The Cause of Losing the Delight in Obedience and How to Preserve It

Question:
Days pass by in which I find delight in obedience and feel close to Allah, but after a while it disappears, and I grieve over it. My question is: how should one act to preserve this? And what is the cause of its loss? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
There is no doubt that hearts are in a state of fluctuation; at some times they have softness, a desire for obedience, fear of Allah, and hope for His reward, while at other times some heedlessness comes to them. Hearts do not remain in one state permanently. However, a person tries; the believer constantly tries to engage his heart in dialogue with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he increases in the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), in the recitation of the Book of Allah, and in voluntary prayers, until his heart becomes soft and his self submits to obedience, persists in it, and finds delight in it. For a thing becomes habitual through practice and taming of the self; this is the cure. A person tames his self to the obedience of Allah and the remembrance of Allah, and he increases in this until his self becomes accustomed to it and finds pleasure in it. He must also avoid the distractions that occupy him from the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), staying away from them or reducing them as much as he is able. This is the cure, by the permission of Allah. Thus, the delight in the obedience of Allah and drawing near to Him is acquired through two paths, or through one of two paths. The first path is increasing in the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and increasing in worship. The second path is reducing the distractions and...
...those that occupy him from the remembrance of Allah, and avoiding sins, which is an important matter. And the third is avoiding sins, especially eating what is forbidden; for that hardens the heart and distances it from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah reward you.