Stop Letting Feelings Dictate Your Faith

“Not feeling like it.”

Few phrases have derailed more spiritual growth, worship, and time in God’s presence than those four small words. They seem harmless, even relatable yet they carry immense power to keep us from the very habits that draw us closer to Christ. While we would never excuse a farmer from skipping his fieldwork due to a lack of motivation, or praise a musician for neglecting practice, many of us allow our spiritual disciplines to hinge entirely on our feelings.

How often do we avoid time in the Word, prayer, or worship because our hearts simply aren’t “in it”? We convince ourselves that waiting until we’re more inspired is somehow more sincere. But this feelings-based spirituality creates a dangerous cycle: skipping Scripture because we don’t feel spiritual, then wondering why we feel distant from God.

The Trap of Emotion-Led Faith

Emotions are a gift, but they’re terrible guides. According to a Pew Research study, 55% of Christians say they rely on their “gut feelings” when making major decisions. That might explain why consistency in spiritual life is often so elusive. Feelings fluctuate, but God’s Word and our need for Him remain constant.

When we allow “not feeling like it” to dictate our disciplines, we miss out on the blessings of daily obedience. We exchange eternal rewards for temporary comforts. And in doing so, we silence the very voice that could have revived us in the first place.

Routine as a Channel, Not a Chain

The word routine can evoke images of lifeless rituals or joyless checklists. Yet in Scripture, routine is portrayed not as bondage but as blessing. Think of Daniel praying three times a day, regardless of the threat of lions (Daniel 6:10), or the early disciples going to the temple at the appointed hour of prayer (Acts 3:1). Even Jesus rose early to seek His Father in quiet solitude (Mark 1:35).

Psalm 119, one of the most emotionally rich and spiritually vibrant chapters in the Bible, also reveals a heart deeply steeped in discipline. The psalmist doesn’t just express spontaneous joy; he cultivates it through memorization, meditation, and frequent praise. His outbursts of spiritual affection are not random they’re the fruit of a life structured by holy routines.

Routines Like Riverbeds

Consider this: riverbeds do not produce water, but they direct it. In the same way, routines don’t create spiritual life only God does but they create a path for His life-giving Spirit to flow. They are the soil in which the fruit of the Spirit can grow.

In fact, research from the University of Southern California shows that nearly 40% of our daily actions are driven by habit, not conscious decision-making. That means building spiritual habits into our day isn’t just wise it’s essential. We are always being formed by something. The question is: are we being formed by the world, or by the Word?

Morning Devotions: Stringing the Instrument

Morning devotions are not just a “good Christian” checkbox they are foundational. The psalmists often sought God in the morning (Psalm 5:3, 90:14, 92:2), and for good reason. Mornings set a trajectory. The first voice we hear often shapes the rest of the day.

Even if our time with God in the morning doesn’t immediately move us emotionally, it tunes our hearts. Like a musician stringing an instrument before the concert, we position ourselves to play the right melody throughout the day.

Midday Retreats: Retuning the Soul

But as the hours progress, even the best-tuned hearts lose their pitch. The distractions and demands of the day weigh us down. That’s where midday pauses come in.

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 calls us to keep God’s Word not just in our hearts but on our hands, our foreheads, our doorposts visible, repeated, ever-present. In modern terms, that might mean scripture notes on your mirror, lock screens filled with verses, or setting a daily reminder to pray or reflect.

Some people find renewal by briefly stepping away to pray, read a verse, or simply breathe in God’s presence. Others incorporate it into conversation asking a friend or spouse what they read that morning. These mini-retreats aren't about checking a box; they're about realigning with heaven amid the chaos.

Let the Word Revive You

So what do we do when we really don’t feel like engaging with God?

We do it anyway not out of legalism, but out of trust.

Psalm 19:7–8 promises, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul… the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” That’s not just a poetic sentiment. It’s a lifeline. The Word of God revives. It rejoices. But that means we must come to it even when we feel dry, distracted, or defeated.

Think of it this way: skipping time with God because we don’t feel spiritual is like refusing to drink water because we’re thirsty. When we make space for Him especially in the ordinary routines we find that He often meets us there with extraordinary grace.

Habits That Lead to Holiness

If your spiritual life has felt flat, joyless, or stale, perhaps it’s time to stop chasing feelings and start nurturing habits. Feelings will come and go but habits formed in faith will carry you forward even when emotions falter.

Start small. One verse in the morning. One quiet pause at lunch. One intentional conversation with a friend. As these routines build, so will your capacity to experience joy, peace, and deeper intimacy with Christ.

And maybe next time you’re “not feeling like it,” you’ll remember: the Spirit often comes to those who show up first.

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