Hey friend—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here. This episode is one of those heart-to-heart conversations where I share from my own journey of formation and wrestle a bit with something I think many of us struggle with: the temptation to treat spiritual practices like a checklist.   You know what I mean—reading your Bible? ✔️ Prayer? ✔️ Fasting? ✔️ Serving? ✔️ All the “right” things, but sometimes we find ourselves still feeling distant from God. In this episode, I unpack why intimacy with God will always be more important than the checklist.   I share personally about how God has been inviting me into deeper trust and connection—moving from performance into presence. We explore how spiritual disciplines are not the goal in themselves but rather sacred pathways that lead us to God. They’re not about earning favor, they’re about cultivating relationship.   I also talk about the classic book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, which has been such a gift in helping me frame these rhythms not as tasks but as invitations. When we approach practices like prayer, study, or fasting as ways to be with God, they transform us from the inside out.   So if you’ve been feeling weighed down or guilty about not “doing enough,” this episode is your gentle reminder: Jesus wants your heart, not your performance.   ✨ Your Invitation This WeekSpend time in reflection today. Are you checking off boxes? Or are your spiritual practices pointing you to connection with God? 📘 Resource Mentioned: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster📸 Follow along: @vwear | @theformedlife