Going Through the Motions

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou delightest not in burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God area broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:16-17
 

Have you ever found yourself just “going through the motions”? Doing the same thing day after day, week after week with little to no thought? I think all of us have found ourselves stuck in this trap. It even bleeds into our spiritual life sometimes. We may be faithful to go to Sunday School, Worship Services and Prayer Meetings…but why? Do we allow the word of God to penetrate? Do we allow the preaching to change? Do we sing out in worship to the Lord out of a heart that is desperately in love with the one who saved us from our sin?  

When David wrote Psalm 51 it was on the heels of his sin being exposed. David had allowed his relationship with God to be more of something he “did” rather than something that continually changed him. In this Psalm he is broken before the Lord, crying out for grace and forgiveness. In our verses today we read his realization that what God wanted was not some outward form of duty, but an inward, heart changing, life altering complete surrender to His grace. We can go through the motions in our worship, but if it doesn’t bring us to a place where we fall at His feet then it will never change us.  

Today as we ReFocus our hearts and minds on Christ, ask this question: Am I worshiping from a broken and surrendered heart, or am I going through the motions? When I sing is it out of a life that is filled with the Joy of Redemption, the Awe of His Grace and Thankfulness of His forgiveness? When I am confronted with His word, do I simply hear or am I listening intently to know God’s will for my life? Stop going through the motions and allow the Grace of God to penetrate your heart as we kneel in wonder and worship the one whose blood purchased our forgiveness and redemption!