How can I be fervent in my faith?

[ResoluteSheep]

I want to follow Christ, but I kinda lack the discipline to do so. I feel that I can’t surrender totally to God’s will and I’m still attached to my own will. For instance, if you asked me whether I would choose to go for weekday mass or a theme park, I would most likely say the theme park as going to a weekday mass is not ‘‘required’’ my current situation is that I want to follow Christ but still struggling with giving up everything to follow Him. A term for this would probably be a lukewarm Catholic. How can I be fervent in my faith and overcome lukewarmness?

 

[Della]

You need a good spiritual director, not just opinions and suggestions from us.

We can’t know you and your needs as well as someone in whom you can confide and whose direction you can trust.

Having said that, you can do the basics:

Daily prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is the best form of daily prayer because it is the prayer of the Church that follows the liturgical seasons, feasts, etc. Shorter Christian Prayer is the simplest form for lay people to use.

Daily Scripture reading with a good commentary. You can use the daily Mass readings to start since they are easy to find and they are in line with the liturgical Church year.

Do some active work in your parish. Help someone who needs help. Be open and loving to others, etc.

Find a devotion that helps you keep your baptismal vows, such as the rosary. But don’t do any devotion merely for its own sake. If any devotion becomes a burden instead an aid, cut back on doing it or don’t do that one.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do fun things. Why couldn’t you attend daily Mass and then go to the amusement park? Our faith isn’t a matter denying ourselves innocent pleasures, but in not letting innocent pleasures mean more to us than our proper duty to God and others.

 

[DarkNight]

Practice The Presence of God in the everyday things you do.
Then you will learn to be “with God” in all the moments of your life.

The Practice of the Presence of God

Brother Lawrence was a humble cook who experienced life in the kingdom of God to its fullest by learning to commune with God everyday—and every hour of the day—even during his ordinary work. In short, he learned the art of living in the presence of God throughout the day. He himself once said, “I am doing now what I will do for all eternity. I am blessing God, praising Him, adoring him, and loving Him with all my heart.”

Conversations and Letters of Brother Lawrence

“Go with Love, Go with God”

 

[USMC_Convert]

Pray, I found that once I really cracked down and started to say my daily prayers it was easier for me to make sure I say at least one rosary everyday, and I find it much easier to make sure I attend mass every time I possibly can, and I find it easier to make sure I go Thursday nights to be with Our Lord in adoration.

In short, if you say your morning prayers it will be easier to make sure it hit up Mass that day, if you hit up Mass then it will be easier to say a few prayers throughout the day as you work or drive or whatever, if you say a few prayers during the day it will be easier to pray before your meals, if you pray before your meals it will be easier to make sure you say your rosary, if you say your rosary it will be easier to make sure you say your nightly prayers, if you say your nightly prayers it will be easier to make sure you say your morning prayers…repeat…

All of this is of course done and strengthened over time. Don’t try to take on everything all at once, you will probably either burn out quick or get frustrated and quit. Start small, take one small step towards God every week, add one more thing every week until you are at a point where you need to stop and stay steady, then once you can continue to add one more thing, take one more step.

It’s like going to the gym, if you go to the gym, I mean force yourself to really go everyday for a week then the next week it will be that much easier, and every week it will become easier until it’s routine and something you really just have to do. Also like the gym if you go in there and try to squat 420 lbs the first day you are probably gonna break your back, start slow, move at your pace and you will get stronger.

Remember God doesn’t expect us to become Jesus overnight, He wants us to take steps towards Him, everyday learning, praying, loving more and more…He knows where we were, where we are and where we can be, start moving towards Him and I promise you He will be pleased and help you!!!

 

[TheLeastofThese]

You need a good spiritual director, not just opinions and suggestions from us.

We can’t know you and your needs as well as someone in whom you can confide and whose direction you can trust.

Having said that, you can do the basics:

Daily prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is the best form of daily prayer because it is the prayer of the Church that follows the liturgical seasons, feasts, etc. Shorter Christian Prayer is the simplest form for lay people to use.

Daily Scripture reading with a good commentary. You can use the daily Mass readings to start since they are easy to find and they are in line with the liturgical Church year.

Do some active work in your parish. Help someone who needs help. Be open and loving to others, etc.

Find a devotion that helps you keep your baptismal vows, such as the rosary. But don’t do any devotion merely for its own sake. If any devotion becomes a burden instead an aid, cut back on doing it or don’t do that one.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do fun things. Why couldn’t you attend daily Mass and then go to the amusement park? Our faith isn’t a matter denying ourselves innocent pleasures, but in not letting innocent pleasures mean more to us than our proper duty to God and others.

What Della said!

 

[larrry]

Read fr john harden. Training of a Marian cathusis