This discussion is an exercise in Heshbon HaNefesh (soul-accounting), focusing on the need to approach our service of God with the same seriousness and focus we dedicate to our most important worldly tasks. The central lesson is that all our actions must be performed with our full heart and attention. The Three Categories of Divine Service The Chovot HaLevavot (Duties of the Heart) divides our service of God into three categories: Solely of the Heart: This includes internal spiritual duties like love and fear of God, faith, and trust. Both Body and Heart: This category includes mitzvot that involve both physical action and spiritual intention, such as prayer and Torah study. Solely of the Body: These are physical acts that require initial intent but not constant focus throughout the action, such as shaking the Lulav or performing the mitzvah of Sukkah . The Heart of the Matter: The Importance of Intention in Prayer The core of our service, especially prayer, is the heart. The prophet Isaiah delivered a powerful rebuke to the people, saying, "This people honors Me with its lips and with its mouth, but its heart is far from Me." Prayer without intention and focus is likened to a body without a soul—it is essentially dead. The Chovot HaLevavot offers a powerful parable: a servant invites a king to his home, but then disappears to gamble while the king waits alone. Similarly, we invite God into a meeting through prayer, but if our heart is not present, we are not truly there. This is why, as we say at the end of our prayers, "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable before You." This is a bold request, as we are asking God to accept the thoughts that are often far from holy. To ensure our heart is present, the Chovot HaLevavot advises three mental preparations before we begin to pray: Know to Whom You Speak: Recognize that you are about to address the King of all kings. Understand Your Needs: Be clear on what you want from Him—your life, health, and sustenance. Choose Your Words Carefully: Consider the words you will use to make your requests. The Five Elements of True Prayer The words of our prayer are like the peel of an orange or the body of a person; the essence is the fruit and the soul. While the words are a vital tool, the true purpose is to ignite five fundamental feelings within the heart: Yearning: The soul's desire to connect with God. Humility: Humbly recognizing one's smallness before Him. Awe: Recognizing the greatness of the Creator. Praise: Thanking Him for all His kindness. Reliance: Casting all your burdens upon Him. Our sages created the siddur (prayer book) because they knew our hearts are fickle. The words help us organize and express these concepts. Although technically one can fulfill their obligation with thought alone, our words guide and anchor our thoughts. God has entrusted us with prayer, knowing that only we can truly know the sincerity of our own hearts. To live up to this trust, we must follow the counsel of the great sages, who would spend time before they prayed to clear their minds and prepare their hearts, recognizing that we are about to stand before a King who can read our innermost thoughts.