Praying Enough? Here’s How To Know

“How much do you pray?” I asked. 
“Not enough,” he said. 
In 22 years of ministry, I’ve never heard anyone say they pray enough. Do you pray enough? 
And while we’re at it, do you read your Bible enough? When you read it, do you pay close enough attention? 
What about good works and spiritual fruit? Surely you are doing enough good works and bearing enough spiritual fruit?
“Why, certainly. A little too much good works and spiritual fruit, actually,” said no one, ever. 
Me: “How would you know if you are doing enough spiritual disciplines and good works?“ 
Him: “You can’t.” 
Me: “You can’t know?”
Him: ”I mean, you can’t do enough.”
Me: ”Why?”
Him: ”Because the standard is perfection.” 
Me: “What would be perfection in the case of good works and spiritual fruit?”
Him: ”Infinite.”
Me: ”That’s a pretty tall order.” 
Him: ”It’s impossible.”
Me: ”What do you do then?” 
Him: ”Trust Jesus’ righteousness to be my salvation and make me a new creation.” 
Me: “Amen. Amen. But…so…you’re praying enough then? You’re reading the Bible enough?” 
Him: ”No!”
Me: ”So, how much should I read my Bible?” 
Him: “Ummmm…”
Me: ”How much should I pray?”
Him: ”I…uh…” 
Me: “How many good works and spiritual fruit should I bear?”
Him: ”Stop asking me so many questions; you’re cutting into my already inadequate prayer time!” 
Me: “Did Jesus’ death make me righteous or not!” 
The above conversation is one I’ve had with myself. Tomorrow morning I will wrestle in front of you with the idea of an infinite standard of perfection and what it does to me (and you). 
But today, there is the issue of how much to pray, read the Bible, and engage in other spiritual disciplines. 
First, countless religious people in history were amazingly disciplined but were terrible people. They prayed all day and then burned people at the stake (I’m looking at you, John Calvin and Spanish Inquisitors—[I’m somewhat of an expert on the Inquisitors, having played one in a Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta]). 
Particularly troubling to me are the stories of slaves who got religion in the awakening that happened in the time of Frederick Douglas. According to Douglas, these evil people went from bad to downright satanic, all the while making the enslaved people pray and worship Jesus for hours. 
"I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels…" (Autobiography)
What is the point of religion, even Christian religion, if it doesn’t transform you into the likeness of Jesus? 
I see the point of Christianity as becoming new (born again), and then apprenticing yourself to Christ. 
Then what is important? Not how many hours you pray or read your Bible. What is important is how well you imitate Him throughout your day. How do you walk by His Spirit? How do you love? 
Your brother.
Your neighbor.
Your enemy.
How do you forgive? How do you tell the truth? How do you turn the other cheek? How do you care for those who need caring for? 
How do you walk like your Master? 
How much do you need to pray and study the Bible? 
 
However much it takes to be like Jesus and do the things He did in the way He did them for the love of His Father and the World. 
 
Knowing you have an infinite standard for this, come back tomorrow and watch me stumble and fumble around the issue of how good we need to be.