Every Christian experiences seasons where quiet time with God feels dry, distant, or difficult to maintain. It can be frustrating when you long to connect with the Lord, but your efforts feel empty, and you’re not hearing from Him in the way you used to. These "quiet time droughts" are a normal part of the Christian journey, but they don’t have to last forever.
If you’re in a season where your spiritual practices feel more like a chore than a joy, don’t lose heart. God desires to meet with you, and there are practical steps you can take to rekindle your connection with Him. Here are three helpful ways to break through a quiet time drought and revive your relationship with God.
1. Start Small and Rebuild Habits
Sometimes, a quiet time drought happens when we lose our rhythm. Life gets busy, distractions pile up, and before we know it, days (or months) have gone by without intentional time in the Word or in prayer. One of the most effective ways to break through this kind of drought is to start small and rebuild habits.
It’s easy to get discouraged and feel like you need to immediately return to long, uninterrupted quiet times, but small, consistent efforts are more sustainable over time! Set a goal to start with just 5 to 10 minutes a day. Read a short passage of Scripture, meditate on a single verse, or spend time journaling one or two thoughts. Over time, as your rhythm becomes more consistent, you’ll find it easier to expand the length and depth of your time with God.
Tip: Use a journal like the Quiet Time Companion to track your progress, jot down key Scriptures, and reflect on what God is teaching you, even in small moments.
2. Incorporate Fasting to Realign Your Focus
Fasting is a deeply effective spiritual discipline that can help you break through a quiet time drought by removing distractions and renewing your focus on God. When we fast, we intentionally set aside something (like food, social media, or entertainment) to make more space for prayer, Bible reading, and listening to God.
By removing a source of distraction or comfort, fasting helps realign our hearts and minds with God’s presence. It creates a hunger—not just for physical nourishment—but for spiritual depth and intimacy with Him. If you feel stuck or distant, consider setting aside a specific time to fast and focus entirely on seeking the Lord.
How to Incorporate Fasting: You don’t have to fast for an extended period of time to experience its benefits. Start with a one-day fast, choosing to abstain from one meal or a specific activity that usually takes up your time or attention. Use the time you would normally spend eating or engaging in that activity to pray, journal, and reflect on Scripture. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and refresh your spirit as you dedicate that time to Him.
3. Change Your Routine to Spark Fresh Connection
Sometimes, quiet time droughts happen because we fall into a rut—doing the same thing every day without much variation can make our time with God feel stale. If you’re feeling uninspired, it may be time to change your routine and spark a fresh connection with the Lord.
There are many ways you can shake things up and bring new life to your quiet time:
- Change Your Location: If you always have your quiet time in the same spot, try moving to a different room, heading outside, or going to a peaceful coffee shop.
- Incorporate Worship: Start your quiet time with a worship song that draws your heart into God’s presence.
- Try a New Devotional or Study: If your usual Bible study feels dry, switch it up by starting a new devotional, using a Bible app, or focusing on a different book of the Bible.
- Pray Creatively: If you’re struggling to find words in prayer, try writing your prayers down in your journal, creating a prayer list, or praying Scripture aloud.
Sometimes, a simple change in how you approach your quiet time can lead to breakthroughs in how you experience God’s presence. The goal is to rekindle your desire to connect with Him in meaningful ways.
Final Thoughts
Breaking through a quiet time drought takes intentionality, but God is always ready to meet with you when you seek Him. Whether you start by rebuilding small habits, fasting, or making changes to your routine, remember that the Lord honors your desire to spend time with Him—even in seasons that feel dry. Keep pressing forward, trusting that this drought will eventually give way to deeper intimacy and renewed joy in your relationship with God.
As you implement these steps, use your Quiet Time Companion to record what God is teaching you, track your prayers, and reflect on how He’s working in your life! You may be surprised at how quickly your time with Him starts to feel vibrant again.