“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused…” (Matthew 13:14-15).

Jesus often speaks against hypocrisy. It is giving lip service to faith. It is pretending, or simply going through the religious motions.

So how do we guard against hypocrisy in our own lives?

In the past few devotionals we’ve talked about prayer, humility and faith. Here’s another: 

Be mentally present during spiritual activities.

It’s easy to do “spiritual” things but not think about what or why we’re doing them. 

-How many times do we say the Lord’s Prayer with our lips but our minds are elsewhere?
-How many times have we read our Bibles, closed them, and then forgotten what we read five minutes later?
-How many times have we attended a worship service out of duty instead of delight, not expecting to hear a word from the Lord or be an active part of the body of Christ?

We check a religious box and then continue on our merry little way.

I have a confession to make. I just listed three examples of going through the motions. I’ve done them all! So I’m speaking from personal experience. When this happens we need to take a breath, remember what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and make a point to be mentally present. 

Focus can be a challenge for all of us. But God gives us specific practices to nurture, strengthen and grow us. He uses them to cultivate sincere discipleship.

Have you ever talked to someone but could tell that their mind was elsewhere? That’s the opposite of what we want God to see in us.

Take a breath, remember what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and make a point to be mentally present.