When faith starts to feel like a chore chart, something vital has gone missing—and it’s not your work ethic. We open up about seasons where prayer is mechanical, church feels obligatory, and spiritual habits lose their spark, then offer a framing that revives desire: treat commandments and covenants as God’s bids for emotional intimacy. Instead of chasing outcomes or checking boxes, we ask how to respond to a Person who is actively inviting us to deeper connection.

We unpack the difference between a transactional religion and a transforming relationship, and we get honest about the goals we secretly pursue—status, comfort, admiration—that don’t line up with the life of Jesus. Drawing from relationship science, we explore how clear bids—“Here’s how I feel loved”—apply to discipleship. The Sabbath becomes a chosen signal of presence, not a burden. Repentance shifts from shame to repair. Obedience becomes affectionate: not perfect, but sincere, warm, and steady. Along the way, we revisit Peter’s seaside moment—“Lovest thou me?”—and trace how love for Christ turns into care for people, time for service, and attention to what actually lasts.

If you’ve felt yourself drifting into routine, this conversation offers simple ways to re-align: pray and listen, honor one clear bid from God this week, serve someone who can’t repay you, and let repentance rebuild trust quickly. The result isn’t instant prosperity; it’s something richer—a living bond with God that reshapes your priorities and restores joy to worship. Listen now, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so others can find the show. What bid from God are you choosing to answer today?