Deepening one's faith

[CutlerB]

Dear community,

Maybe some of you know this: You really want to have faith and live in accordance with it, but something keeps you from doing so. I’ve been in that situation for quite some time.

Since I have started learning about the Catholic Church, my desire for a relationship with Christ and a holy life has grown immeasureably. I feel I am called to have an intensive prayer life and to have deeper faith. However, I struggle with both for a reason I don’t know. I can’t force myself to have a certain attitude and “feeling” toward things, I hope you know why I mean. It’s not that I wasn’t willing to.

Have any of you gone through similar periods and come out “successfully”? Do you have any advice on how I might find into praying with the heart? (That’s what I feel is missing, it feels like my mind is praying but my heart isn’t.)

I hope you understand what I mean, and kindly request your advice.

God bless you all.

 

[roundcheese]

I have gone through a similar moment in my time, and the only way I found to counter it was to push back against those feelings. I asked God to give me a Holy Hour and I found 5 weekly. I asked God what I could do to deepen my prayer life, and He helped me find the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I asked which books to read and some (almost seemingly) flew off the shelf in front of me or just caught my eye.

Pray for the fortitude and the grace to keep moving forward :] Pray pray pray. Don’t wait for a miracle.

 

[in_servitude]

Since I have started learning about the Catholic Church, my desire for a relationship with Christ and a holy life has grown immeasurably. I feel I am called to have an intensive prayer life and to have deeper faith. However, I struggle with both for a reason I don’t know. I can’t force myself to have a certain attitude and “feeling” toward things, I hope you know why I mean. It’s not that I wasn’t willing to.

I like St. John of the Cross’ “Dark Night” for this situation. It is thick - very thick. Reading it with deep comprehension should take a very long time. He describes a person’s progress from almost lacking all faith to coming into a nearly perfect union with Christ. He describes pitfalls and challenges. He describes how one can more rapidly navigate toward Christ. You will likely see yourself somewhere on that path.

For me - it is almost impossible to comprehend the “Dark Night” after I recognize where I am on journey. It seems like we must walk these difficult steps before real knowing can happen.

Pax!

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Try involving your body more in your private prayer. Stand and pray, kneel and pray. Raise your hands and arms in prayer. Pray out laud. Talk about Christ with other people who know him.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

You should know that none of us change ourselves.

Anything we have that is good, was given to us by God.

Same is true for transformation toward holiness. It is achieved only through the
transforming grace God gives us.

The key is turning to Him in prayer and surrendering all of our being to him.

On our own, we only manage to make things more difficult and fail in the process.

Jim

 

[Dorothy]

Please remember that it is our commitment that counts, not our feelings. Making acts of faith and trust in the Lord in spite of feeling nothing helps us to grow spiritually. Keep up with your prayer life in spite of no feelings. The Lord will supply the consolations (good feelings) when He wills it.

This is part of our spiritual journey and how the Lord brings us to spiritual maturity.

 

[jenwha]

I have gone through a similar moment in my time, and the only way I found to counter it was to push back against those feelings. I asked God to give me a Holy Hour and I found 5 weekly. I asked God what I could do to deepen my prayer life, and He helped me find the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I asked which books to read and some (almost seemingly) flew off the shelf in front of me or just caught my eye.

Pray for the fortitude and the grace to keep moving forward :] Pray pray pray. Don’t wait for a miracle.

 

[Gorillaman]

this is how i look at it…because im exaclty like you…

when you gotta get up to go to work so you can feed your family…does it feel good? or do you do it because its RIGHT? thats how i look at it im a catholic because it is the truth, i pray because its the right thing to do…

i always say “man up! you know what you gotta do…”

this world isnt fun or easy, only weak people think that way…it CAN be fun…it CAN be easy at times, but when its hard. well thats just another opportunity to show God youre GOOD FOR IT!

wear it with pride

paz y amor

 

[Jeanne_S]

When I began a concerted effort at a regular prayer life,my biggest mistake was fitting prayer time into my other obligations,activities. After trying this for awhile and feeling anxious about having to “fit one more thing into my day”,I made a decision to work my day around my prayer life. Nearly two years ago,I gave up my morning paper. Instead,I begin my day in prayer for 40-45 minutes. This has become so important to me that now,I can’t even imagine beginning my day any other way. I never miss a day and adjust the time I get out of bed to accomodate that prayer time. I would also suggesat becoming a commited adorer ,the grace you will receive through spending this special in the Lord’s presence is amazing