Our heavenly Father isn’t fooled by our words, either. He knows when they are sincere and when they are said with no meaning or reason behind them. Whether it’s a flippant “God, forgive me of my sins” without any thought or concern about what those sins might be, or listlessly singing the words of a hymn with no sincerity or consideration of what we’re singing, He is equally unimpressed. He desires our hearts to be devoted to Him, and for our words and music to reflect the truth of our love for Him, coming from deep within our souls.
I challenge you to take an extra moment this week as you sing, pray, or do anything in service to the Lord. Is your heart in it? Do you understand what you’re doing and why? Or are you simply following a routine because that’s what you’re supposed to do? Routine without meaning makes for a dull, powerless faith. A sincere heart expressing itself to God, on the other hand, can anchor a vibrant, life-giving faith.