How to change my motivation?

[justcatholic997]

Ever since I reverted, fear of Hell has been one of my biggest obstacles and motivators. Whenever my mind turns to God, I fear his Justice, which would lead to Hell for eternity(I try to remember his Mercy, but that’s a losing battle currently). I have no (conscious) mortal sin on my soul now, but that doesn’t stop my line of thinking. I want to see God as more loving and merciful as saintly revelations suggest about him, but the horrifying imagery of Hell and worrying about if I’ll make it into the narrow gate turn my mind away from that.

How can I change this mindset? I’ve heard that fear is the beginning motivator, followed by love of God, so do any of you have advice on this?

 

[ineedofmercy]

I’m in a similar situation

I’m in a mortal sin super pile and my current situation if filled with obstacles stopping me from going to confession

I fear sometimes that the rest of my life will be nothing but payback for all I did and that’s it’s just going to good works and sadness until I die

I know that isn’t completely true and there’s ways out but I feel I just keep adding more to the pile

I usually try to think of or google a picture of Jesus smiling or hugging someone to remind me he loves me

I think we will always get dreadful feelings but its how we overcome them that matters

 

[revert_jen]

Here are just my thoughts–YMMV.

I’d get yourself a crucifix that moves you and spend time in contemplation of it.

God loves you so much that His Son would have suffered and died just for you. He wants to spend eternity with you, and if you give him the chance, He will.

Sometimes that just makes you feel unworthy, but although that is of course true (all are unworthy), Love doesn’t think that way. (By which I mean that God isn’t thinking that way about you. He knows, better than we do, that we are unworthy. But we are extremely precious to Him, and when He looks at us, He sees the reflection of His Son, who died for us.) You want to try, if you can, to turn your thoughts to gratitude. I find that it helps more to think gratefully of all God has done than how little I deserve it. It’s easier to forget the former than the latter.

God bless you!

–Jen

 

[Billycourty]

I read just today this advice from St Theresa de Avila:

When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!

The devil’s a trickster, the closer we get to God the more he will convince us that we are unlovable.

Just tell him to sod off!

Jesus loved us so much he died for us. Jesus loved us so much he gave us his Mother.

Jesus died for all the sins you have done and will do. It wasn’t too much to bare.

Now try your best so that you can know you didn’t add any more pain to his suffering.

In yesterday’s reading we were reminded that Jesus is our friend and he died for us.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Ever since I reverted, fear of Hell has been one of my biggest obstacles and motivators. Whenever my mind turns to God, I fear his Justice, which would lead to Hell for eternity(I try to remember his Mercy, but that’s a losing battle currently). I have no (conscious) mortal sin on my soul now, but that doesn’t stop my line of thinking. I want to see God as more loving and merciful as saintly revelations suggest about him, but the horrifying imagery of Hell and worrying about if I’ll make it into the narrow gate turn my mind away from that.

How can I change this mindset? I’ve heard that fear is the beginning motivator, followed by love of God, so do any of you have advice on this?

I don’t know if you would be interested in doing any reading about the lives of the saints, but to me and in my opinion, that can be some very inspirational reading.

One of the most awe-inspiring books that I have ever personally read and that I return to is St. Faustina’s Diary of Divine Mercy, where the Divine Mercy Chaplet is taken from.

In case you are not familiar, St. Faustina experienced apparitions of our Lord in Poland in the 1930’s when she was in her 30’s, and He spoke to her about His Mercy, before being a God of Justice.

She was asked to write down what Jesus had said to her, and these thoughts became her diary.

You can also pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on regular Rosary beads if you would be interested in this type of personal devotion.

I happen to personally like praying it, because we pray for mercy on the world when we pray it, and it doesn’t require a lot of time to pray it, either. My mind tends to wander when I pray and I get distracted, and this is something that I can focus on more easily.

