Looking for some guidance

[Lainey63]

First let me say that I was torn as to whether I should post this question in the spirituality forum or this one. But because I lean more towards the traditional I figured this forum would be appropriate. If I am wrong I apologize.

Last year I started to go through a powerful conversion-again! I have a history of this and falling away again. But this time everything is so different and I don’t want to go back to the person I was-again. Recently, I have been trying to the best of my ability to surrender entirely to God’s will…how do I know I am? How do I obtain true humility-I’m not even sure what that is. Also purity of heart…St Padre Pio says that we need humility & purity of heart do I just keep praying what about spiritual exercises are there any? One last thing-as my last conversion was just beginning I had a dream and Jesus was sitting on a rock (I’ve seen this picture before maybe you have too). and I was on my hands & knees scared to death of Him and He told me to come closer and I came a little closer and He told me to come closer again and I did and then I think I was sitting on the ground right next to the rock He was sitting on & He said that I will abide in you & you in me…I think about this dream all the time I really want to abide in Jesus & He in me…what exactly does that mean and how do I know that Jesus is abiding in me & I in Him-how do I get there from here?
Thanks in advance! I am looking forward to your advice.

 

[Lainey63]

Hmmmm…anybody out there?

 

[Christus_Rex_1]

First let me say that I was torn as to whether I should post this question in the spirituality forum or this one. But because I lean more towards the traditional I figured this forum would be appropriate. If I am wrong I apologize.

Last year I started to go through a powerful conversion-again! I have a history of this and falling away again. But this time everything is so different and I don’t want to go back to the person I was-again. Recently, I have been trying to the best of my ability to surrender entirely to God’s will…how do I know I am? How do I obtain true humility-I’m not even sure what that is. Also purity of heart…St Padre Pio says that we need humility & purity of heart do I just keep praying what about spiritual exercises are there any? One last thing-as my last conversion was just beginning I had a dream and Jesus was sitting on a rock (I’ve seen this picture before maybe you have too). and I was on my hands & knees scared to death of Him and He told me to come closer and I came a little closer and He told me to come closer again and I did and then I think I was sitting on the ground right next to the rock He was sitting on & He said that I will abide in you & you in me…I think about this dream all the time I really want to abide in Jesus & He in me…what exactly does that mean and how do I know that Jesus is abiding in me & I in Him-how do I get there from here?
Thanks in advance! I am looking forward to your advice.

Jesus actually answered your questions in the dream. He went past individual questions and answers, and gave you the solution.

What it all comes to down is abiding in Him and Him in you. Don’t worry. What Jesus wants from you, and from me, is to “abide in Him”. In other words, learn to do all with Him and for Him. Learn to become aware of His presence within you. Make this awareness your desire and your goal. Eventually it will become habitual. It is called “practicing the presence of God”, and that is what the dream meant. It is the spirituality for your particular soul - what Jesus wants you to practice.

You have a tendency to worry. “What should I do? Am I pleasing to God? Am I humble enoough? I don’t even know what humilities is”, etc. Don’t worry about that. What Jesus wants from you is to abide in Him and let Him abide in you. He will reveal Himself to you in His own way and in His own time. For now, just practice the presence of God and learn to do all for him, with Him, and in Him.

Practical Appication: If you are filling out an envelope, do so as perfectly as you can - for Jesus. If you are pulling weeds, do so with Jesus and do it as Jesus would have you do it. If you are shopping, do so with Jesus - that is, with the awareness of His presense. Include Him in everything and do it all as perfectly as you can - calmly - for Him. Don’t get too scrupulous, and don’t worry if you make mistakes. Sanctity is a process. Just do everything with Him and for Him, and you will be fulfilling His will for you.

That is what He was trying to tell you in the dream.

 

[DebChris]

I like the prayer of Thomas Merton.
In questioning whether or not he is following God’s Will, he comes to the conclusion that his desire to follow God’s Will means that he is indeed following God’s Will.
What you saw in your dream was the reality that God is a loving God. As scripture says, Love casts out fear. Trust that as long as you place yourself in the presence of God, as long as you pray and continue to ask for His guidance then you are surrendering to how He would have you lead your life.
Once when I was on retreat, I spent some time in silent prayer. The words that came to me were “Be the creature that I have made you to be.” So relax and trust that you are who God has made you to be.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Do spiritual reading…

I don’t mean any kind of spiritual reading, I mean the time-tested classics that have guided those seeking holiness, for centuries.

Today is the feast day of St. Francis De Sales who wrote, Introduction to the Devout Life. I made a post on my blog with just one chapter out of the book (each chapter is only a few pages).

