Fake it till you make it

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I've been meeting with a group of ladies every couple of weeks and we study a book called "Celebration of Discipline". The book is about growing in faith and drawing closer to God, by using spiritual disciplines. I want to know more about God, and unless I have some kind of structure/discipline in doing that, most likely that wouldn't happen for me. So, it was interesting to hear the other ladies' perspectives.

During one of the discussions, one of the ladies said something about "fake it till you make it". I was somewhat taken aback when I heard this. I think that her intent in saying it, was that spiritual disciplines don't come naturally to people, so we have to keep doing it, till it becomes more meaningful or real or something of that sort.

At the same time, I wonder, if we believe in a God who is all-knowing, wouldn't He know when we are faking it? Wouldn't He know that I'm sitting in the middle of a church service and wondering what's for lunch or whether the beep on my cell phone meant a new email or examining all the different blades on the ceiling fan or chewing gum or being totally disconnected? 

If I was being fake, wouldn't my kids pick up on my lack of authenticity? 

In whatever little I know of God, I have found that sometimes, as adults, we carry loads and burdens that we aren't meant to carry. We think that we have to get our act right before we can be acceptable to God. 

But, doesn't God already know all the foolishness in my heart? What is the point in hiding it? Wouldn't I rather just expose myself in all my stupidity to the only ONE who can handle it? 
If my prayers are mumbling, so be it. 
If my thoughts are garbage, so be it. 
If my efforts are mediocre, so be it. 

God already knows these things about me, but still accepts and loves me. He doesn't need my performance. He wants my heart. The attitude, the obedience, the discipline - everything flows from His goodness, His grace. There was nothing more freeing for me, than this realization. 

Recently, one of my cousins posted a link on her brother's Facebook page. And, because I'm sort of nosy, I clicked on it, and it said something about "God's 10 d** moves in the Old Testament". Now, this cousin's brother wanted to be a preacher, so I would assume that this link was meant to ridicule his faith. 

Anyway, I ended up reading it, and it had some stories that were misconstrued and confusing. One of the stories that stood out was about a prophet named Elisha, who got teased by kids about being bald and God sent bears to kill these kids. I vaguely remembered this story and it sounded horrible, so I looked up the explanation and found that it wasn't anything like the link claimed. It was about a prophet being disrespected by young people and who were also threatening him. 

The next morning, I found some free time with both kids asleep, and thought of reading the Bible. I just randomly opened the book, and it landed on this same story. I had absolutely no idea where this story was in the Bible. 

And, while this might be some kind of co-incidence - To me, it was an indication of God teaching me as long as I had the time and willingness to learn. When I read it in the Bible, it just confirmed what I had found out from reading the explanation .

I'm in awe that God is so personal. He knows and meets us, right in the middle of our doubts and insecurities. It is truly amazing. 

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
             the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
             human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
             and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
             you put everything under their feet" - Psalms 8:3-6

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