Do you have trouble keeping your faith strong? Are you fearful that your spiritual life is withering away? You need to know the signs of spiritual laziness! Discover whether you are truly spiritually lazy or not and what to do about it!
You might think that you have it all figured out when it comes to your faith, but remember, when we are boastful, that is when we are most at risk for failure. Temptations will come if you get complacent in your faith! Do not let the enemy succeed this way! Fight back!
While we all struggle with spiritual laziness from time to time, you can always count on God! He is the steady Rock that you can lean on during the good times and the rough moments! Do not allow spiritual laziness to shake up your spiritual life! Be solid in your faith! You won’t regret it!
Top 10 Signs of Spiritual Laziness and What to Do
Learn the signs of spiritual laziness and how to combat any ways they might be hindering your faith! Discover how to prevent a spiritually lazy life with the tips listed included in this article!
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#1. You recite prayers but do not “feel” the words.
Rote prayers are repetitive ones, where you recite the same thing over and over again. You might pray the Lord’s Prayer when you are attending church or before a meal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this.
These prayers can be beautiful, but you need to examine your intentions before praying!
There will always be times when rote prayers are necessary and applicable, and these types of prayers can be so wonderful to say.
However, if you are not talking to God from the heart, you might have spiritual laziness. If you just do not care about the words you are using, you are truly missing out on an enlightening experience.
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Related to Prayer
If you are having trouble with repetition when you pray, think about WHY you are praying. Be intentional with your prayers. Speak to God in a way that shows you are interested in what you are saying – that you “mean” the words that you say.
If you do not know how to pray, consider just having a conversation with God. Be sincere and speak from the heart. Remember that the more you pray, the easier it will become to “be yourself” in prayer. In other words, practice makes perfect.
Also, don’t forget to take action after praying. If the Lord has revealed the fact that there is a specific sin in your life, confess it! Take the necessary steps to work on yourself and become more solid in your faith.
Always be sincere in prayer so that God CAN reveal sins for you to confess.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9 (NIV)
#2. You go to church to “get” rather than to praise the Lord.
People often go to church for the wrong reasons. The idea of “church” was formed as Christ’s body, not as a place to gossip or “get” something. It is a place to praise and worship God. There are many reasons we should go to church, but gaining things or showing off are not those.
Many Christians see “church” as a social event rather than a place of worship. Christian fellowship is essential, but when Jesus created the Christian church, He used it as a place to spend time with His Father.
He did NOT go to church to add more friends to His Facebook page or to show off His worldly possessions!
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Regarding Your Church Attendance Intentions
It is doubtful that you go to church for the wrong reasons, but if you find that you are going in order to “get something” out of sermons rather than to worship our Father, change your intentions! Go to church in order to praise and worship God, and you’ll be wholly blessed.
Keep in mind that building friendships with other believers is necessary, and you’ll have a tough time doing this if you do not go to church! But the main intention of going to church should be to glorify our Savior and Creator. Reexamine your intentions on your next visit to church!
Upon this rock, I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. – Matthew 16:18 (NLT)
#3. Your faith fits into a checklist or schedule.
This is an area that I struggle with! I love making lists and schedules; this is something I truly do enjoy. Maybe it is the organized accountant in me, but I love order and organization. When it comes to my faith, I DO make checklists and schedules. There is nothing wrong with this!
On the other hand, if God is only present in your life during your 15 minutes of alone time, your priorities might need to be adjusted. Again, there’s nothing wrong with having time alone with God or spending time in your prayer room. But the Lord needs to be present in your life always!
When you truly believe in God and embrace your faith with every fiber of your being, no matter how busy life gets, His presence will bless your life continually! He is the one Rock we can put our hope in. He never fails! If you build your life on this Rock, you will not regret it!
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness with Your Faith
Make sure God’s presence is evident in your life through conversations about your faith, through the activities you participate in, and through your everyday thoughts. Let no secret sin enter your life. Be honest about your sins when you speak to God throughout the day.
This means that prayer should be an important part of your day. Incorporate prayer before you do anything! We are told not to worry about anything (Philippians 4:6) but to always pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17)! Before you do an activity or consult a friend, talk to God about the issue!
A few suggestions for doing this are to add a prayer to the front of your Bible, the front of your planner, and/or the opening of your wallet. That way, you will pray before you do anything! You will remember to consult God about the problem, worry, or activity before taking part in it.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. – Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)
#4. You do not “live out” your relationship with God.
