It’s key to commit to prayer; to schedule it and keep honor it through intention and discipline. But, then, how do we maintain prayer as an intimate relationship and not let it become a routine? The answer to one question: where’s your heart in it?

Going through the motions to get it done is not the point. You know…when you finish your prayer time, look up, and think what just happened? It’s better, even, to do less with a whole heart than to try to do more while totally disconnected.

Even if you’re not in a good place to pray — tired, hungry, whatever — be honest about that and bring that to prayer. Because just like you can tell when somebody’s totally checked out of a conversation (nodding, “uh huh, yup”), the Lord knows our hearts. He can tell. Talk to him instead about why you’re distracted or angry or not in it; that’s where he wants to be.

Simply be still, and with your whole heart, say “Jesus, look at my heart.”