Remember when God’s presence felt so close you could almost touch Him? There was a time when weekly fellowships felt electric. Worship wasn’t a routine; it was an encounter. Prayer wasn’t a checkbox; it was communion. Studying the Word wasn’t just doing the motions, it was revelational. You didn’t need a worship team or preacher to stir you — your heart was already burning.

Then life happened. Responsibilities piled up, schedules got busier, prayers seemed unanswered, pain and disappointment were on the increase, silence became loud, and before you knew it, the once-blazing flame of devotion dimmed into glowing embers as your passion slipped away quietly. And then you discovered that even when surrounded by worship, you feel nothing. The same songs that once made you sober now feel hollow. You lift your hands, but your heart feels heavy.

David knew that feeling. That’s why in Psalm 85 vs 6 he cried out, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” Like David, every believer — even the most spiritual — reaches this crossroad where their hunger diminishes and must be rekindled. So what are the tell tale signs of diminished hunger?

Symptoms of a Heart That Needs Revival

• Spiritual decline. You no longer crave God’s Word or presence like before.
• A crowded heart. Other loves — work, entertainment, career, family, academics, business, etc— have taken first place.
• Religious motion without spiritual emotion. You engage in spiritual activities, but lack the joy thereof.
• The conundrum. The flesh feeds fat while the spirit grows faint.

Rekindling the Flame
The journey to personal revival begins by admiting that we are dry. When David cried, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (Psalm 51 vs 12), he wasn’t asking for his salvation back — he was asking for his joy back because revival begins when joy returns to our walk with God.

In Leviticus 6 vs 12 – 13, God commanded the priests to keep the fire on the altar burning continually — symbolic of His presence among His people. How then can we keep the fire on our altars burning? Hosea 6 vs 1 – 3 gives us a heads-up: “Come, let us return to the Lord … He will revive us, that we may live before Him.”

To begin with,

• Remember Where You Fell.
  Jesus told the Ephesian church, “You have forsaken your first love. Remember … and return.” Revelation 2 vs 4 – 5
  Think back to what your relationship with God used to be. What did you lose? That memory is a matchstick that can birth longing.
• Repent and Return.
  Revival requires humility. It’s not about pretending to be fine; it’s about saying, “Lord, I miss You.” God never despises a contrite heart. His voice rekindles what weariness extinguished.
  Psalm 51 vs 17
• Rebuild the Altar.
  Every fire needs fuel and revival always requires letting go of what quenches the Spirit because revival begins at the point of surrender. Talk to God honestly — no filters, no rehearsed prayers. Spend time with God not out of duty but delight.
• Refuse Substitutes.
  No success, title, or comfort can replace His presence. Revival begins when we say, “Nothing else will do.”
• Return to Renewal. Isolation feeds apathy but as we fellowship and worship together, the wind of the Spirit fans the embers of devotion into flame again and fuels our faith.

The Power of a Revived Heart
When revival touches one person, it doesn’t stay contained. Fire spreads. Your renewed passion can awaken your family, your team, your church, or even your community. A revived heart prays differently, loves deeply, gives generously, and shines brightly. The truth is, the world doesn’t need more polished believers — it needs burning ones.

Maybe you’re reading this and you know your passion has waned. Don’t feel condemned — feel invited. The same Jesus who met Peter after his denial still restores hearts after their drift. He’s not asking you to pretend or perform; He’s asking you to return to the place of intimacy with Him again.

If this is your desire, choose one thing that used to draw you closer to God — worship, prayer, solitude — and return to it intentionally. And in that moment, say to Him, “Lord, breathe on me again. Awaken my hunger, restore my wonder, and let my heart burn for what burns in Yours. Teach me to love Your presence more than comfort, more than distraction, more than life itself.”
Then wait. He will.