I'm stuck!

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Rebelecka

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My problem is how much attention should I pay to praying for my own spiritual growth and perfection? After begging Our Lord to help me, guide me, have mercy on me (notice all the “me-s?”😊 ) I start feeling that I am being too self-centered. But then after ignoring myself and just praying for others I start to wonder what good the prayers of a tepid, un-faith-filled person would be.

So how much is too much? How little is not enough? Obviously, praise of Our Lord is in amongst all this. The whole thing gets me to a point where I don’t move one way or another…🤷

Any help would be appreciated!
 
I don’t see anything wrong in praying for one’s spiritual growth. It is a grace that one needs, and I am sure God will not turn away such a request, as it will be a big benefit for anyone who prays for it.
 
No there is nothing wrong with praying for spiritual growth. And certainly there is nothing wrong with intercessory prayer, even if you don’t feel like a spiritual giant. I would caution against using your emotions as a gauge of your spiritual strength. Just because you don’t feel all warm and ‘spirit-filled’ doesn’t mean that you aren’t. We also already have lots of guidance on how to build our spiritual ‘muscles’, no need to wonder about how to do it. Say your Morning Offering, say the rosary, read the readings of the day or LOTH, attend Mass as often as possible, make frequent use of confession, receive communion as often as possible. Do it whether you ‘feel’ like it or not. Make it a habit and you will find yourself girded about with god’s grace.
 
You won’t be stuck if you don’t want to be stuck.
Praying for others is your love of neighbor.
Praying for own spiritual growth is your love of God – want to be closer to Him.
There is no contradiction between these two. These two actually have mutual benefit to each other.

Like Sally said, there are many ways to facilitate your spiritual growth. In addition to prayer, we also have to make our own efforts. Read Bible, the Word of God daily, go to Mass, go to Confession, go to Eucharist Adoration, read Church Doctors’ spiritual writings, etc….

With prayer and own efforts, spiritual growth is there for everyone.
Seek, you will find.
 
Any of you who lacks wisdom must ask God, who gives to all generously and without scolding; it will be given. (James 1:5)
 
Rebelecka said:
My problem is how much attention should I pay to praying for my own spiritual growth and perfection? After begging Our Lord to help me, guide me, have mercy on me (notice all the “me-s?”😊 ) I start feeling that I am being too self-centered. But then after ignoring myself and just praying for others I start to wonder what good the prayers of a tepid, un-faith-filled person would be.

So how much is too much? How little is not enough? Obviously, praise of Our Lord is in amongst all this. The whole thing gets me to a point where I don’t move one way or another…🤷

Any help would be appreciated!
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In my case, I ask for spiritual growth so that my prayers and works for the Poor Souls will be more effective
 
Rebelecka said:
My problem is how much attention should I pay to praying for my own spiritual growth and perfection? After begging Our Lord to help me, guide me, have mercy on me (notice all the “me-s?”😊 ) I start feeling that I am being too self-centered. But then after ignoring myself and just praying for others I start to wonder what good the prayers of a tepid, un-faith-filled person would be.

So how much is too much? How little is not enough? Obviously, praise of Our Lord is in amongst all this. The whole thing gets me to a point where I don’t move one way or another…🤷

Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
It may be helpful to ask yourself what you are seeking in your spiritual growth. Are you seeking consolations that you think will show yourself approved by God? Are you looking for mystical experiences that you think will strengthen you in your daily life? Sts. Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross insist that growth in virtue - especially charity - is the way to gauge one’s spiritual growth. So, don’t look for the extraordinary, but for those little things done out of love for others (a la St. Therese). It will be in retrospect that you will have those “ah ha” moments that reveal how far you have grown spiritually. And never give up! 🙂 Determination and humility must go hand in hand on our pilgrimage to God.
 
Sometimes I think we just have to go through times like this to get across and think more about others…

oh, that really made a lot of sense…

Sometimes I feel like I need to work on myself before I can ever do anything for someone else…then, at times, I will neglect myself and think of others all the time…

I’m not sure you can ever find a good balance, maybe that’s what being a Saint is all about.

But regardless, it’s all about God’s love, wanting it, believing in it asking for it…it’s all good.
 
Thx all. Dana, I think you got it. I’m really not talking about feelings. In fact, I pretty much distrust “feelings” in my spirituality. I know that I am able to manufacture feelings in myself so that’s why I distrust the “warm, fuzzies.”😛

I guess I just have too much Catholic guilt:D

Rebecca
 
Rebelecka said:
My problem is how much attention should I pay to praying for my own spiritual growth and perfection? After begging Our Lord to help me, guide me, have mercy on me (notice all the “me-s?”😊 ) I start feeling that I am being too self-centered. But then after ignoring myself and just praying for others I start to wonder what good the prayers of a tepid, un-faith-filled person would be.

So how much is too much? How little is not enough? Obviously, praise of Our Lord is in amongst all this. The whole thing gets me to a point where I don’t move one way or another…🤷

Any help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
My instant reaction to your “praying for spiritual growth” is a plea to please God and advance to spiritual perfection.

All the virtues follow that petition like charity, patience, love, hope, faith. Those are all elements to “spiritual growth.”
 
Have you heard of the 5-Finger prayer? I use this technique sometimes when I feel I’m getting too centered on myself and my own needs:

Thumb – Friends and Family (those closest to you)
Pointer – Teachers (who point their fingers to teach)
Middle – Leaders (it’s the tallest finger)
Ring – Those who are weak (it’s the weakest finger)
Pinky – Your own needs

Sometimes by the time I get to the pinky and my own needs, I realize how many others there are in need of prayer and some of my own needs don’t seem so gigantic!
 
What I do is begin with prayers of thanksgiving, then I pray for others, then I pray for myself. Love of God, then love of others, then love of self. All are important, but I do it this way to prevent myself from thinking that all my little worries and concerns are more important than anything else. Yet I do pray a lot for myself because I know I can’t do anything without God’s help.
 
I think the idea is to not beat yourself up for making mistakes—that is the key to not focusing so much on yourself. Accept that God is still working on you.
 
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