality time with God. Set aside extended times for prayer, worship, and sitting in His presence with no agenda except to know Him more.

As you make seeking Him a lifestyle rather than a religious duty, your heart will ignite with greater love for Him. Follow Mary’s example in Luke 10:39: “She sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.” Posture your heart to receive from Him.

Read the Word Expectantly

Approach the Bible expectantly, asking God to reveal Himself to you as you read His word. Pray Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Read and meditate on the Scriptures( Joshua 1:8), Make your mind read for His voice. The more you behold God through the Word, the more your passion for Him will increase.

Recall God’s Goodness

Reflecting on God’s faithfulness in the past stir up love and gratitude. Keep a journal recording prayers answered, needs met, battles won. Remembering His acts on your behalf fuels affection. The psalmist proclaimed in Psalm 77:11, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” Let remembrance stir up fresh passion.

Yield Areas of Disobedience

Sin attempts to quench the Spirit’s fire in our lives. As He reveals areas that are displeasing, yield to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Repentance opens the way for greater intimacy with God. Pray Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Cultivate Genuine Worship

Worship the Lord with singing, lifted hands, bowing before Him – not just externally but from the depth of your being. As you express heartfelt adoration, the fire of His presence falls. Worship ushers you into deeper realms of His glory.

Take Action in Faith

Let your affection compel you to actively live for Him. James 2:17 declares, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Ask God how to tangibly demonstrate your love through serving, giving, and boldly sharing the gospel. Let passion fuel your obedience in practical ways.

Fellowship with Other Believers

Spending time with those who share your devotion to Christ provides mutual encouragement. Their hunger and testimonies will motivate you to continue pursuing the Lord wholeheartedly. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).

Continually Ask for More

Finally, keep praying persistently for an increased revelation of God’s love, a deeper yearning for His presence, and a greater baptism of holy fire. The more we know Him, the more our passion grows. Yield your heart freshly to Him today!

Here are some key Bible verses on passion for God:

• “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
• “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalm 63:3-4)
• “You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.” (Song of Songs 4:9)
• “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies.” (Song of Songs 6:3)
• “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some signs that someone has a genuine passion for God?

Some signs of genuine passion for God include consistent time in His presence, joyful obedience to His Word, heartfelt worship, selfless service, bold witness for Christ, and finding satisfaction in Him above all else.

Why does passion for God sometimes seem to fade?

Busyness, spiritual laziness, unrepented sin, prolonged waiting seasons, offense, lack of worship, and failure to spend quality time in God’s presence can all contribute to diminished passion.

How can I stir up passion again when my spiritual fire feels low?

To rekindle passion when your spiritual zeal is low, spend extended time worshiping in God’s presence, read testimonies from church history, listen to sermons that stir your faith, yield any known sin, fellowship with other believers, journal God’s past faithfulness, and ask Him for fresh fire.

Is it wrong to feel distant from God sometimes?

It’s normal to go through occasional dry seasons where you feel distant from God. Don’t let this lead to condemnation. Draw near to Him again through repentance and asking for revival. God promises abundant life, not perfection.

What happens when we cultivate a deep passion for God?

When we nurture sincere passion for God, we experience richer intimacy with Him, receive greater spiritual revelation, live more victoriously, selflessly extend His kingdom, and enjoy a more vibrant prayer life and worship.

In Summary:

Growing in passionate, heartfelt love for God takes time, intention and actively cultivating your relationship with Him. Examine your priorities, devote extended time to seeking Him, feast on His Word, recall past faithfulness, yield disobedience, worship wholeheartedly, take courageous action for His Kingdom, fellowship with others, and keep asking for more of Him. Fan the flame of your devotion to Christ through practical pursuit of His presence.