Religion or relationship?

I've always said I'm not religious I'm about having a relationship with Christ. You can call me a Christian if you want but I don't label myself that way because it has so many twisted connotations in our society.

I was reading in Luke 1 this morning. I was struck by verse 28.

(In the Message)
Good Morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out.
God be with you.

Right in that moment the realization of who Mary must have been for God to choose her and make this deceleration over her struck me. She wasn't like her Jewish culture making sacrifices at the temple but not really knowing God, making and following silly rules; She knew God. She had a relationship with Him. She probably prayed daily for the coming of the Messiah. She was already a part of God's work on the earth before she became the mother of the Messiah because she was praying for God's will to be done on the earth.

I want to be a part of God's plans on the earth I want the physical importance but I forget about the ground work that makes me qualified to be used by God. The prayer and the relationship. I think I often claim to not be religious because my religion looks different  then the typical definition. I do a lot of things without talking to God about it. I forget to spend time with Lord sometimes. I go to church, I do churchy things, I go on mission trips, and sometimes there's a lot of relationship but sometimes there is none. I don't want to be a Pharisee making my life all about "things I do for God" instead of just being with God. I want to be like Mary. God, take my heart and make it yours. Mold it to desire you more then it does right now. Show me how to pray, show me how to seek you more. Convict me again if I begin to fall into religion.