A Prayer About Routine

When I am simply going through the motions

SPIRIT OF GOD,

Blah. That’s the best way to describe my spiritual life right now. I’m committed to following you, but I don’t seem to be growing, and I’m not doing very well with the spiritual disciplines. I have daily devotions in the morning when I read from a book, but my mind wanders as I think about my to-do list. I pray, but mostly quick prayers or by habit, at meals and special occasions. I attend church regularly, but my worship seems superficial. In fact, I cannot remember when something in a service brought me to tears or I felt “blessed.” I also can’t recall when I last took time for silence, solitude, and meditation. My life has become ordinary, predictable. I’m thankful that I’ve established these routines, but I don’t like the feeling that I am simply going through the motions in my relationship with you. Help me to break the routine, to create space, to feel more, and to go deeper. I want to learn from your Word, to experience your presence, to do great things for you.

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? Isaiah 58:5