How does one become more devout?

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Art321

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Hello everyone.

I am having a bit of a problem. For a while now, I have noticed and felt that I am drifting further away from God. It would seem that this has been a slow process. I haven’t been to confession in a few months. I felt as if I was abusing this Sacred Sacrament since I would do the same sins I confessed over and over again, sometimes without meaning to do so. I feel sometimes as if I have this side to me that is extremely selfish. I also feel sorta lost sometimes. I am barely beginning to stand on my feet, when it comes to the choices in my life. Soon I will have to make a choice that will have a huge impact in my life and frankly I don’t know what I will do. I have yet to figure what it is that God wills for me to do in this life, I suppose. I hope to become closer to God soon before I choose to do something that I might regret later on in my life.

Do you have any advice on how to be more devout, how to have a deep faith in God? As well on advice on how to handle situations like this? I wish to be the best Catholic I can be. I want to have a true noble heart for God and hopfully if it is God’s Will, for my future spouse. I hope in the future that I will be able to make a difference. I’m sorry, I suppose I sound a bit silly. I’m a bit confused right now. Any advice? Also thank you for reading this.
 
As Saint Paul laments, frequently we fail to accomplish the good things that we intend. [Romans 7:19] Yet when he called upon You to free him of a care that plagued him, You answered “My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.” For this reason Paul chose to make his weakness his “special boast” to retain Your power over him, saying, “it is when I am weak that I am strong.” [2Corinthians 12:7-10]
Therefore, Father, “I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts…but I only want the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith.” [Philippians 3:9] “Glory to Him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” [Ephesians 3:20]

Seeking God’s will

Our God, You see me anxious about discerning the right course, and then my subsequent doubts. I fear that if I misconstrue Your will, someone may be denied what You would delight to give through me. Bless them, supplying what my selfishness or confusion denies them.

I trust that whatever good I honestly attempt will be guided and transformed by You, regardless of my obvious failures. Perhaps when I die, I may discover that my present life hides the overflowing richness of Your love embracing others through my efforts and prayers.

Accept my gift of myself to You. Temper my faith and faithfulness in Your love within the events of my life. Burn away my sinfulness and apathy through daily responsibility and prayer. Heal my confusion and stress. Let everything for which You created me, be completely fulfilled. Worship and delight Yourself in my life.
 
Gospel virtues

Our God, please fulfil my desire to be the person You want me to be. Claim me for Yourself so that Your love triumphs over my sinful habits and selfish responses.

As I keep faith with Your Creation by proper care of my human needs, with Your grace, I want to abstain from unchristian attitudes and activities. I desire grace to attribute to each spiritual, mental, and physical gift and achievement, its rightful service, without pride, envy, or creation of artificial needs in self or in others.

Grant me a chaste heart that loves generously without subterfuge, sin, possessiveness or selfishness. Grant me to respect the goodness of Your Creation in others’ lives and mine, in chastity appropriate to my state and circumstance. Thus, my soul prepares for Your vision and already breathes Heaven’s life.

Let negative thoughts and imaginings never dominate even my darkest moments, for gloom demonstrates absence of faith and curtails Your expression of love in me. In place of self-doubt, please give me peaceful faith in Your will, so that I honestly accept my humanity, and trust You to win goodness out of failures and situations that appear hopeless.

In humility and obedience, I no longer have cause to be fearful or defensive. Pride and self-will evaporate before compassion for others. Doubt disappears before growing faith. Irritation and hasty judgement dissipate within generous patience and understanding. Loss and hurt quickly flow into acceptance of Your will and compassionate serving of others. Self-indulgence fades before reparation and appropriate self-discipline, to make me a channel of Your love to others.

I want to meet others joyfully, with unselfish love. I want to apply the kindliest interpretation to other’s intentions, regardless of appearance. I want to forgive gladly the instant offence occurs. I implore You to bless those who offend me as bounteously as You bless those who benefit me. I ask grace to face another’s negative behaviour with warmth and sympathetic kindness, and to fulfil another’s true needs cheerfully.

