"Self Love" - I find that confusing... help me understand

[homewardangel]

Hello… over and over again I hear about “self love” and the evils of falling into that. So often I wonder if that is part of the problems that I have in live.(I love myself too much and that is holding me back type thoughts) When I try to work on that problem I find it to be confusing… perhaps my confusion is based on some type of boundaries issues that I have … I don’t know.

Can someone help me understand this and where the evil of self love falls??

I wish I had good examples to provide, but since I don’t completely understand the problem I can’t muster up good examples.

As Jesus directed…we are to love others as we love ourselves…and treat others how we would like to be treated… which leads me to believe that we are to love our selves and care and look out for ourselves. Where do the problems of self love start?

Any thoughts?

Terry

 

[Trishie]

Dear Terry, it does require balance to work out what Jesus meant when He said, "Love others as yourself’ e.g in (Mark 12:28-31).
You may have noticed that if you don’t love yourself in the right way, not just a self-centered love, then you find it very hard to be loving towards others.
I already wrote some stuff when trying to work it out for myself, as I do have a tendency to turn against myself sometimes, especially when I make mistakes or my husband is angry with me.
Self-love, can be selfish and not considerate of others, but a** love of self as a child of God is a reflection of loving others as children of God** and giving them our practical acts of kindness, and our compassion and understanding.

‘Love others…as yourself’

Jesus when You command us to love others as ourselves, You require something more challenging than simply to “love others.” The embedded touchstone in that command is “love your self.” Help us therefore not to be uncharitable to ourselves.

Many people lack proper self-esteem, making it difficult for them to genuinely value others. However, Scripture exhorts, “value yourself at your proper worth. Who can justify a man who runs himself down, or respect a man who despises himself.”[Ecclesiasticus 10:28-29] If we do fail to love ourselves correctly, we cannot accept God’s love. Let us never imagine ourselves hidden from Your mercy*: ‘“Can anyone hide in a dark corner without my seeing him?’ asks the Lord.” *[Jeremiah 23-24]

The concept of rightly loving oneself in order to love others as God’s precious children may be confused with the selfishness that ruins unselfish self-love. It requires us to reject negative self-talk and responses. “If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be good?” [Ecclesiasticus 14:3].

Growth in Christian self-love is facilitated by *“filling your mind with everything that is true, everything that is noble, and everything that is pure and good” *[Philippians 4:8] and serving “in works of love.” It is allowing the Spirit to direct your life and then “you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence. What the Spirit brings is…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.” [Galatians 5:13, 16, 26, 22-23]

Jesus, help us to fittingly love ourselves as loved child of God. Our value is in You alone. You do not wish us to disparage ourselves but to see ourselves as loved, forgiven children of God. A poor self-image may compare to our perception of ‘clouds’. To observers, clouds appear to be impressive, substantial and tangible. However, within themselves the clouds seem damp, insubstantial and misty.

Jesus, let us not belittle ourselves in comparison to others because of our personal uncertainties and inadequacies. Let us live in sincere acceptance of self, that unique gift of Your creative love. help us to see ourselves as loved children of God. Jesus, help me to know that You really love me so that I can love You and love others truly.

Another effort trying to find the balance:

Confidence in God’s merciful love

Our God, we praise and thank You who loves each person into existence. I thank You for loving us, loving me.
Our God, You command that I forgive and rightly cherish myself. Like many people in human history, I often find it difficult to sincerely and consistently love the ‘self’ that I find mirrored in my consciousness. I know that You can bring me to appreciate the miracle and privilege of my existence!

How can I refuse to love what God loves! You treasure me, as You love and treasure each unique, human person that You create. Yet I need much grace to love this betrayer of my true being and purpose, myself! I betray Your loving creation of me by failing to be fully ‘the person I am created to be’ , and by failing in gratitude for God’s gift of myself.

You love each person so much that it led to the incarnation of Your divine Son, and to His redemption of humankind. Jesus is Your response to my betrayal of my destiny and me. Yet frequently I am unconvinced or indifferent before these astounding gifts of divine love for me and for every person!

Please give me grace to value each person, and my own life, as Your beloved and eternal gift. Inspire me with faith and gratitude for the gift of myself, for the lives of dear ones and of all people. Grant that these human gifts are shaped by Your love to become everlasting gifts to You, and through You, eternal gifts to each other person.
Through Jesus, You taught us that cheerful, loving mutual service of others leads to fulfilment of Your creative will. Therefore, give me grace to faithfully say ‘yes’ to Your loving purpose by active respect and charity to others and me. Delight Yourself in me by forming me into the unselfish, joyful, helpful and prayerful person You dreamed me to be for You and others’ souls for time and eternity. 1999

And:

Jesus, self-awareness gives me a great gift. With its desires and attachments, it teaches me how much caring and blessing I desire, and therefore, I better understand others’ needs. Even my selfishness renders me better equipped to help others in their needs. Help me, then to grow more generous and serving of others in their needs and sorrows.

