VERSE:
(God Speaking) Ask all the people of the land and the priests, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?”
— Zechariah 7:5

THOUGHT:
The Israelites, at the time this scripture was written, had been fasting and mourning 2 whole months out of the year for seventy years. Some would say that this showed great dedication and commitment to the Lord, but God asked “was it really for me?” Apparently, they had been so used to doing a religious activity that the passion and purpose was lost. They were merely going through the motions. God doesn’t care about an activity; He is looking at the motive behind the activity. Why do you go to church? Why do you pray? Why do you read the bible? If the answer is anything but “to fall more in love with Jesus” then the passion and purpose has been lost.

APPLICATION:
Search yourself and ask “why do I do these things?” We all at times can just go through the motions; however it should be the exception. Ask God to fill you with a fiery passion that burns to love Him more.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, search me and reveal to me areas in my life in which I am just going through the motions. I renounce that attitude in the Name of Jesus, and I ask you God to give me a heart that burns for you. Don’t let me be complacent in Christianity as is. Restore in me the passion and purpose of worship. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!