FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT: NOT ENTIRELY TRUE

Why does this phrase totally not make sense to me anymore? I have to admit – I used to live by this slogan myself. Just continue to do something over and over again, no matter how failed the outcomes and hopefully through the battle of attrition, success will come.  At least I hoped it would. But later on, I realized my mistake. There is no power in untruth or uncertainty, by any means. God does not give power to His people through manufactured efforts or outcomes. It’s best to be pure in everything you do. No if’s ands, buts or supposes. Why? Because God doesn’t operate that way. The ways of God (promises) are yes and amen. He can only operate in sincerity and execute in clarity. So He requires that we do the same.

What am I talking about exactly? Let’s tackle three subjects: Marriage, Finances, and Your communion with God.

1.)    Marriage: So, let’s say that you are not completely satisfied with your marriage. You feel that somehow you married the wrong person, or you’ve grown apart over the years, or maybe someone else has caught your eye. Maybe even the intimacy has died out. What most people do rather than address the issues (which are more than likely within themselves) is try to fake it. “Oh, yes, I’m so happy with my spouse,” they say. They look at movies that personify some woman meeting Mr. Right and he does everything amazing, and even tells her that she completes him. From that fabricated reality, people return home and try to imagine that they have Mr. or Mrs. Right as well. Cover it up, put a bow on the relationship and pray to God that somehow it fixes itself. Sorry to break the news to you—it ain’t gonna happen. As a matter of fact, that band aid is probably going to do nothing but fester infection beneath the surface until something ends of being amputated. What must happen are two things: 1. People get real (understand that no one is perfect and God allowed you to get married so stay right there) and 2.People need to get over themselves (selfish behavior only feeds self). No room for pity parties any longer.

2.)    Finances: Still trying to live like Kanye and Donald Trump, even though you live in your mother’s house or some beat up one bedroom apartment and the rent is always late? Keep convincing yourself that you own all that “junk” that you just had to have because you paid for it on a credit card. Sorry boss! The credit company owns that stuff, at least until you find the means of paying it off completely. Materialism is not realism. You have to be a better steward of God’s finances. Before you decide to go broke over the Christmas holidays, try to give your tithes and offerings first. Then spend on others, and then buy a little something for yourself. You work; you deserve something for your efforts. Just make sure that you are buying it for the right reasons. If you are trying to impress people or make your sense of self worth elevate by spending, you’ll soon find out that pouring water into an empty bucket only does one thing: make a mess.

3.)    Communion with God: Still doing those flash in the pan prayers as you run out of the door for work? (I have to admit, I’m guilty of this one so don’t feel too bad.) So busy and caught up in the hustle and bustle of trying to get the kids ready for school, eat breakfast and be to work on time that you somehow forget to connect with the source of how you got all of those things in the first place. God honors our time with Him. I’m not saying that you should have prayer time with Him for 1-2 hours a day and blab words that have no meaning. That’s religion. I’m talking about a good ole fashioned conversation with God. Tell Him how you feel. If you are tired, broke, hurt and afraid, let it all out. He wants more than anything to hear from His children on a daily basis. Sometimes the mess He allows us to go through is His way of getting our attention and time. Prayer and worship is our earthly incense to God. He dwells in an atmosphere of praise. If you are in need of anything, don’t be afraid to pray and worship God for all He is, not what He has done. I guarantee, He’ll answer you one way or another.

You see, faking it doesn’t make it. Only our pure, honest efforts solidify our purpose. Whether its marriage, finances or communion, we have to do better. Leave the fake stuff to the reality television personas. They do a heck of a lot better job than we do. I’m just saying…