I desire all good, no less for ANY person than the most that God’s love can give anyone.

My life, prayer, Masses and all my Communions are equally, totally, given to and shared with each of my family, with each soul in Purgatory, and with EVERY person however unknown or “unworthy” from all ages, races or religions. For each, I desire all blessing. To each I give ALL that God gives to me.

*I don’t know if any of that helps. *
.

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Dear Terry, it does require balance to work out what Jesus meant when He said, "Love others as yourself’ e.g in (Mark 12:28-31).
You may have noticed that if you don’t love yourself in the right way, not just a self-centered love, then you find it very hard to be loving towards others.
I already wrote some stuff when trying to work it out for myself, as I do have a tendency to turn against myself sometimes, especially when I make mistakes or my husband is angry with me.

‘Love others…as yourself’

Jesus when You command us to love others as ourselves, You require something more challenging than simply to “love others.” The embedded touchstone in that command is “love your self.” Help us therefore not to be uncharitable to ourselves.

Many people lack proper self-esteem, making it difficult for them to genuinely value others. However, Scripture exhorts, “value yourself at your proper worth. Who can justify a man who runs himself down, or respect a man who despises himself.”[Ecclesiasticus 10:28-29] If we do fail to love ourselves correctly, we cannot accept God’s love. Let us never imagine ourselves hidden from Your mercy*: ‘“Can anyone hide in a dark corner without my seeing him?’ asks the Lord.” *[Jeremiah 23-24]

The concept of rightly loving oneself in order to love others as God’s precious children may be confused with the selfishness that ruins unselfish self-love. It requires us to reject negative self-talk and responses. “If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be good?” [Ecclesiasticus 14:3].

Growth in Christian self-love is facilitated by *“filling your mind with everything that is true, everything that is noble, and everything that is pure and good” *[Philippians 4:8] and serving “in works of love.” It is allowing the Spirit to direct your life and then “you will be in no danger of yielding to self-indulgence. What the Spirit brings is…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.” [Galatians 5:13, 16, 26, 22-23]

Jesus, help us to fittingly love ourselves as loved child of God. Our value is in You alone. You do not wish us to disparage ourselves but to see ourselves as loved, forgiven children of God. A poor self-image may compare to our perception of ‘clouds’. To observers, clouds appear to be impressive, substantial and tangible. However, within themselves the clouds seem damp, insubstantial and misty.

Jesus, let us not belittle ourselves in comparison to others because of our personal uncertainties and inadequacies. Let us live in sincere acceptance of self, that unique gift of Your creative love. help us to see ourselves as loved children of God. Jesus, help me to know that You really love me so that I can love You and love others truly.

Another effort to deal with trying to find the balance:

Confidence in God’s merciful love

Our God, we praise and thank You who loves each person into existence. I thank You for loving us, loving me.
Our God, You command that I forgive and rightly cherish myself. Like many people in human history, I often find it difficult to sincerely and consistently love the ‘self’ that I find mirrored in my consciousness. I know that You can bring me to appreciate the miracle and privilege of my existence!

How can I refuse to love what God loves! You treasure me, as You love and treasure each unique, human person that You create. Yet I need much grace to love this betrayer of my true being and purpose, myself! I betray Your loving creation of me by failing to be fully ‘the person I am created to be’ , and by failing in gratitude for God’s gift of myself.

You love each person so much that it led to the incarnation of Your divine Son, and to His redemption of humankind. Jesus is Your response to my betrayal of my destiny and me. Yet frequently I am unconvinced or indifferent before these astounding gifts of divine love for me and for every person!

Please give me grace to value each person, and my own life, as Your beloved and eternal gift. Inspire me with faith and gratitude for the gift of myself, for the lives of dear ones and of all people. Grant that these human gifts are shaped by Your love to become everlasting gifts to You, and through You, eternal gifts to each other person.
Through Jesus, You taught us that cheerful, loving mutual service of others leads to fulfilment of Your creative will. Therefore, give me grace to faithfully say ‘yes’ to Your loving purpose by active respect and charity to others and me. Delight Yourself in me by forming me into the unselfish, joyful, helpful and prayerful person You dreamed me to be for You and others’ souls for time and eternity. 1999

And:

Jesus, self-awareness gives me a great gift. With its desires and attachments, it teaches me how much caring and blessing I desire, and therefore, I better understand others’ needs. Even my selfishness renders me better equipped to help others in their needs. Help me, then to grow more generous and serving of others in their needs and sorrows.

I desire all good, no less for ANY person than the most that God’s love can give anyone.

