Going Through the Motions

My dad is an avid fisherman. When the avids aren't biting he fishes for bass.
When I was growing up, I would spend the early summers with him. We would wake up at four in the morning, get the boat and head to a lake to do some fishing. I spent many mornings watching the sun rise in the distance. As an eight year old boy, I could think of a lot of things I would rather do than sit in a boat at four in the morning. All right, I could think of one thing I would rather do, sleep.
My dad enjoyed fishing and he thought I would enjoy fishing. He believed the Norman Rockwell way of life, a young barefooted boy with a fishing pole over his shoulder. Unfortunately, I didn't share the love of fishing that my dad had.
We would sit in the boat fishing for bass for about four hours. It seemed my dad would catch a fish with every cast. Me, I couldn't even catch moss. It wasn't that I was using different lures, I was using the exact same thing that my dad used. The difference was, he knew what he was doing, and I was just going through the motions.
There are times when Christians are in the same boat. Just going through the motions. Everything is done out of the sense of duty, not out of the sense of wanting to do it. Reading the Bible becomes a chore. Going to church out of habit. Mumbling through the Lord's Prayer. Whispering hymns. Avoiding people because you know Jesus is going to be mentioned. During this time, there is a sense of guilt, so everything becomes habitual and we just go through the motions, hoping something would spark and we get that enlightened feeling again.
When you hit that wall, whether it is because of frustration, complacency, or any other reason, there are steps to take to become re-energized.
First, focus on God. Clear your mind and remove all distractions from the outside world. Pray to the Father in Heaven and focus solely on Him. Put Him in the center of your thoughts. “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NIV)
Second, study the Bible. Don't just read it and put it down. Meditate on it. Work out what you are reading, “Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 MKJV)
Third, seek out other Christians. Spend time with other Christians. Similar to your car when the battery dies, jump start your battery with other Christians. Be in continual fellowship with other Christians, not just in church, but outside of church. Develop and strengthen relationships with other Christians. “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46,47 NIV)
When you find yourself going through the motions because you feel you have to, do your best to change your attitude. By following these simple steps and making it a want to and not a have to, perhaps you will catch some fish.