Being Still....Day 4

(what the "Real" Disney Sleeping Beauty looks like)

Have you ever been to one of those ketchy tourist shops? You know, the huge ones that have everything from lighters to stuffed animals, all with some kind of character or name on them.  Most of the stuff in those shops is pretty expensive and when you really start looking at it, you can tell it's not the real deal.

We were visiting Orlando and happened upon one of those places.  We went in and started looking around.  My girls were so impressed with the scale of the place, but as they began to look at the toys, they started to notice something: none of them were "Real Disney" toys.  We even found a Sleeping Beauty doll who had a weird purple dress and make up painted on her face that looked like the Joker from Batman.

When my 5 year old saw these things, she said, "Wow! That has a Disney tag, but that's not the REAL Sleeping Beauty".....

Today I got up with all intentions of great success.  I did my prayer time early, then got everything else done for the day.  Sounds like I'm totally rocking it right?! Well, not exactly, you see, when I say I did my prayer time early, I mean I read through the 46th Psalm, asked God to give me a good day (in a flippant sort of way), and was done in literally about 3 minutes.  I patted myself on the back and was off to other things.

There's not anything wrong with only taking 3 minutes, if that's all I really had, but this afternoon, I am sitting around on my computer doing lots of nothing...Checking Facebook, answering emails (none of which are that important), and trying to feel good about the fact that I "got God out of the way this morning, so now this is ME time".

Yea, I know it sounds just as bad when I type it as it does in my head.  So, I am sitting here on the computer, feeling SUPER convicted as I scroll through my newsfeed and see this verse:

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

 I became instantly reminded that it's not about me just praying the Psalms and being done. It's not about how much time I do or don't spend saying that Psalm.  It is about EARNESTLY seeking God.  I need to be sincere about my prayer to God and my intentions to truly Be Still in his presence.  Some days that may mean only 3 quick minutes, and God knows that.  What He wants from me is not a whole hour of time, but a whole heart of sincerity.

So, in day 4, my heart is that fake purple Sleeping Beauty doll with the bad make up-I have God's stamp on me, but I'm not giving Him the "Real thing".

And now to practice what I preach, stop writing the blog, and go spend some time Being Still in God's presence with a whole heart of sincerity, being Real with Him.

Here's the 46th Psalm, be REAL with Him today.  If it's 3 minutes or 30 minutes, give Him your sincerity, the God of the Universe deserves that and so much more!

Psalm 46

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.