Daily Devo
Turning off Autopilot
By: Wendy Sanders
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)
According to Google, “Being on autopilot" means performing routine tasks automatically, without thought or awareness, essentially letting our habits take over. Honestly, I think most of us have been on autopilot at one time or another. But if we're not careful, our relationship with God can switch over to autopilot, and we may not even realize it.
How does it happen? Over time, we stop waking up early to do our devotional or pray. Or maybe we skip a church service, which then turns into attending church once-a-month. Instead of focusing on what God wants for our lives, we slowly start taking control of our decisions. Those are just a few of the ways our spiritual walk shifts over to autopilot.
As you read this, some of you are thinking: "That’s not me. I read my bible, I pray, and I go to church every week. I'm serving God, and I'm even in a small group." But let me ask you this. Have any of those things become something you are doing out of habit? Has your weekly spiritual routine become your autopilot?
When we're running on autopilot, we aren't spiritually effective, and we aren't expanding God's kingdom. The disciples were personally trained by Jesus, but they weren’t effective until Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to empower them. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, their lives completely changed. Their intimidation turned into boldness, their fear turned into standing up to their enemies, and their doubts turned into speaking God's truth with confidence. All of this happened after they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
The same Spirit that came upon the disciples lives within us. So, how do we take our lives off autopilot and start walking in the power of the Holy Spirit?
- Ask Jesus to fill (or re-fill) us with the Holy Spirit.
- Ask God to change us and ask Him to change our desires.
- Ask God if anything has become our habit and if it's blocking us from hearing His Spirit.
- Walk in faith. Trust God to give you spiritual boldness and to go wherever His Spirit leads.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
I pray that today we'll all turn off our autopilot and start living a life that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Christ follower, let's get out of our routines and get excited about where the Holy Spirit might lead us!