I will post a link here for you to the Marian’s website, if you would like to read more about this particular devotion:

thedivinemercy.org/message/

 

[oldgraymare2]

I’m in a similar situation

I’m in a mortal sin super pile and my current situation if filled with obstacles stopping me from going to confession

I fear sometimes that the rest of my life will be nothing but payback for all I did and that’s it’s just going to good works and sadness until I die

I know that isn’t completely true and there’s ways out but I feel I just keep adding more to the pile

I usually try to think of or google a picture of Jesus smiling or hugging someone to remind me he loves me

I think we will always get dreadful feelings but its how we overcome them that matters

My post can also apply to you as well, ineedofmercy.

Jesus is merciful, before He is a just judge.

I try and keep that in mind, myself.

I posted a link to the Marian’s website regarding the Divine Mercy.

Here it is again for you, in case you would like to refer to it:

thedivinemercy.org/message/

I also keep an image of the Divine Mercy in my home, so that I can be reminded of His mercy. I will also simply pray, “Jesus, I Trust in You.”

God bless you both–you and poster justcatholic.

 

[Exsultet]

Honestly, I think a wonderful way to open up your heart to Christ is to watch Mother Angelica.

Mother had a way of communicating how to love God that was simple and very honest. I am absolutely convinced that God worked wonderful graces on her viewers, and I would encourage you to get to know her if you don’t.

 

[Anglewannabe]

I can relate to being petrified of going to hell. I spent years hoping I would be good enough to get to purgatory. I was forever saying statements to the effect ‘As long as I get to purgatory, it doesn’t matter how long I am there, as long as I don’t go to hell’

So, do I have any practical advice. Nope. But I do have good news. I did my best to keep following God to the best of my ability. One day I was with some Catholics. One guy said ‘As long as you make it to purgatory, you made the cut’. And I realized that I hadn’t though like that in years. I did my part ie tried to stay close to God, and he gifted me with taking the fear away

 

[justcatholic997]

I can relate to being petrified of going to hell. I spent years hoping I would be good enough to get to purgatory. I was forever saying statements to the effect ‘As long as I get to purgatory, it doesn’t matter how long I am there, as long as I don’t go to hell’

I suppose this is where I am now, although I do have an additional fear that I’ll screw up somehow even with all that I know now.

 

[Anglewannabe]

I suppose this is where I am now, although I do have an additional fear that I’ll screw up somehow even with all that I know now.

Just keep up the good fight and eventually the fear could go away. However, don’t be surprised if it takes years. Jesus never said it will be easy. Hang in there

 

[justcatholic997]

Just keep up the good fight and eventually the fear could go away. However, don’t be surprised if it takes years. Jesus never said it will be easy. Hang in there

I didn’t expect it to be easy(considering the state of the world), nor the worst enemy in my path being my own mind. Whenever I try to think of the positives of the faith, I feel like I’m doing that to rationalize a sin, which makes me want to stop thinking about it altogether. I want to change my motivation, but there simply feels like there’s more to fear about God than to love. I know it’s wrong, I can find evidence to support that it’s wrong, but that isn’t enough to change my feelings, I guess.

 

[puzzledtoo]

I have heard catholics say that the fear of god is more a fear of a child not wanting to disappoint a parent. I believe we see what we believe so apparently you see god as more of a “gotcha” entity than a loving one even though you know of the loving traits attributed to god.
I believe if we wish to let go of vices we need to practice their opposite virtues so maybe the same could be said for changing the mindset on one’s view of god. Focus on the good that you believe and be not so focused on the other. Christ said “Be not afraid” I’ve heard recently that this phrase or some form of it is in the bible 365 times. I have a feeling that if that is true he meant it. Be not afraid.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Remember that God’s justice, is restorative justice, not retributive justice.

If you doubt this, then consider that God became man in Jesus Christ, while humans are sinners.

If he were not merciful seeing to restore us justly. he would not have bothered.

God is love and those who love, are in God, as St John wrote;

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 1 John 4:16

I would suggest that you learn Contemplative Prayer, for this is the way of being in the presence of God dwelling within, where you will experience His transforming love.

Jim