Summer can be a blast — beach days, road trips, weddings, late nights with friends. But spiritually, it can be a little disorienting. Maybe you meant to stick with your Bible reading plan, but vacation threw off your rhythm. Maybe you drifted a little (or a lot), and now it’s fall and you’re not sure where you stand with God.
If this is you, you’re not alone.
If you long to reconnect with God, a shift in seasons — especially from summer into fall — is a great time to reset. Think about where you want to be spiritually. Getting there isn’t about making sweeping declarations that are hard to live up to, but about gentle changes that will reorient you and help you build new spiritual rhythms.
Before you begin your journey back, here is some good — actually, great — news: God’s not waiting for you with a guilt trip; He’s inviting you back with grace. Whether you feel disconnected, distracted, or just spiritually dry, here are five simple rhythms to help you reconnect with Him this season.
1. Assess where you are spiritually (without the shame spiral).
Before you try to fix your faith life, pause and consider your current relationship with God. What does it really look like? This can be a hard question to answer. Many of us think in extremes: either we’re completely disconnected from God or closer than ever. In reality, we often fall somewhere in the middle. Ask yourself a few questions to honestly assess where you are, what’s lacking, and what you want moving forward:
- Has my time with God felt quiet, awkward, or nonexistent?
- Has prayer become something I only do in crisis?
- Have I been filling my time and my soul with everything but God?
If you’ve drifted or feel disconnected from God, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it just means you’re noticing where you are, and that’s a good thing. Being aware of your spiritual dryness isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of growth.
No matter how you feel, remember that God’s not keeping score. He’s not waiting to scold you for your summer of missed Bible reading or because you prayed only when you were overwhelmed. He doesn’t meet you only when you’ve pulled it all together. God meets you in the dry, distracted, messy places of your real life.
So be honest. Maybe you haven’t prayed much. Maybe you feel far from God and don’t know why. Or maybe you know exactly why. Whatever it looks like, start there. Let that honesty be the first step back.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) That’s not an invitation for the super-spiritual. It’s for the tired, the inconsistent, the spiritually overwhelmed — which is all of us at some point.
Name what’s been true for you lately. Maybe it’s, “I haven’t really prayed in weeks,” or “I feel like I’ve been avoiding God,” or even, “I want to want Him, but I’m not sure I do right now.” God can work with that. He already knows where you are, and He’s right there to walk forward with you in grace.
2. Reframe time with God as connection, not a checklist.
There’s a lot of pressure in Christian spaces to spiritually “get back on track” when things are off. It can feel like you’re behind and have to hustle to catch up. But your relationship with God isn’t a productivity goal. God’s not rolling His eyes at your inconsistency. What He really wants is connection — honest, personal, real connection with you.
The sense of lack you feel is an invitation. God’s calling you back into relationship. Rather than feeling pressure to do everything right, think about how you can be present with God. Instead of jumping straight into a rigid routine, try starting with some gentle questions:
- What helps me feel close to God right now?
- When during my day do I naturally have a few quiet minutes — even five — to check in with Him?
- What’s one simple habit I can return to, not because I should, but because it stirs my heart toward Him?
Spiritual rhythms aren’t a way to earn God’s approval; they’re a way to remember you already have it. They open space for grace — space to reconnect with the God who never left, even if you did. He’s not waiting for the perfect version of you to show up. He just wants you.
3. Start a one-verse-a-day habit (and build on it).
Honestly, sometimes the idea of reading a whole chapter of the Bible feels overwhelming, especially if you’re coming out of a season of spiritual drift or just trying to figure out where to start again. The good news? You don’t need to power through pages to connect with God. He can meet you in just one verse.
Start small. Pick one verse in the morning — maybe from a devotional, a Bible reading plan, or something that stood out during church or a podcast. Don’t overthink it. The goal isn’t to find the perfect verse; it’s to be open and present.
Once you have your verse, keep it with you:
- Write it on a sticky note and attach it to your laptop or bathroom mirror
- Set it as your phone’s lock screen
- Screenshot it or text it to a friend to keep each other encouraged
Throughout your day, come back to it. Let it sink in slowly. Try asking, “God, what do You want me to notice in this today?” or “What does this show me about who You are or who I am?” After a few weeks, you may find yourself wanting more. Great! This means you’re building attentiveness — a softening of your heart toward God’s Word.
When you feel ready, you can build on this rhythm. Try adding a short devotional that fits the season you’re in. It can be a few pages from a book, a five-minute app-based plan like First 5, Lectio 365, or Dwell, or a reading plan on YouVersion. Aim for consistency, not perfection.
4. Use a sentence to begin and end the day with God.
Talking to God is an important part of relationship, but knowing what to pray can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s been a while. Instead of thinking about how to pray or what to say, think about how you would start the day with a friend or loved one. You’d simply say, “Good morning.” At the end of the day you might say, “Good night.” This is a great way to reestablish talking to God.
- When you wake up each day, say “Good morning, God.” That’s it.
- When go to bed, say, “Goodnight, God.”
Nothing fancy. No requests. Just bookending the day with Someone you love. When this becomes more natural, build on it by welcoming His presence, thanking Him for the day, or telling Him about something. Keep the connection simple and grow from there.
5. Add movement with a prayer walk.
Fall is the perfect season to take your prayers outside. Whether it’s through your neighborhood, on a college campus, or at a nearby trail, walking can open up new space to connect with God.
Here’s how to try it:
- Skip the podcasts and music and instead take time to notice things and pray out loud (or quietly in your head)
- Use a prayer prompt like thankfulness, future decisions, or people in your life
- Invite a friend and pray together as you walk
If you find your thoughts wandering from prayer, just come back as if nothing happened. God is present with you in the wandering, and sometimes He even uses it to show you things. Try taking prayer walks every so often. It doesn’t have to be every week; even once a month is a rhythm worth building.
6. Bonus tip: Refresh your worship playlist.
Sometimes reconnecting with God doesn’t start with words; it starts with music. Update your worship playlist with songs that remind you of who God is and how steady He remains, even when your faith feels inconsistent. Let the lyrics draw you back to truth and God’s promises. Whether you’re in your car, studying, or relaxing, let the Holy Spirit meet you through worship.
Don’t overthink it – just begin
Spiritual rhythms don’t have to be big or complicated. Sometimes they’re just small, honest moments with God, repeated in love. If fall finds you feeling dry, distracted, or unsure where to begin, take heart. God hasn’t moved. He’s still here. And He’s not asking for perfection or performance. He’s simply inviting you to come close.
So don’t wait for the perfect plan. Choose one small rhythm. Try it this week. Let this season be your gentle reset.
“Let us return to the Lord… He will revive us.” (Hosea 6:1–2)
Copyright 2025 Rebecca Hastings. All rights reserved.
