It’s true. Early in my faith walk I used my own flawed logic to decide what was REAL and what was FAKE. I manufactured my own life path and then perpetuated it with selective interpretation of new information.
I had unwittingly created a FAKE narrative for my life that became “permanent” as it morphed and multiplied and mowed down my connection with God. It was horrible. But in God’s infinite goodness and grace, he showed me how to separate what is FAKE from what is REAL.
Before I get to how that happened, it is important to define FAKE and REAL in this context:
- FAKE is anything that takes God out of first place in our life.
- REAL is surrendering our life in obedience to his purpose and plan.
OK, so here are the three steps God used to show me how to separate FAKE from REAL.
STEP ONE: Give it to God
Uncovering the FAKE and finding the REAL starts when we ask God to help us identify the false chatter invading our mind and heart. We cannot trust our ability to do that, but of course he can get it done. Our goal is to identify REALITY by getting his direction, discernment, and perspective.
“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20
STEP TWO: Spiritual Consistency
The next step in dismissing what the FAKE to live in REALITY is being spiritually consistent. Even though we are wired and predisposed to be inconsistent, it is our responsibility to be consistent because inconsistency leads to complacency…which leads to apathy…which leads to less passion for living in REALITY.
“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4
If we miss spending time with God for an extended period, we begin to drift away FALSE CHATTER from him. It allows the FAKE to invade our life and breed lies that block out REALITY.
STEP THREE: Slip? Don’t Panic!
What if we catch ourselves going back to living in a FAKE movie set with our previous habit of manufacturing our own version of REALITY?
Wait. Not if . . . it’s when that happens.
For me, my first response is to toss aside any thoughts of guilt or legalism. And most of all, I don’t allow that slip to get me off the path toward REALITY. I right the ship as soon as possible because being consistently disciplined in our faith walk leads to Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity.
And that’s the goal, right?
“Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.” 1 Timothy 4:7
