Learning to get real

This morning was eye-opening and a bit humorous. I started out staring at my Bible thinking to myself, “When did these words go from being water to my soul to just words on a page?” I was frustrated by how few and far between my times of sweet communion with the Lord have been- my Bible reading time has become dull…how is that possible??? Then, I read a friend’s blog entry about how far she is from the good person she thought she would “grow up to be” and I thought, “That’s me, too!” This is what I said to her..."I can't tell you how close to my heart this post is. I wonder what happened and where it happened. I remember looking at the adults and thinking, 'How can they be so apathetic; their faith is so fake.' Sadly, I'm becoming one of those stupid adults. Sometimes, I feel like I'm gasping for air, with the air being passion and truth, while the ocean of apathy is pulling me in. I, too, pray that this is a phase and hope I can get out of it."

So, on the way to Barnes and Noble, I was praying in my car (I pray out loud…so I’m sure that everyone in Danville thinks I’m loony) and I prayed a phrase that had absolutely no meaning to me. I immediately started laughing out loud when I realized that I had no idea what the phrase I just prayed meant- I was totally parroting what I’d heard other people pray! I can imagine God smirking and shaking His great big head at me.

These three seemingly not-so-significant events had a considerable impact on me this morning. I realized that I need to have a faith that’s real. My prayer is that this year will be filled with genuine encounters with our infinitely incredible God. I don’t want to continue on my path as an expert faker… I want to be a person of truth with no false way about me.

The funny thing is that God was teaching me this same lesson about this time last year. Maybe it will take a few tries to shatter my stubbornness. Some food for thought…“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to the New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, form whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” Colossians 2:16-19

If you're still reading this...you're a trooper. Sorry it was never-ending.