When You Feel Spiritually Unmotivated - Your Nightly Prayer - October 19th

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When You Feel Spiritually Unmotivated
Your Nightly Prayer
By Tracie Miles

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit.” - Psalm 51:12

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Several years ago, I was flipping through old photos with my kids — snapshots of birthdays, family vacations, and joyful holidays. The images captured smiles, laughter, and seemingly happy memories. But then my daughter, Morgan, who was in her early twenties at the time, said something that stopped me in my tracks.

“Mom, you know what I noticed about you in all those photos?”

“What?” I said, curious as to what she was thinking. “You were smiling in every single one. But when I really look at them closely now, your eyes - they just look so sad.” 

I paused, caught off guard for a moment by her insight. With tears in my eyes, I replied, “Well, sweetie, I was sad. I was beyond heartbroken, even more than I could explain to anyone. All the hard things we were going through as a family wrecked by divorce, the losses we had experienced, the fears, emotions, and overwhelming challenges I was facing ... it was a very, very sad time.”  

She already knew this all too well, as did my other two children, since we had all been walking that hard road together. But I found it so interesting she noticed that even though I was doing my best to wear a smile, feel happy, look happy, and continue my ministry work, the sadness in my blue eyes apparently told the real story. My spirit was crushed, and even the smile on my face couldn’t disguise it. Even though I smiled for the camera, my soul was weary, and my daughter had noticed. I wasn’t just emotionally drained — I was spiritually dry. The kind of dry that makes opening your Bible feel like a chore, worship songs feel distant, and prayer feel more like a whisper into the void than a conversation with God.

That moment reminded me that true joy can’t be faked — not in our eyes, our spirit, or our soul. Joy isn't about looking happy; it’s about being restored from within. And spiritual motivation doesn’t return by trying harder — it’s revived by going deeper. Psalm 51:12 was written by David during one of the lowest points of his life — after personal failure, regret, and deep sorrow. But instead of giving up, he prayed honestly and boldly:“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit.” Not restore my circumstances or fix everything around me — but restore my joy.

If you're in a dry season where faith feels flat and your heart feels heavy, you’re not alone. Maybe you've been showing up, smiling, going through the motions — but inside, you're unmotivated, tired, or numb. Friend, it’s okay to admit that. God isn’t asking for your perfection. He’s inviting your permission to come into the cracks of your brokenness and reignite your joy from the inside out. That’s what He did for me.

I prayed Psalm 51:12 more times than I can count — asking God to help me feel again, worship again, hope again. It wasn’t instant, but little by little, something began to change. Not everything around me, but everything within me. Over time, my joy returned. And so did my genuine, unforced smile and the light in my eyes that could only come from joy in Him. You don’t have to fix yourself to feel joy. You only have to ask. God is faithful to restore what feels lost — even your spiritual spark.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
Tonight, I admit what you already know — I feel spiritually dry and unmotivated. I’ve lost some of my joy and wonder in You, and I want it back. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Renew my spirit. Make me willing to trust again, praise again, and smile again — not because life is perfect, but because You are present. I long for joy that only You can give. Please help me begin again tonight. I want to love the life You have given me and enjoy life to the fullest, despite what it might look like, because of You alone. I commit today to do exactly that.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. When was the last time I felt joyful with my life, even if it feels hard or unfair right now? What steps can I take to begin reclaiming my joy, in addition to meditating on Psalm 51:12?

2. What can I do today to bring a smile to my face? How might I feel if I intentionally smile more throughout the day, no matter what is going on around me or what circumstances I am facing?

3. Remember this verse and Psalm 51:12, and let it become something you ponder on every day: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:13 (NIV)

Tracie Miles is a popular Author Coach for aspiring writers and a Christian literary agent at Tracie Miles Literary. She is also the author of eight best-selling books. She lives in Charlotte, NC, near her three grown children and two baby granddaughters. For more encouragement on restoring your joy and getting your spark back, check out her book Unsinkable Faith: God-filled Strategies for Transforming the Way You Think, Feel, and Live. You can also connect with Tracie on Instagram and Facebook. 

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Fizkes

Tracie Miles is the Author of eight best-selling books, including God’s Got You, Living Unbroken, Living Unbroken: A Divorce Recovery Workbook, Love Life Again, Unsinkable Faith, and Stress Less Living. She is the founder of Tracie Miles Author Coaching Services, where she coaches and mentors aspiring writers, and the founder of Tracie Miles Literary Agency. She also serves as the Director of COMPEL Pro Writers Training at Proverbs 31 Ministries, as well as being a contributing writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today daily devotions. Tracie has three grown children, plus a daughter and son-in-law, and two grandbabies on the way, all of whom live in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can connect with Tracie on her website at www.traciemiles.com as well as on her Facebook Author page and Instagram.

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