You’ve probably heard that phrase. You may have even followed that advice in some of the situations in your life. There have been multiple clinical studies on those who adopt this philosophy. Conclusions suggest that by imitating confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset, a person can realize those qualities in their life and achieve the results they seek.

There are numerous books and movies about people who have done this in life. One of the most famous is “Catch Me If You Can,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Based on a true story, the lead character poses as an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer and cons people out of millions of dollars.

The phrase “fake it until you make it” has a rather negative connotation. You really can’t do a certain thing, but you act like you can. However, there can be a positive side to the action of faking it until you make it. Most of us would rather follow someone who was sure of themselves…even if they didn’t have all the answers. That confidence they show might be considered “faking it.” The truth is leaders don’t always have the answers to everything that is before them. Sometimes they need to show a confidence they aren’t feeling inside.

There is another aspect to this idea of faking it. It has to do with our spiritual activity. For years I have set out to read through the Bible each year. At first, it was difficult to stay with it. There were many distractions, and sometimes I just didn’t feel like doing it. That happens occasionally now, though I find that my early morning routine helps me stay on track.

So, what about those times I don’t feel like reading God’s Word? Should I not do it because I don’t feel like it? You may have heard the phrase:

It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than to think yourself into a new way of acting.

That thought is attributed to a lot of folks, but many will point to E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary, theologian, and author as a source. There is a lot of truth to those words. My experience in Bible reading is that I just continue to read each morning, following one of the many plans for reading all the Bible in a year. Some mornings it feels flat, like I am just faking it. But then I remember two things.

First, God’s Word is a living, breathing message to me from the Lord. And God has given me the Holy Spirit to help me as I follow through with the exercise of daily reading. Guess what? It is sometimes in the action of reading that God’s Spirit opens my heart to a fresh insight or a pointed message to my heart.

Satan will use lots of things to keep us from doing God’s will, from serving the Lord daily, from being the Christian leader God has called us to be. But we can overcome those temptations by looking to the Lord Jesus to give us the strength we need. And God can use even what seems ordinary or just repetitive activities. Listen to the Lord’s promise:

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
1 John 4:4 NLT

Fake it? How about just doing what you know God wants you to do until His Spirit energizes you and fills you with His heart’s desire? You have the Lord’s promise you will make it!

God’s best,