If you grew up in church, this story might feel familiar:
You went to Sunday School, sang in the choir, served on teams.
You were taught to pray, to read Scripture, to live by Christian values.
And maybe, at some point, you were genuinely on fire for God — praying fervently, fasting, serving, eager to live out your faith.
You experienced the joy of His presence.
You felt purpose in walking with Him.
But somewhere along the way… something shifted.
Now, when you’re honest, you wonder:
Does God really hear me?
Is He even there?
Why do I feel spiritually dry?
How did I lose that fire I once had?
You look back and tell stories of when you were on fire for God but it feels like just that: a story.
Not your present reality.
And you wonder where it all went.
The truth is: many of us have walked this road.
And often, the reason we drift spiritually is because we’ve relied on second-hand faith for too long.
We inherited faith from our parents.
We lived off the momentum of church culture.
We followed others’ passion, but never fully cultivated our own personal relationship with God.
At some point, your faith must become personal.
Not something your parents told you about.
Not something your pastor preaches about.
Not something your friends believe in.
YOU must encounter God for yourself.
Because when you do — when you experience His presence, His love, His voice —
everything changes.
You won’t need anyone to convince you that God is real.
You won’t have to rely on hype to stay motivated.
Your faith will be rooted in an unshakable, living relationship with Him.
So how do you have a personal encounter with God?
There’s no formula — but here are 5 ways you can open your heart to encounter Him:
🌿 1. Ask Him to Reveal Himself to You
God loves to answer this prayer.
Be honest:
“Lord, I feel far from You. I want to know You for myself. Please reveal Yourself to me.”
Jesus promised:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Matthew 7:7
🌿 2. Spend Time Alone with God — Without Agenda
Step away from noise.
Turn off your phone.
Sit with your Bible and an open heart.
Say, “Lord, I’m here to meet with You — not to perform, not to impress, but to know You.”
Wait. Listen.
Let Him speak through His Word and His Spirit.
🌿 3. Be Honest About Where You Are Spiritually
Stop pretending.
God can handle your doubts, questions, struggles.
Say, “Lord, here’s where I’m really at. Please meet me here.”
Authenticity invites encounter.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
🌿 4. Pursue God with Expectation, Not Obligation
Don’t approach Him like checking off a box.
Come with faith:
“Lord, I believe You desire relationship with me. I expect to encounter You — not because I’ve earned it, but because of Your grace.”
When you seek Him with hunger, He responds.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13
🌿 5. Surround Yourself with Others Who Pursue God Personally
Faith grows in the right environment.
Find believers who are not content with shallow religion — people who pursue the presence of God.
Worship with them. Pray with them.
Hunger is contagious.
Surround yourself with people who stir it up in you.
In conclusion,
If your spiritual fire has faded — you are not alone.
But you do not have to stay there.
The God who once stirred your heart is still calling you closer.
And He is not asking you to rebuild your faith on second-hand stories.
He is inviting you into a first-hand encounter with Him.
Today — ask. Seek. Wait. Listen.
And trust that He will meet you in ways you could never orchestrate yourself.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8
Planted With Purpose 
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