Does God like my personality?

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I understand your stated position/issue.
I’m a prodigal return to faith. Regarding the “cut off” feeling or sense from God and his grace…

Well, I can make the analogy it’s like a dance…a zig and zag…the effort I find is key. The YouTube videos of Arch bishop fulton sheen really drive these and other sound doctrinal points home. I’m no church dr… thank goodness…nobody would want to sit next to me singing either…

I find the mystery of faith is indeed just that…mysterious…

I too can almost go crazy obeying, failing better, confessing, praying, journaling, writing.

I examine my conscience

I use the 7 deadly sins…and make it a habit…so far it seems I better view life as simply a character development place…arch bishop Fulton Sheen’s teachings suggest that
 
Thank you for the help. I’ll watch some Fulton Sheen. Do you have any specific video in mind?
 
Tis_Bearself said:
There are something like 10,000 canonized saints. Do you really think they all had the same personality?
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Didn’t St. Nicholas punch Arian in the face? (his name might not be Arian but it was to do with Arianism).

St. Philip Neri used to joke about a lot.
 
He loves your personality; He created it. But there are also uncreated aspects of fallen man that tend towards negativity and a host of vices and bad characteristics- that tend towards sin. “Concupiscense” is the operative word and we must struggle to overcome it all our lives. And with the help of grace, we can. But we must want it.

I like a thought from Augustine:
"The perfection of a man is to come to know his imperfections."
 
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“I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the Word and my soul shall be healed.”
 
Well, I wouldn’t know what may resonate with you most, so it may be best to try a few clips , and see if any particular one speaks to you? That’s how I do it, and in some ways I visit his talks, based on what my own state is… I find I am best to spend time dealing with tempation talk…

I am currently on a good long streak of chastity and sexual purity … However, like perhaps the way of temptation and the devil - so to speak… I am currently working at dealing with my thoughts better
 
God knows the number of hairs on your head. Your name is written in the palm of His hand.

I put up a bird feeder to remind me that Christ said two sparrows are sold for a coin, and your Father knows if one of them falls to the ground, are you not worth more than many sparrows? Everytime the little flock of barn sparrows comes to my feeder, I am reminded of God’s love for me.
 
God IS love. Before He formed you in the womb, He knew you.

If there are aspects of your personality (bitterness, envy, hate) work to change those things, to conform toward love and compassion.

God has a sense of humor, He made us all different for a reason!
 
He didn’t make my personality, it’s something I forged from what he initially gave me, or am I wrong?
 
Guessing you are not a parent.

Parents will tell you, their kids’ personalities were in place from birth (and some even before birth, for instance with twins where one was far more active in utero). My son was the same quiet, serious person at 1 day old as he is at 30 years old.
 
So it’s not my fault the way my personality is? It’s out of my control?
 
Yes, a little known fact is that Clint was a closet theologian, while Augustine always wanted to be in the film industry- ahead of his time as usual but in any case he was once heard saying, responding to a point made by Pelagian supporters during heated debate, “Go ahead, make my day”, or something to that effect from my understanding. That may be where Clint got some of his lines?
 
We’re all out of control in one way or another according to our faith. At the Fall, man lost perfect self-mastery by rejecting subjugation to God, the only one Who was meant to control us, by His indwelling Spirit, and the only One who is capable of doing so.
 
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My priest said ‘some of the greatest saints had the biggest baggage’. You are unique, loved by God and seem a very honest person. God not only loves you, he likes you.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
This reminds me of Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry saying, “A good man always knows his limitations.”
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And yet Augustine’s has a bit more to offer us maybe? In the Christian sense, via the process of overcoming/getting rid of our imperfections, we’re simultaneously opening ourselves to achieving our perfection, all a cooperation with grace.
 
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JosephDColeman said:
When I feel good I see him as all loving and merciful. When I am in a bad mood I feel like he’s counting my sins or going to cut me off because my sinful thoughts are too bad.
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One can’t go by feelings. In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola gives rules of discernment for the first and second weeks of the retreat. Rule 1 for Week 1 is for those in the state of mortal sin and/or tepidity; the rest of the rules are for those in the state of sanctifying grace.

And as I previously posted, contrition for one’s sins is an act of the will, not feelings. One can cry in confession and not be contrite while another person can feel nothing but is truly sorry for their sins.

This has really helped me (I’ve used it while making the Spiritual Exercises too):

angeluspress.org

Rules For Discerning Spirits

Discern the spiritual influences in your life that are from God from those that are from the devil.
angeluspress.org angeluspress.org

Hope this helps.
 
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