Time and time again we find ourselves in a “plateau” of faith, just going through the motions. Sound familiar? I’ve been there, we’ve all been there. It’s a normal part of the journey of faith to experience lulls and lows where we feel a little lost. If you relate at all and need some help getting that fire for your faith back, this blog is for you. 

Here are five ways to kickstart your faith:

Build (or rebuild) a prayer routine

It’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing our faith like an extracurricular activity that we need to check the boxes for. However, no matter how many Sunday’s you sit in a pew, or how many times you force yourself to go into the confessional, you won’t truly come to know the person of Jesus until you make the effort, however big or small, to spend time with him every day.

What does time with Jesus look like? Every person’s prayer lives are unique and there’s essentially no right or wrong way to pray. It just looks like you sharing your heart with Him, and in turn receiving His. If you need a little help guiding your prayer, pick one of the books of the gospel and find a verse that speaks to you. Stay there and share with Jesus what’s on your heart. Journaling helps us to get in the habit of being completely open and honest with Jesus, no fancy language needed. Whether it’s ten minutes or sixty, your heart was made to be with Him. 

Seek the Sacraments

Our Catholic faith is so incredible and provides so many opportunities for us to encounter God through the sacraments. Made to bridge the gap between the physical and the spiritual, we have an opportunity to meet a tangible Jesus in each of the sacraments. 

Add a daily Mass into your week,  sign up for a weekly or monthly Holy Hour for Eucharistic Adoration, or challenge yourself to a monthly confession for the next three months. 

Depending on your parish, these sacraments can be offered weekly and even daily!

Clean up your social media

“The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45.) What we consume informs our intellect, will, and desires more than you think. Are there accounts you’re following that lead you to comparison, gossip, impurity, envy to name a few? The unfollow button is waiting for you. It’s easier than you think, and you have full freedom to do it.

Focus on following accounts that build you up and speak truth into your life. Your heart will breath easier, I promise. 

Surround yourself with Catholic beauty

The beauty and richness of our Church is unreal and unparalleled. Beauty has an amazing power to draw us to God, and if we are intentional about it, we can keep ourselves close to him constantly by surrounding ourselves with faithfully designed items.

A few of my favorite ways to do this are:

• Wearing Catholic jewelry, like a Miraculous Medal necklace everyday.
• Hanging up a crucifix or holy image in my bedroom.
• Tucking a rosary in my purse, or in my car door.

Don’t have any of the above, pick just one to start with!

Find Community

At the core of our being, we desire to be known and loved. Good Catholic friendships are vital to keep our faith alive. I encourage you to seek a small group or community where you can be around other people your age seeking a Christ centered life. Can’t find an existing group? Jesus might just be calling you to start it! All you need are a few friends, snacks, and a Bible study. If you’ve never led a Bible Study before, you can check out the Heart of Christ Study to guide your prayer and conversation. I challenge you to break out of that comfort zone and take a small step towards community, we were not made to be alone.

For more ways to grow and deepen your faith follow along on Instagram at @shop.wcc and @westcoastcatholic!