5 Easy Steps To Take If You’ve Lost Your Spark With God

Key Takeaways 

Here are 5 simple ways you can rekindle a vibrant relationship with God:

1. Expose your mind and heart to God’s Word.

2. Limit screens and distractions.

3. Get comfortable with silence and boredom.

4. Go outside and change your environment.

5. Find accountability.

Be honest: does your relationship with Jesus feel a little dry right now? Dusty? Would you describe it to friends as a “desert season?” 

It’s a frustrating place to find yourself, especially when your heart used to feel so ALIVE in God’s presence and you were fired up about Him! But it’s like your passion and faith got stuck somewhere along the way, and you might not even know how or when that happened. 😩

Dry seasons are incredibly common in the Christian walk. We all have them; it’s human. Even the great Bible characters like Elijah, David, and Moses had them! But knowing that still doesn’t make this present desert any easier. 

So I put together a list of 5 practical, simple steps you can take today to regain that sense of intimacy and union with the Lord. Without overhauling your whole life, these easy steps will help you unsnag your walk with God and rekindle your confidence and peace in the Lord. 

1. Expose Your Heart and Mind to God’s Word 

When you’re feeling dry and stuck, one of the most reliable ways to reconnect with God is simply to expose your heart to His Word again. 

Now I know a Bible study may feel like the LAST thing you want to do right now. I’ve been there too! So I want to remove some of this pressure and expectation. 

The goal here is to get Scripture in front of your eyeballs or mind. Right now, you don’t need to do a study session, journal, or “accomplish” something. 

If all you can manage is listening to a Psalm on your Bible app while you sip coffee, God’s Word is STILL active and alive, and He’s STILL pursuing your heart! Don’t underestimate the power of His Word softening your heart, even when you feel like you’re contributing nothing. 

Here are some practical ways to do that: 

• Short passages of Scripture 📖

If you’re too dry to read your full Bible plan, set a timer for 5-10 minutes and read until it goes off. Pick a short passage that feels manageable, and don’t worry about “doing” anything with it right now. Just read it, let your heart hear it, and remember that God’s working whether you feel it or not. 

• Worship music 🎶

When you’re alone in the car or at home, block out the world with a pair of headphones, and crank that song up. Even if you don’t FEEL like it’s true and even if you don’t sing along, let the sound of worship flood your mind and heart. Let it drown out all those worries, fears, the questions, the sorrow. 

No matter what he was going through, David’s consistent response to his circumstances was to worship. EVEN when he didn’t feel God’s presence. EVEN when he was betrayed. EVEN when life crashed down around him. He worshipped and let the truth of God’s character wash over his circumstances and heal his battered spirit. 

• Scripture memorization 🧠

If opening your Bible seems impossible right now, call to mind one verse you’ve memorized. Maybe even from your kids’ AWANA. Say it out loud to yourself right now, just for the sake of saying it. Then do it again later today. And again. Think of another verse you know, and do the same. God’s Word hidden in your heart is a POWERFUL weapon against apathy! 

• Visual reminders 📝

Hang Scripture up in your home, in as many places as you can. 

• Write a verse on a sticky note and put it on the mirror where you normally see your face. 

• Put it inside your car windshield or sunshade. 

• Stick it in your laptop. 

• Sharpie it on your hand. 

Keep God’s Word before your eyes as frequently as possible. And even if it doesn’t FEEL true in the moment, His Word is softening your heart as you incorporate it into your day.

2. Strongly Limit Screens and Distractions 

If we’re being honest, scrolling Instagram, binging a show, or endlessly poring through Pinterest feels like the easiest way to survive a dry season with God. We scroll and watch, numbing out to any pain or dealing with the emptiness. It’s as though we’re waiting for something, yet we can’t name what that something is. 

These distractions turn into medication, a “pill” we depend on and NEED to keep zoning out instead of facing the root issue. 📲

And while numbing out feels relieving in the moment, it actually causes the exact opposite of relief. It decreases your attention span, increases anxiety, and dampens your ability to reflect honestly. 

