"But my heart's not in it"

I've been saying and hearing this phrase over and over again:

"Yea, I would and I know it's good for me, but my heart is not in it."

That, friends, is an excuse. What this phrase actually means is simply "Nah, I don't feel like it. Leave me alone. I do what I want."


There's nothing wrong with being honest and straight up. However, our "honesty" should not serve as an excuse to not do what is right, good, necessary.

Obeying and following God is not primarily dependent on how we feel at the moment or whether or not our "heart" is in it.

This attitude implies that I am the Master in my relationship with God. That God's will and work needs to wait on how I feel and whether or not I feel happy enough, satisfied enough, and "ready enough". In my selfishness, I am demanding that God wait and serve me and that I dictate when and how things will get done.

Imagine, a servant having this attitude towards his master: "Yea, master, I hear you. And I know what you're asking and requiring of me. But I don't feel like it at the moment. My heart is not really into the work right now. And I want to do your work 'wholeheartedly'. So, maybe later. Thanks for understanding. I'll be in my room to be alone now. I'll come back when I feel like I'm more into it."

...

So, if I know that by saying, "my heart is not in it" I may be just attempting to excuse myself from doing what's good, right, and needed, then how should I approach all this? Isn't it true that there will be many times where I don't feel like doing something? And as a Christ-follower I'm commanded to rejoice always, trust God wholeheartedly, and love God - aren't those "heart" issues? Won't I be one of those hypocrites offering only lip-service to God if my heart is not in it but I keep doing things anyway?

I have to go to work now, more on this later.
Stay sharp. ;)