Behold me as I am, our God, with all that I would withhold from You and conceal from myself. Take me, God, with my faults along with the good already received of You. Have mercy and forgive me for all offence and failure. Let Your love flood over my lukewarmness. Use me as I am, and with each moment’s service convert me anew that I grow increasingly centred in You.

Our God, please hear my prayer and grant my desire to live in You even in my darkest times.
 
I would try to develop your prayer life.

Like any other relationship the better you communicate the better your relationship! Speak with God throughout your day.Pray continually! Not just asking for things, just to love God. Attend daily Mass when you can/ adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Make an appointment to speak with your priest about the disillusionment you are feeling about confession.He will be able to help you and guide you.

In your daily life help others as much as you can (corporal works of mercy) and by practising these things your faith will develop and you will feel better about yourself.

Hope this helps God bless
 
tbcrawford said:
I would try to develop your prayer life.

Like any other relationship the better you communicate the better your relationship! Speak with God throughout your day.Pray continually! Not just asking for things, just to love God. Attend daily Mass when you can/ adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Make an appointment to speak with your priest about the disillusionment you are feeling about confession.He will be able to help you and guide you.

In your daily life help others as much as you can (corporal works of mercy) and by practising these things your faith will develop and you will feel better about yourself.

Hope this helps God bless
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Thank you. For not only giving me advice but for taking some of your time to do so. Thank you. And Trishie, thank you as well. Your two posts were very beautiful and I hope to have the deep faith in God as both of you do right now. May you both have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!😉
 
Hi Art321. Others have given you very good advice and I just want to add some thought of my own.

Looking at how you phrase the title of the thread it seems you do desire to be devout and to be holy. Well, I think that’s a good start because this has to come from the heart. If you have the heart for it the next step would be is to make a decision. Decide that you want to be close to God and willing to do what it takes in order to achieve it. The rest would be quite simple.

There is a lot that you can do but that depends on the state of your understanding right now especially on what you already have and done.

I thought the fundamental aspect of being close to God is to be in a state that’s compatible with him. But since we all are sinners that means we still need to go through a process of personal repentance. Repentance is a big word but it also involves changing the direction of our lives. Turn your life around; leave everything behind that’s not of the Lord, and start a new life.

Once you have decided to repent and empty yourself of all the obstacles that may prevent you to be close to God, and then ask for the Holy Spirit to help you. You know, the Holy Spirit is promised by Jesus and so we rightly ask for him to empower us to strengthen our faith to live a victorious life and to be close to God. We would surely be ‘devout’ once that happens.

God bless you.
 
Reuben_J said:
Hi Art321. Others have given you very good advice and I just want to add some thought of my own.

Looking at how you phrase the title of the thread it seems you do desire to be devout and to be holy. Well, I think that’s a good start because this has to come from the heart. If you have the heart for it the next step would be is to make a decision. Decide that you want to be close to God and willing to do what it takes in order to achieve it. The rest would be quite simple.

There is a lot that you can do but that depends on the state of your understanding right now especially on what you already have and done.

I thought the fundamental aspect of being close to God is to be in a state that’s compatible with him. But since we all are sinners that means we still need to go through a process of personal repentance. Repentance is a big word but it also involves changing the direction of our lives. Turn your life around; leave everything behind that’s not of the Lord, and start a new life.

Once you have decided to repent and empty yourself of all the obstacles that may prevent you to be close to God, and then ask for the Holy Spirit to help you. You know, the Holy Spirit is promised by Jesus and so we rightly ask for him to empower us to strengthen our faith to live a victorious life and to be close to God. We would surely be ‘devout’ once that happens.

God bless you.
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Thank you for your beautiful advice. I also pray more people can become more devout to God in the end. Thank you for your post.
 
I always find reading the lives and works of the saints, a key towards becoming more devout. On a daily or regular basis this can produce continual progress in the spiritual life.
 