If you are not living out your faith, you might have noticed that others do not even know you are a Christian! Maybe at your job, you need to keep personal details to yourself, but if work gossip is a common problem or personal conversations exist, others should see Christ in you!
Do you tend to use foul language on the job or during your day? Do others know that you live a life for Christ? Have you examined your life mission lately to determine if you are truly living out your calling? How do you witness to others during the day? Where does God shine in your day?
By no means is this an attempt to make you feel guilty. It’s just a wake-up call if you think you might be sitting around, not living out your faith as you should. Just examine your life to see what you might need to change.
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Regarding Your Relationship with God
Take a good hard look at what you do on a daily basis. Do you witness to others about your faith and your desire to bring them the Gospel? How could you improve this? Brainstorm some new ways you could reach others for Christ. It is, after all, part of our duty as Christians.
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” – 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)
#5. You only attend church a few times a year.
Do you only attend church on special occasions? Are you only listening to sermons or attending church only for Christmas and Easter? Attending church is important! We must make it a top priority. God should come first and not be an afterthought.
There are many reasons you should attend church. Christian fellowship and glorifying the Lord are huge reasons to go to church! If you are hesitant to attend church or just do not know how to get started going to church, consider the life-changing benefits you are missing out on!
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Related to Church Attendance
Take baby steps if you are currently unable to attend church. For example, you could watch a sermon online a few times before attending the local congregation. Another idea is to just attend part of services until you are comfortable staying the entire time.
Fellowship after services is important and might be the only avenue you have for making Christian friends! Consider the reason we need to attend church, though. It is to praise and worship God, our merciful Creator! Show Him the glory He deserves by checking out a church!
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. – Psalm 36:5 (NLT)
#6. You take problems on your own and do not trust God.
Trusting God can take quite a bit of patience and wisdom. You must believe that He is looking out for your good (Romans 8:28) and will never leave your side (Romans 8:38-39). This can be challenging! You might find it easy to believe that He is always there but still have trust issues.
This is a pretty normal problem for a Christian. We all go through ups and downs. Often, we feel closest to the Lord when we go through trials (Psalm 34:18), but what about those days when everything is pretty average or better than average?
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Regarding Trusting God
The most important thing to remember is that He never leaves us! You can fight with all your might, but He will still love you and want only the best for your life. Think about it. Why would you NOT want God in your life and NOT want to feel His love for you?
Having the unconditional love of God inside you is both joyful and peaceful. Remember, no matter what happens in this life, no one can take away the faith you have in God! We can never escape the presence of our Lord and Savior. If you don’t believe me, read Psalm 139!
Are you still having trouble trusting God? If you are like me, you like to be in control and love to plan ahead to foresee any possible disasters. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you must consider where you are trusting God. Do you pray before making decisions or taking action?
Meditate on verses about trusting God and see what you can apply to your life. Read some articles on the subject, or check out a great book! If you can begin to see things in a new light, you will likely have no problem trusting God with any part of your life.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
#7. You read the Bible but do not seek to understand it.
When you began reading the Bible, did you ever get lost? This is a normal thing to experience with the Word of God! It is a Living Book, meaning It is alive! This is not to say it is ever-changing, but you might find the Bible difficult to understand after one reading!
If you are still trying to study the Bible and understand it, you certainly do not fit the bill for spiritual laziness at this point. However, if you have noticed that you’ve begun to skim the Bible, assuming you know everything there is to know, you might be spiritually lazy.
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Regarding Reading the Bible
Open the Bible and begin to read with a willing and eager heart! Embrace the Word and enjoy it! You will certainly learn something new every time you read it, and you will likely appreciate the learning experiences you have when trying to understand it.
If you open the Word of God with an eager and curious heart, you will be more likely to understand and retain the words. It’s crucial that you take the words to heart and really listen to God as He speaks to you through His Word. You also need to apply what you learn!
Consider using the SOAP Bible study method to better focus your thoughts on the verses you are reading. It can aid you as you write out the verse, observe it, apply it to your life, and pray about it. All of these things are valuable ways to retain the Word of God!
Oh, how I love Your instructions! I think about them all day long. – Psalm 119:97 (NLT)
#8. You believe you already know everything about the Bible and God.
Do you have a bad habit of thinking you know everything? Are you a know-it-all? You might not even realize you are like this. Think about the amount of knowledge, education, and experience you have. Are you prideful? Do you feel like you are better than others?
If you struggle with a phrase like “I already know everything that there is to know,” you might be spiritually lazy. Maybe you DO have the knowledge, education, and experience to back up that claim, but do you really know everything there is to know about the Bible and God?