I chose his chapter on the Sacrament of Penance for today’s blogpost (most books do not have the old english as is seen in the version in my blogpost). This is just good reading for anyone serious about growing in holiness.

Ultimately, we’ve been told for decades how much God loves us. It’s time to learn how to love him back.

Other books good for this inlcude The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis and My Daily Bread

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Do spiritual reading…

I don’t mean any kind of spiritual reading, I mean the time-tested classics that have guided those seeking holiness, for centuries.

Today is the feast day of St. Francis De Sales who wrote, Introduction to the Devout Life. I made a post on my blog with just one chapter out of the book (each chapter is only a few pages).

I chose his chapter on the Sacrament of Penance for today’s blogpost (most books do not have the old english as is seen in the version in my blogpost). This is just good reading for anyone serious about growing in holiness.

Ultimately, we’ve been told for decades how much God loves us. It’s time to learn how to love Him back. To do this we must observe His commandments, and learn how to grow in virtue and charity. That is what He wants more than anything and it is the greatest sign of love we can offer.

Other books good for this inlcude The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis and My Daily Bread

 

[Lainey63]

Jesus actually answered your questions in the dream. He went past individual questions and answers, and gave you the solution.

What it all comes to down is abiding in Him and Him in you. Don’t worry. What Jesus wants from you, and from me, is to “abide in Him”. In other words, learn to do all with Him and for Him. Learn to become aware of His presence within you. Make this awareness your desire and your goal. Eventually it will become habitual. It is called “practicing the presence of God”, and that is what the dream meant. It is the spirituality for your particular soul - what Jesus wants you to practice.

You have a tendency to worry. “What should I do? Am I pleasing to God? Am I humble enoough? I don’t even know what humilities is”, etc. Don’t worry about that. What Jesus wants from you is to abide in Him and let Him abide in you. He will reveal Himself to you in His own way and in His own time. For now, just practice the presence of God and learn to do all for him, with Him, and in Him.

Practical Appication: If you are filling out an envelope, do so as perfectly as you can - for Jesus. If you are pulling weeds, do so with Jesus and do it as Jesus would have you do it. If you are shopping, do so with Jesus - that is, with the awareness of His presense. Include Him in everything and do it all as perfectly as you can - calmly - for Him. Don’t get too scrupulous, and don’t worry if you make mistakes. Sanctity is a process. Just do everything with Him and for Him, and you will be fulfilling His will for you.

That is what He was trying to tell you in the dream.

Thank you…you answered alot of questions for me! It’s pretty amazing that the sentence He will reveal Himself to me in His own time & His own way is the exact phrase that goes through my mind when I pray about this. It is also amazing that you could see in my post that I do worry alot…I didn’t realize it shows so much. I have already begun to practice.

 

[Lainey63]

I like the prayer of Thomas Merton.
In questioning whether or not he is following God’s Will, he comes to the conclusion that his desire to follow God’s Will means that he is indeed following God’s Will.
What you saw in your dream was the reality that God is a loving God. As scripture says, Love casts out fear. Trust that as long as you place yourself in the presence of God, as long as you pray and continue to ask for His guidance then you are surrendering to how He would have you lead your life.
Once when I was on retreat, I spent some time in silent prayer. The words that came to me were “Be the creature that I have made you to be.” So relax and trust that you are who God has made you to be.

I am going to look up this prayer…love casts out fear makes me think of that saying “Fear knocked on the door, faith answered and no one was there.” Some real good advice here too and it coincides with the AA program of recovery. I have heard this said before and you are confirming what others have said. Thank you

 

[Lainey63]

Do spiritual reading…

I don’t mean any kind of spiritual reading, I mean the time-tested classics that have guided those seeking holiness, for centuries.

Today is the feast day of St. Francis De Sales who wrote, Introduction to the Devout Life. I made a post on my blog with just one chapter out of the book (each chapter is only a few pages).

I chose his chapter on the Sacrament of Penance for today’s blogpost (most books do not have the old english as is seen in the version in my blogpost). This is just good reading for anyone serious about growing in holiness.

Ultimately, we’ve been told for decades how much God loves us. It’s time to learn how to love him back.

Other books good for this inlcude The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis and My Daily Bread

I have 2 of the three books you have mentioned. My Imitation of Christ and My daily Bread. I read My Imitation of Christ more than the other…but I read it in spurts. I did check out your blog post and I intend on making it a habit! You all have hit on different things that I am very familiar with…I’ve been wrestling with this for awhile and I would like to thank you all you’ve been a tremendous help…more than you know. I also noticed only 3 answered my post…am I going overboard?