How Do I Love God More???

[Chrystal]

Hey everyone, I was hoping to get some advice. Lately I feel like I am just not close to God at all. I know I’ve sinned, but even when I confess, at times I still feel like God is far away. I’m kind of a scrupulous person, it’s definitely something that I kind of struggle with. I have times when I just always feel like I’m sinning against God even though I may not have. I know I need to really work on my prayer life, but there are times when I do pray, I just feel like I’m talking to the wall or something. Sometimes these things make me feel like I’m putting God on the backburner, and I don’t want to do that. I love God, but I don’'t think it’s enough.
Any advice??

 

[prodigalson12]

Pray for his presence to be known to you in a more direct manner, offer up this time to evaluate who you are, by yourself, as a person, and see how you can improve things as a person to be better within his will.

 

[tinalewis]

Your question is really striking and refreshing for these forums.

I’m tempted to offer my opinion that we wind up loving God more by wanting to love Him more and by being determined to see Him everywhere, but that probably isn’t very practical advice.

As a middle-aged married woman (I think I need to change my forum name to that, I use it so much!) I have to offer practical help from my own experience. You love more whoever you’re around more.

It’s true in a long-term marriage and it’s true in a long-term job. I spent many years not particulary liking my co-workers but now after many, many years I realize they’re as much my ‘family’ as are my blood relatives. I remember when they got married, when they had their first child, their second child, their kids’ high school graduations, their first grandhild, etc. Do I love them? You bet I do, with all my heart. Was it always so? No.

My practical suggestion to you is to go to Mass as frequently as you can make it during the week and to go to adoration at least once a week. You don’t have to feel overwhelming magnificent spiritual devotion during each of these . . . just go. Give it your best and if you don’t have much to give on a particular day, go anyway. Give Our Lord face time. Give Him time out of your day. I believe with all my being that you will eventually (and probably sooner than you think) fall in love with Him again.

 

[benedictus2]

Hey everyone, I was hoping to get some advice. Lately I feel like I am just not close to God at all. I know I’ve sinned, but even when I confess, at times I still feel like God is far away. I’m kind of a scrupulous person, it’s definitely something that I kind of struggle with. I have times when I just always feel like I’m sinning against God even though I may not have. I know I need to really work on my prayer life, but there are times when I do pray, I just feel like I’m talking to the wall or something. Sometimes these things make me feel like I’m putting God on the backburner, and I don’t want to do that. I love God, but I don’'t think it’s enough.
Any advice??

Do you do any spiritual reading? I have found religious books really helpful. I don’t know what your type is but Theresa of Avila is a great help with regards this. Maybe her Interior Castle. Fr Michael Casey’s book Towards God is also very good.

One advice I would give as well is not to seek the consolation (feeling of God’s presence) but to seek God. What we need to asses is whether we are doing His Will. That is what is important. Feelings are secondary.

I think these days, we put so much emphasis on feelings. But these consolations are gifts from God WHEN He sees it fit to give us.

And even if you seem to be talking to a wall, know that you are not. That is why we need to trust our reason. It may feel bad but if we have increased our knowledge of the Lord then even when He feels far away, we know that He is actually very near.

To Know HIm is to Love Him. So get to know Him better by reading and meditating on the scriptures and listening to the saints who are also our guides on our journey towards Him.
.
St Teresa who is a mystic and doctor of the Church went through a long period of aridity in prayer. So did St Therese of Lisseux and St John of the Cross. And so did all of our dear Saints and yes even Mother Theresa of Calcutta.

So just know that you are in good company.

 

[benedictus2]

Hi Crystal,
I think this prayer by Thomas Merton will help put things in perspective for you.

My Lord God

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following

your will does not mean

that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that my desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope that I have that desire

in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything

apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this

you will lead me by the right road

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always

though I may seem to be lost

and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear,

for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me

to face my perils alone.

 

[jeanne71350]

I highly reccomend doing some voluenteer work. Either with the sick, children, the elderly…whatever you feel called to and what makes you happy. I do lots of work with children, and just seeing them and hearing them pray and love God makes me know He’s around and that He is very near. God is alive in the Church. If you bring yourself to the people, you won’t feel like you’re talking to the wall.

God Bless!
-Jeanne