Good Riddance, Lucy Lukewarm

By: Kacie Starr Long

Lately, I’ve been feeling kind of… blah when it comes to the things of God.

Blah.Blah.Blah.

Not sure if you can relate?

Let me paint you a picture.

It’s Sunday morning. Time to get ready for church. Blah.

Morning devotional time. Blah.

Evening prayer time? Blahhh.

I haven’t felt like doing much when it comes to the things of God.

Now before you clutch your pearls or start casting out demons, let me make this clear: I’m not talking about depression. I’m not even talking about backsliding. I knew better than to skip church. I knew better than to stop reading my Bible. I wasn’t falling away from faith—I was growing cold.

Lukewarm.

Tepid.

Spiritually bland.

And though I knew all the right things to do, I was struggling to feel any of it.

I’d go to church on Sundays (and be glad I went), I’d open my Bible in the morning with a sleepy heart and journal out some thoughts. But by the end of the day?

I was scrolling through message boards. Watching Netflix. Chatting with Al until I fell asleep, all while the Holy Spirit tapping heart saying, “Come spend time with Me.”

But I just didn’t feel like it.....

Eventually, I had a real, raw conversation with the Lord.

“God, I don’t feel like doing anything.I don’t want to fast. I don’t want to pray. I feel lazy, tired, and uninterested. I don’t want to write or teach. I’ve lost my edge for You.”

And that’s exactly what it felt like—like the sharpness of my spirit had gone dull.

I remembered seasons when I was on fire for God: fasting twice a week, locking myself in for 3-day prayer shut-ins, attending multiple church services in one day because I was hungry, desperate, on fire for God.

I know seasons change. I know not everything can be duplicated. But the hunger I used to have? I missed it. I grieved it.

I thought about how I used to BEG God for prophetic words for strangers at the gas station, in the grocery store, or the post office. I wanted people to know God saw them. I wanted them to know He was real.

And now? I just wanted to be left alone to scroll social media.

One night, after confessing all this to the Lord, He led me to Psalm 51:12:

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” (NLT)

David prayed this after a major fall—desperate for his joy and fervor for God to return. And I found myself crying out with the same desperation:

“God, restore me! Give me my joy back! Give me a want to in my

soul! I don’t want to run on autopilot just to check the boxes. I want to burn for You again! I MUST burn for you again. I don't not want to go through life without passionately being in love with You.”

Can I ask you something?

Have you been here too?

Maybe you’re doing all the right things—going to church, serving, leading—but your flame is flickering in and out. You’re going through the motions listless and on autopilot.

When I asked God to bring back my hunger, He gently showed me what was standing in the way and it was:

Too much stuff.

Too much scrolling.

Too much TV.

Too much input from the world - social media, the news, message boards and not enough intentional time with Him.

So, I canceled Netflix.

I set a nighttime boundary—no screen time after 8PM.

I recommitted to fasting (and y’all, that was not easy—I wrestled with this one because I was afraid of being uncomfortable). But I knew I had to make room again for God, and to make room for God again it would be uncomfortable, but worth it.

It would be absolutely worth it....

I'm learning there is no magical wand God waves to refill your “joy tank.” (At least that hasn’t been my testimony.) But I can say this: The more time I’ve spent with Him, the better

I’ve felt.

Even when I don’t want to.

Even when the couch and my phone look more appealing. I am directing my feelings to submit to my spirit. Why? Because I refuse to live lukewarm. I refuse to let my soul slip into spiritual apathy. I refuse to let my fire go out. God has done too much in my life for me to become Lucy Lukewarm.

And slowly sisters, my edge is returning.

My heart is softening for more scripture, more sermons and more study time with God (Thank you Lord!) I am grateful....prophetic dreams are returning. I’m memorizing Scripture again (I had convinced myself that I was too old to remember scriptures which is simply a lie from Satan!) I rejoined a 5am prayer call with some warrior sisters. I’m not all the way where I used to be—but I’m not where I was - hallelujah!

So if you’ve been in a blah season too, hear me: You don’t have to stay there. You don’t have to accept lukewarm as your normal. You are NOT a Lucy Lukewarm. In fact, you are nothing like her. God has you reading this article because:

You were made to burn.

You were created to worship Him passionately.

You were meant to carry the fire of the Lord.

You love God with everything inside you.

You have a heart to do everything God has called you to do.

You burn intensely for the things of God, and your fire will never, ever go out.

This article was published in Jewel Warrior, a Christian women's online devotional. Please subscribe to receive encouraging devotionals each day from women from around the world.

Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, and speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either reading, or sewing. God delivered me from food addiction and I have a sewing ministry, called the Sew Hope Community Sewing Room. I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that serves prisoners and their families. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for Christian teachings and encouragement.