I can't stay devoted

[kyle8921]

This always happens to me. I get extremely interested and devoted in my religion… and then in about 2 weeks usually, I fall back out. Right now, I pray twice a day, pray the Rosary when I can, and am 100% certain about my religion.

However, I know that in about a week, I’ll completely lose interest. I’ll probably stop posting here. I’ll read the Bible, and generally be a good person (more than I normally am.) I’ll pray, but I know in my heart that I don’t really mean it, and speak faster just to get it over with. I ask God to make me want to want to be devoted… but I always fall back out again.

Any suggestions?

 

[puzzleannie]

kyle8921:

This always happens to me. I get extremely interested and devoted in my religion… and then in about 2 weeks usually, I fall back out. ?

for a lot of us, being devoted to religion means being devoted to certain activities, prayers and devotions which give us a good feeling about ourselves. We choose and plan our prayers, sacred reading etc. according to our feelings and wishes, not out of an inborn, urgent need to praise and thank God. It is probably the same reason we fail at fitness programs, diets, and other self-help projects. It is about me and my feelings, not about God and what I owe Him in justice and love.

 

[Mike_Olson]

puzzleannie:

for a lot of us, being devoted to religion means being devoted to certain activities, prayers and devotions which give us a good feeling about ourselves. We choose and plan our prayers, sacred reading etc. according to our feelings and wishes, not out of an inborn, urgent need to praise and thank God. It is probably the same reason we fail at fitness programs, diets, and other self-help projects. It is about me and my feelings, not about God and what I owe Him in justice and love.

Well put! I too find that if I am doing it for “myself” I mess it up. To come to the realization that God loves us and gives us that love freely, I want to return that love. Without him I don’t exist, and all I have is a gift from him. Peace be with you.

 

[Lisa_N]

Can you go to mass more often? I always feel uplifted and inspired by mass. Sometimes if you are just droning through the prayers it does kill off inspiration. Find what ‘feeds’ you, whether it is a prayer or other practice, liturgy of the hours for example. A few minutes but more often during the day might be more inspirational. Our local Catholic station does the Divine Mercy Chaplet everyday at 3pm. If I ever feel a bit down I make a point of listening to it. Brings me right back home

LIsa N

 

[LisaB]

Devotion to God requires discipline. Sometimes God gives us that warm fuzzy feeling inside when we pray and sometimes He doesn’t. I think good feelings, those feelings of spiritual uplifting, warmth, belonging and love are given to us as encouragement to continue with our devotions. However, like another poster said, these feelings in themselves are not the purpose of our prayers. I find that doing anything requiring discipline is easier with others. Try joining a prayer group, for example, or hang out with people passionate about devotion to Christ.

 

[TheGarg]

kyle8921:

This always happens to me. I get extremely interested and devoted in my religion…edited for length… faster just to get it over with. I ask God to make me want to want to be devoted… but I always fall back out again.

Any suggestions?

I would definately say some frequent church acitvity of some kind …our faith is like batteries, and must be recharged. community is a great way to do this. work…get accomplishment for working for Christ. find different ways to serve.

next saturday, they are having a “spring cleaning day at the church” and i will be there bright and early, and monday night, i start my weekly traing for being on a cursillo team…then i have to work on the churches[two parishes] websites in between all else that i do
[which includes fixing padre’s pc’s, network, pda’s…and anyother electrical gadget he has i love it though]

peace of the Lord be with you…

 

[Siena]

To stay devoted is not jsut a matter of prayers, but developing a personal relationship with Jesus. In order to do this, you need to spend TIME with Him! I you has a boyfriend/girlfriend, and you never talked, or went out together, how long would you stay in the relationship? Just talk to Jesus! He’s your best friend, just waiting for you! The best place for this, of course, is in Mass. I know it’s hard, and usually “inconvienient”. Remembering that He died on the cross in order to save you, and offered you His precious body and blood at the Last Supper, in a sacrafice that culminated in His death helps.

Prayers like the rosary are excellent, but relly need a cultivation of that personal relationship to mean something more. You must spend at least one hour in Eucharistic Adoration to build on that time. Even if Jesus is not exposed, go and talk to him in the Tabernacle, just as you would to your friend. Tell Him everyting about your day, your life. Both the good and the bad, your joys abnd your struggles. I find that the more I do this, the less I feel the need to “complain” to othera about things that I don’t like in my life. He hears everything, and I dosn’t ever devolve into gossip, and keeps my mind out of the gutter. Ask Him to help you, to lead you, and to keep you faithful. If you do this “ask and you shall recieve”, He will remain faithful to you. It wouldnt always “feel” good, in fact, many time it will be almost boring, but if you perservere, Jesus will not abandon uo. God bless!

 

[jjwilkman]

hang on by the nails of your fingers. pray (prayer is anything that communicates with God) . the thing that is pulling you away is the devil. grit your teeeth and hang on. don’t ever give up. God is our only hope and salvation. nothing else matters. yell and scream and fight. thinkk about God and what He did (has been doing and always will do) for us. above all don’t give up ever!