To combat this pull into mindless scrolling, you must aggressively set boundaries for yourself AND stick to them. Here are a few ways to do this: 

• Schedule phone-free time 📵 

Even if it’s just 15-20 minutes a day, lock this time into your calendar and treat it as an appointment of great importance. During that time, put your phone in a drawer or give it to your spouse. 

• Turn your phone off 📴

Switch your phone to airplane mode, Do Not Disturb, or just turn it off when you’re driving, working, or at random moments throughout the day. When your phone is actually OFF, it’s just a useless brick. Leave that thing somewhere you won’t see it for a while, and busy your mind with other things. 

Whenever I turn my phone off, I feel a huge weight lift off my chest, and suddenly the world feels more alive and colorful again. It makes me wonder, what all am I missing with my nose buried in this brick I'm holding? 

• Set screen time limits 🚨

iPhones have a handy setting that allows you to limit certain apps or websites for a certain amount of time or to certain times of the day. You can also have an accountability partner set a password lock on these time limits so you don’t bypass them. 

For example, I limited my social media apps to 15 minutes per day. It doesn’t sound like a lot when you’re used to scrolling for hours, but it helps me look up from my phone and engage with the present-tense world around me. Other friends set a limit that blocks almost all apps from 10pm until 7am, allowing them to get a good night’s sleep and not be distracted. 

• Cancel your streaming subscriptions 🙅

I know this sounds harsh, but if shows or movies are currently controlling your time and health, you’ve replaced God with entertainment. Cutting off your subscriptions sounds dramatic, but when you stack it next to God’s worth in your life, it’s not that big of a deal. More of Him is worth EVERY loss and sacrifice we could possibly go through. 

3. Get Comfortable With “Boredom” 

Yup. You read that right. Be more bored! 

As a culture, we are TERRIFIED of feeling “bored” or “slow” or “still.” We believe that boredom or slowness equals failure, and if we experience that, we’re bad Christians. So we live controlled by activity, production, and accomplishment. 

Man, it hurts my heart that we spin in this hamster wheel of our own making. All throughout Scripture, God reminds us of the richness of stillness, rest, and slowing down the bustle to hear Him. Check out this blog on God’s perspective of rest. 

Silence is a gift from God. It trains your soul to recognize God’s voice. God rarely shouts at us. He speaks quietly and waits for us to slow down enough to focus our attention on Him. That requires stillness. So the real question is, are you holding room to hear Him speak if He doesn’t shout over the noise of your life? 

Slow down and allow yourself to feel “bored" for a few minutes each day. This retrains your brain to notice God’s presence again. Your heart softens. You pay attention. You HEAR Him again. Oh, what a drink of fresh water in the dry wasteland!

Here are a few ways you can practice this without turning into a monk: 

• Schedule 10 minutes of silence every day 🗓️

Use the time you put your phone away from Step 2 to sit quietly before God and just BE. Don’t accomplish anything. Don’t have any agenda. You’re just with Him, your heart is open, and you’re available to hear Him. Sit in the car, the yard, or on your porch, anywhere where you won’t be distracted by the things you need to accomplish. 

• Walk without your phone or music 🚶

Give your thoughts some breathing room. Air them out as you move your body and breathe fresh air. Don’t fill your mind with more ideas from your screen; just let them process through your mind and allow the Lord to speak into that as He chooses. 

• Eat without watching anything 🍽️

Many singles, couples, and families fall into the routine of watching a show while they eat, once again filling every moment of silence. Take your food outside or put your phone/TV away during meal times. Be present with the Lord or your family at meal times. 

4. Go Outside 

I know, I know, it sounds way too simple. But stepping outside is sometimes the most spiritually refreshing thing you can do. You might just need to get AWAY from daily life and physically remove yourself from the busyness and stress. Change your surroundings! 

Getting outside, even for a few minutes each day, is scientifically proven to help unclench your mind, spirit, and body. 

• Sunlight boosts serotonin, which improves your mood and focus. 

• Just 20 minutes outside significantly decreases stress hormones, even if you’re not exercising. 

• Walking improves cognitive function and reduces mental fatigue. This helps you think more clearly and regulate your emotions. 

Desert seasons make your world feel like it’s shrunken in and broken, but one of the easiest ways to interrupt that perception is by opening your door and stepping outside. 

Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

• Walk 10-20 minutes daily 👟

Do this without your phone and without any agenda. Just let your body and mind experience the nature around you and let God do His thing with you. 

• Spend more hours outside ⌛

Instead of working on your laptop from your couch, run an extension cord into the yard and type away in beautiful nature! Just exposing yourself to fresh air, natural sounds, and the gentle movement all around you will soften your heart and perk your heart up to new perspectives and possibilities. 

• A solo getaway trip 🚗

Changing your scenery and environment gives you perspective on what’s most important. It helps reset your mind and heart and gives you the freedom to be honest with yourself and God. This getaway can be anything you want it to be: a nearby park, lake, or the mountains of Colorado. Instead of vegging out in an Airbnb, make sure you spend a good amount of it outside, camping, walking, hiking, etc.

5. Find Accountability 

When you’re in a dry season, it’s shockingly easy to drift. Not because you don’t care about God or aren’t committed. But dryness naturally makes it harder to stay consistent and spiritually alert. 

Accountability gives you an anchor point where you share and confess HONESTLY what’s going on. Instead of floating through this dry period completely alone, there’s at least one other person who knows the real facts about how you’re doing and lovingly reminds you of the truth and your commitments. 

Read more about the importance of accountability in my blog post here. 

Research confirms that sharing struggles and goals with another person increases follow-through and success rates by up to 95%! Naming emotions out loud, especially to someone else, reduces their intensity and helps you regulate your own nervous system better. 

Here are a few ways you can start practicing accountability today: 

• Be honest out loud 🗣️

The quickest and easiest way to start accountability is to be honest out loud. The next time someone asks you how you’re doing, answer HONESTLY and say how it is. You don’t have to dump on them emotionally, but don’t brush off the reality you’re going through. Name it and be vulnerable. 

• Find a partner or group 👥

Invite a close friend, mentor, or counselor who loves Jesus and loves you to ask you honest, direct questions. Teach them what standards you’d like them to hold you accountable to and give them freedom to challenge you. 

• Confess regularly 🤲

Darkness loses its power when it’s brought into the light. Confess your struggles, sins, and feelings to someone you trust. The goal here isn’t to shame or guilt you, but to bring darkness into the light and in doing so, remove its power. You’ll be amazed at how free and light you feel after confessing honestly and openly about the hidden, sinful parts of your life, especially that last 2% you don’t want to share. 

• Check in regularly 📋

Set a weekly routine of texts, calls, or meetings with your accountability partner or group. Share your milestones, failures, challenges, and wins together. 

The Jesus Challenge: All 5 Steps in One 

If you might be reading this and thinking, “I want to feel close to God again. But I just don’t have the capacity to stay on top of all these things and squeeze them into my full life." I hear exactly where you're coming from, and I've been there too. 

You need a simple, clear structure that covers these steps, doesn’t overhaul your entire life, and gets you back into sweet, intimate union with the Lord. 

Every one of the five steps you just read through is built into the Jesus Challenge. 👇

• Pre-assigned Scripture every day for 40 days 

• Reduced distractions as you intentionally set aside time with Jesus 

• Daily moments of stillness and listening 

• Walking or running one mile each day 

• Accountability and community in our private Facebook group 

The Jesus Challenge is a grace-filled routine to help bring your walk with God back to life. It’s specifically designed for busy people like you and me and built on small, realistic steps you take one day at a time. 

So if you’re tired of drifting and running around without a deep connection to Christ, the Jesus Challenge is your perfect next step. 🤩

Your family will notice.

You’ll feel more like yourself.

And ultimately, you’ll finally feel the refreshing relief of Living Water on your parched and cracked soul. 

Sign up below to claim your spot in our next challenge! 

Claim Your Spot 

Questions You Might Have  

• How long before I notice a difference? Typically, 1–2 weeks with consistent effort.
  
  

• What if I fail or miss days? That’s where you get to accept the beautiful gift of grace! God meets you where you are, and you can start again without guilt.

• Can I do this with my family? Absolutely! Invite your family and friends to join you and help hold you accountable. Check out our Junior Jesus Challenge designed specifically for kids.