From Ritual to Relationship: Embracing Genuine Faith
How Clinging to Familiar Practices Hinders Our Growth and Connection with God
Have you ever considered the liberating feeling of breaking free from the empty traditions of the past? There seems to be a dead hand that represents our tendency to cling to traditions or familiar practices even when they no longer serve our relationship with God or perhaps even hinder it. But imagine the freedom and power of letting go of these empty traditions.
We find ourselves entangled in the comfortable web of “This is the way we’ve always done it,” prioritizing tradition over truth.
Growth calls for change.
When we prioritize tradition over truth, we risk becoming spiritual robots, going through the motions of faith with no real meaning. Our religious practices can become empty rituals devoid of the living, breathing relationship God desires to have with us. We must ask ourselves: What excuses are we using to ignore God’s voice and His desires for our lives?
Excuses
Maybe we like things the way they are. We are living in our comfort zone. Our preference for comfort outweighs our desire for a deeper relationship with God or obedience to Him. We do what we have always done and can’t seem to understand how we never grow in our walk with the Lord.
It is easier to do what we have always done than to open ourselves to being prompted by the Holy Spirit of God. Our rituals work; they are familiar and do not call for much. We can continue living how we always have, so we stay with tradition and routine.
Maybe our excuse is that we are so distracted by this world that we have little time to seek the Lord. We cannot hear God’s voice amidst all the noise in our daily lives. It costs to set aside time just to be quiet and know God.
Our material things demand our attention. Comforts dull our spiritual sensitivity. Our economic concerns overshadow our faith.
We have become calloused. We no longer feel the still, quiet voice of the Lord. We have ignored it all and taken no action, so we have hardened our hearts towards the things of God. Although we understand in our minds, our hearts remain unaware. We are superficial cultural Christians.
What are we to do?
To grow, change, and get out of our comfort zone, we need to humble ourselves and acknowledge that our focus has been on the wrong things. It is time to get into God’s ways.
Imagine the transformative power of moving beyond our religious acts and rituals to experience genuine faith and an authentic walk with God. This is not just a change; it’s a profound transformation that can inspire and motivate us.
There is joy in developing a heart that is tender and responsive to God’s Word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It’s not just about obedience; it’s about finding joy and encouragement in our relationship with God.
Our Goal
We want to leave behind the cold assent to tradition and develop a burning love for God. As we progress, we shift from going through the motions to having a broken, contrite heart. We seek our Father and learn about Him.
We love God and know Him by knowing Jesus. Then, our love for God becomes more significant than our tradition. We become willing to change when and as God directs us. We develop a living faith that is on fire and affects every part of our lives.
Don’t let the dead hand of the past determine your spiritual future. If you examine your life, you will break free from empty traditions and develop a deeply rooted, responsive, and sensitive faith to the Holy Spirit and His work.
Get into the Bible, know the Word of God, and be open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He works in your life.