Now, that is a tall order! I do not think that there is anyone out there who truly believes they are an expert on the Bible and God. There is so much value and content there! Plus, the Holy Spirit will continue to reveal NEW things to you as time passes, and wisdom will grow in you.
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Regarding Pride
Take some in-depth classes on the Bible. One great place to start is by doing verse mapping or doing an inductive study of a book of the Bible. Really dig in and absorb the material. Don’t just “know everything” about the Bible; really apply the Scriptures to your daily life!
Remember that God does not approve of a prideful believer. He wants us to be humble and have a heart for Him. If you struggle with this, do a topical study on a subject in the Bible. A study of pride or humility would work for that!
Don’t forget to develop other areas of your faith, like your prayer life.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)
#9. You avoid other Christians because you worry about guilt.
Maybe you are concerned with accountability when it comes to your Christian friends. Are you steering clear of anything or anyone that makes you feel guilty? Do you worry that someone might ask you about your faith – an area you have neglected? Are you in denial?
Perhaps other Christians make you uncomfortable because you feel you are not up to par. The truth is we are all “in-progress” individuals. No one is exempt on this Earth. Jesus was the only person who was perfect, so we cannot expect that of ourselves. We were built with free will!
Free will means that we will make mistakes from time to time. Give yourself grace and realize that you are working through your issues as best you can in the ways you know how. However, also realize that you MUST challenge yourself to grow in your relationship with God!
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness Regarding Social Interactions
Do not allow yourself to become complacent in your faith. Instead, lean on the Holy Spirit when you are feeling low. Know that He is with you at all times – to help you and strengthen you.
Build your relationship with the Lord so that you can be confident in your salvation and standing with God. You do not want to neglect these things since we are told that the end times are near. The last consequence you want is to find out you are not getting to have eternal life with God!
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 (ESV)
#10. You care more about worldly things than you do God.
Money is the main source of stress for most people, and unfortunately, with the way the world is today, that is not getting any better. Hope in Christ is a great option, though. Do you have worries related to financial stress? It can be so trying and difficult to manage!
If you are struggling to pay your bills or are working through another worldly trial, you are likely experiencing much anxiety in regard to your present woes and the future. You might not have the hope you need in Jesus Christ if you are consumed with worry!
Actions to Take to Avoid Spiritual Laziness About the World
Spiritual laziness is likely plaguing your life if you have more worldly cares than heavenly ones. Try to find new ways to incorporate your faith into your life. If you study the Bible more or pray when worry hits, you will find the “fixes” with the Lord rather than with the world.
This is not to say that worries will magically go away, but with time and perseverance, you will find a new outlet for your stress – with God! He never leaves our sides; He’s always ready to hear our prayers. It’s important that you trust Him!
Evaluate your priorities to see where God is fitting into your life and schedule!
We also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance. – Romans 5:3b (NIV)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is spiritual laziness contagious?
It’s not a physical illness that can be passed from one person to another. However, spiritual laziness is as contagious as the next hurt, habit, or hang-up. It’s very easy to take on a negative trait of a close friend or family member when it seems like the norm!
What are the signs of spiritual laziness?
Most of the signs of spiritual laziness are listed in this article! If you have grown apathetic regarding your faith in the Lord, you are likely suffering from a dry spell. Ignite your spiritual life by purchasing a new Bible, going on a mission trip, or volunteering at a homeless shelter!
What does the Bible say about being lazy?
Proverbs 10:4 tells us that we are to be diligent workers, not lazy. The Bible also instructs us to work with eager hands (Proverbs 31:13) and work as if we are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). Therefore, the Bible says to not be lazy, but work for the ultimate Master above!
How do you fight spiritual laziness?
If you want to fight spiritual laziness, use the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)! Find new ways to ignite your faith and set your soul on fire for Jesus! This could mean reading an inspirational book or finding a mentor – someone who inspires you to be a better Christian!
Is spiritual laziness a personality problem?
Laziness reflects a flaw in your character. Spiritual laziness is related to your spirit – your soul. If you find it difficult to do things to enhance your spiritual life, you likely need to amp up your whole system. In other words, find a new way to connect to God – something inspiring!
Conclusion
Did you find that you have many signs of spiritual laziness? Are you struggling with your faith? Find new ways to spark an interest and get that flame lit back up! If you do this, you will find comfort and peace in the Lord, and who doesn’t want comfort and peace?
God will always provide you with a way out! What are you struggling with? Do you need help with your faith? Explore Sharing Life and Love to find new ways to develop your spiritual life – things you can do starting today!!
