Faking It

When I look back on so much of my life within the idea of God - I was faking it.

I was going to a building called church a few times a month (or a year) and I would act a certain way. Then I would leave the building and go back to who I "really" was.

I would have emotional responses as I listened to the music; never really understanding what Praise actually is- never understanding the why behind Worship.

I would listen to the Word and be moved to be better: don't gossip, don't lie or steal, don't have sex outside of marriage. Oh yes I became very familiar with all of the things I wasn't supposed to do. So much "what" but no real "how". Just a lot of behavior modification. And everything was so based on what other people could see. I didn't hear anything about how to deal with the painful thoughts or memories I was constantly fighting to keep under the surface of my personality.

And then here comes Jesus...

I started to read the Bible for myself, because I knew there was more than what I was experiencing. Reading His words in red I felt love, empowered, and the encouragement I needed to follow Him. It was the beginning of my relationship with God outweighing religion and denominationalism.

Because I wasn't living in joy or peace or abundance or any of the promises Jesus came to bring...and I was becoming both curious and angry about what I didn't know.

Divine Activation

The tradition of faith I grew up in didn't teach much about Holy Spirit, but it's clear in the Bible that Jesus sent Him back to us (John 14:26). And yet, the gift of Holy Spirit didn't get activated in me until I was an adult, years after I was initially Saved...God is so real about our Free Will.

Until then I was in this posture of constantly waiting for Him to do something for me. After I could hear Holy Spirit for myself and the Divine Conversation started, I began to walk in the deeds of Faith necessary to access what Jesus won back for me, based on the Love He has for me and I have for Him.

I'm not saying I've ever been perfect, but this was the beginning of my Faith becoming real; of me being transformed at the level of Spirit, not at the superficial level of behavior only. Acting. Faking it for other people.

The Blessing of First Love

I didn't realize it at the time, but my disdain for the superficial pushed me into the search for the authentic, and Holy Spirit has been so clear about the importance of emotional priorities.

Jesus Himself said:

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matt. 10: 37-39)

Of course the first time I read that I was terrified. But again, I hadn't been taught about my Soul, my Inmost Being and the importance of my priorities emotionally. So that scripture made me wonder..."So is God some egomaniac that just wants all of everyone's attention?"

No, He isn't.

But God, out of His love and wisdom, knows the power of our priorities (where we place our time and attention), on our own lives, our finances, our careers, our health - everything. If we spend our time and attention out of alignment with God and His Goodness, our lives will be out of alignment too. Out of alignment with God's best, His promises, His way of doing things.

For example, if you place a premium on work, your relationships, health and fitness can suffer. If you place your priorities on socializing and constantly spending money, it will most likely have a negative impact on your finances and your ability to care for yourself as a whole.

Putting God in first place over time releases a Divine Alignment over your life. Because He is only good, is faithful and can't lie - putting Him in that number spot keeps you from falling for so many tricks and lies from the enemy. That one priority is beyond priceless.

This is where I started to find my real, Divine Life: when I let go of the old identity, from the old patterns from the world. (Romans 12:2)

Soul Connection

But I had to connect with my Soul. I had to start paying attention to my thoughts, my emotions, what I wanted to do and didn't want to do. And why.

Holy Spirit helped me make that connection to my expectations because those unknown expectations planted in my Soul were running the show: the expectation to get sick, to decay as I got older...the expectation that making money is hard, that becoming wealthy was out of my reach; that I would always be unhappy.

All non-Biblical expectations planted by the enemy through disappointments, negative experiences, and seeing what has happened in other people's lives.

This one simple part of what I call The Divine Recipe continues to make all the difference in my ability to access and release what King Jesus won back for us.

There is a very real, enduring blessing on your life when you make God first. Eventually He can become most too because living in Him (Acts 17:28) is the most amazing way to live!

But as you begin to live from this eternal, divine relationship, simply start with first.

For more foundational content check out the book: https://a.co/d/9JelM0S