Art321 said:
Thank you. For not only giving me advice but for taking some of your time to do so. Thank you. And Trishie, thank you as well. Your two posts were very beautiful and I hope to have the deep faith in God as both of you do right now. May you both have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!😉
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God bless you Art and Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Art321 said:
Hello everyone.

I am having a bit of a problem. For a while now, I have noticed and felt that I am drifting further away from God. It would seem that this has been a slow process. I haven’t been to confession in a few months. I felt as if I was abusing this Sacred Sacrament since I would do the same sins I confessed over and over again, sometimes without meaning to do so. I feel sometimes as if I have this side to me that is extremely selfish. I also feel sorta lost sometimes. I am barely beginning to stand on my feet, when it comes to the choices in my life. Soon I will have to make a choice that will have a huge impact in my life and frankly I don’t know what I will do. I have yet to figure what it is that God wills for me to do in this life, I suppose. I hope to become closer to God soon before I choose to do something that I might regret later on in my life.

Do you have any advice on how to be more devout, how to have a deep faith in God? As well on advice on how to handle situations like this? I wish to be the best Catholic I can be. I want to have a true noble heart for God and hopfully if it is God’s Will, for my future spouse. I hope in the future that I will be able to make a difference. I’m sorry, I suppose I sound a bit silly. I’m a bit confused right now. Any advice? Also thank you for reading this.
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Do the basic catholic things really, really well and often:

Rosary - Every day. And at least once a week in family, at home.
Confession - every week or at least every month. (this is a personal devotion of mine).
Communion - with the caveat of Confession as indicated above.
Weekly mass - without fail. (and days of obligation).

Have a life of the spirit and a life of prayer. (most of us only have an “excellent” life of the body, while the spirit is famished.)

Love and serve the Lord and be a witness onto others…this is what works for me.

In hoc signo vinces
 
Art321 said:
Hello everyone.

I am having a bit of a problem. For a while now, I have noticed and felt that I am drifting further away from God. It would seem that this has been a slow process. I haven’t been to confession in a few months. I .
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no need to go further, this is your answer
return to confession and Holy Communion, regular Mass attendance, daily prayer and reading scripture and penitential acts of fasting and almsgiving, the tried and true. but it starts with the sacraments.

spiritual books are great, but confession first, books after
 
Confession does help.

I find myself drifting as well. And I know that I need to go to confession, so I’ve just been praying for help on making a good confession very soon. Maybe you can do the same?

God bless! Dana
 
Same here. I’ve been drifting away ever since I lost my baby at twelve weeks pregnancy this past June. I’ve felt angry, lost and hopeless, I haven’t been to Church or confession, but I am finally at the point where I can make the change. I am making an appointment for confession this afternoon and going to Mass on Sunday. Just the thought of it has given me a bit of peace.
You have gotten great advice, but I think Annie summed it up perfectly. 🙂
 
Snugglebugmom said:
Same here. I’ve been drifting away ever since I lost my baby at twelve weeks pregnancy this past June. I’ve felt angry, lost and hopeless, I haven’t been to Church or confession, but I am finally at the point where I can make the change. I am making an appointment for confession this afternoon and going to Mass on Sunday. Just the thought of it has given me a bit of peace.
You have gotten great advice, but I think Annie summed it up perfectly. 🙂
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Hugs to you, I am so sorry. Let Jesus heal you. You are in my prayers!
 
Snugglebugmom said:
Same here. I’ve been drifting away ever since I lost my baby at twelve weeks pregnancy this past June. I’ve felt angry, lost and hopeless, I haven’t been to Church or confession, but I am finally at the point where I can make the change. I am making an appointment for confession this afternoon and going to Mass on Sunday. Just the thought of it has given me a bit of peace.
You have gotten great advice, but I think Annie summed it up perfectly. 🙂
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I’m so sorry about your experience, but I hope that you are feeling better and are closer to God. May God bless you.🙂

And thank you everyone once again for the wonderful advice. May God bless everyone of you as well.
 
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