Praying Out of Obligation

"Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission better than the fat of rams." - 1st Samuel 15:22

I usually have one of two prayer experiences: either I pray with so much love and devotion or I pray out of obligation, and each second of it feels like a burden. A lot of times we fall into this second category and might end up not praying altogether. God doesn't want this from us! He wants us to give Him what we want to give Him and nothing more. The apostle John writes in one of his letters that God's commands are never burdensome, so when we get to these moments, we need to restructure how and when we pray. For me, I feel confident enough in my relationship with God to tell Him that I don't feel like praying but to help me find the devotion to Him again. God would love an hour of prayer, but if on any given day the best we can give Him is 5 minutes, He understands that. When you give Him time unwillingly, He finds no pleasure in that and your prayer won't be as effective as when you approach Him in sincerity. Most of all, we need to know that anything we give to God out of obligation isn't worth much to Him, rather, the desire in our hearts is what moves Him to act. If not done from a sincere place, no sacrifice would mean anything, no penance would be accepted. The Lord looks at the intentions of the heart and nothing more.

Today's Prayer:
Father, I am so weak. Please pick me up and give me the desire to pray and seek You. Give me a new heart that's ready and willing to praise You always. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.