My life, prayer, Masses and all my Communions are equally, totally, given to and shared with each of my family, with each soul in Purgatory, and with EVERY person however unknown or “unworthy” from all ages, races or religions. For each, I desire all blessing. To each I give ALL that God gives to me.
.

Awesome!!!

 

[DPMartin]

Hello… over and over again I hear about “self love” and the evils of falling into that. So often I wonder if that is part of the problems that I have in live.(I love myself too much and that is holding me back type thoughts) When I try to work on that problem I find it to be confusing… perhaps my confusion is based on some type of boundaries issues that I have … I don’t know.

Can someone help me understand this and where the evil of self love falls??

I wish I had good examples to provide, but since I don’t completely understand the problem I can’t muster up good examples.

As Jesus directed…we are to love others as we love ourselves…and treat others how we would like to be treated… which leads me to believe that we are to love our selves and care and look out for ourselves. Where do the problems of self love start?

Any thoughts?

Terry

Terry

Love thy neighbor?

If you love yourself, then you love that which you perceive is good for you, but according to who? Yourself or God?

Mt:22:37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38: This is the first and great commandment.
39: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

What the Lord Jesus said He also said to Israel in the desert

Lev:19:18: Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Basically Jesus said “And the second is like unto it” and “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” He did not say these are the Law. He was saying that on these is the reason for the Law and the Commandments. If you disregard the Law and the Commandments then you disregard how to love thy neighbour as thyself.

Since the second is like unto the first. Then consider, you know that this is true, that which is of God is good for you, for only God is Good and says what is good, is good. Therefore that which is of God, is also good for thy neighbor. Jesus came in Grace and Truth and gave Grace and Truth (needles to say, of God) to all who would receive. In loving neighbor and brother, giving that which is of the Father.

 

[homewardangel]

Thank you so much for your replies… as you can imagine the replies have given me some food for thought.

I will have to let this percolate… but I am sure I will have some follow up points

 

[homewardangel]

it does require balance to work out what Jesus meant when He said, "Love others as yourself’ e.g in (Mark 12:28-31).
You may have noticed that if you don’t love yourself in the right way, not just a self-centered love, then you find it very hard to be loving towards others.
I already wrote some stuff when trying to work it out for myself, as I do have a tendency to turn against myself sometimes, especially when I make mistakes or my husband is angry with me.
Self-love, can be selfish and not considerate of others, but a love of self as a child of God is a reflection of loving others as children of God and giving them our practical acts of kindness, and our compassion and understanding.

I agree, the older I get the more I focus on striking a balance on many,many things. Not loving yourself enough (which I believe I had that problem earlier in life and struggle with even now) allows others to act improper towards you… which is also wrong. I would find that I would let others say and do things to me that I would never in a million years say or do to another person….and I would even catch myself saying things to myself that I would never say to another person. (that is a hard habit to break)

There are obvious acts of selfish self love (i.e. man leaves wife to be with another woman, husbands runs with buddies all of the time ignoring home and family, wife shops too much for her own clothes, hair, ect….countless examples) I feel it must be the less obvious and harmful acts that I get caught up on.

Now I am thinking it is the threshold that I have to think about - you know when does the self love become unbalanced. That line in the sand that is not clearly marked - so I want to err on the side of caution, but maybe too cautious:shrug:

Just as a simple example… I may want to talk to someone and get to know them - but hold back because I feel as tho I will bother them… they don’t want to talk to me…what do I have to say that they would care about. By contrast I see many others going on and on like everyone in the world cares what they have to say and that everyone around them should stop what they are doing just for them

Since the second is like unto the first. Then consider, you know that this is true, that which is of God is good for you, for only God is Good and says what is good, is good. Therefore that which is of God, is also good for thy neighbor. Jesus came in Grace and Truth and gave Grace and Truth (needles to say, of God) to all who would receive. In loving neighbor and brother, giving that which is of the Father.

I am not sure that I completely understand your thought…maybe it is in the lines of what I have started to tell my kids when I want them to make their own decisions, but want them to think about it. I tell them “do what is best for you” with that meaning that not everything you want is good for you. You have to think about the true good… for your heart mind, body and soul

 

[DPMartin]

I am not sure that I completely understand your thought…maybe it is in the lines of what I have started to tell my kids when I want them to make their own decisions, but want them to think about it. I tell them “do what is best for you” with that meaning that not everything you want is good for you. You have to think about the true good… for your heart mind, body and soul

homewardangel

thanks for the reply

This may be a hard one.

Ask yourself, is all your expectations and desires unto the Lord, or unto you? Do you place all your cares before the Lord asking His expectation and desire therein. Accepting and agreeing to His Judgment. The Lord our God knows what is good for us. We may think, but God knows.

The Lord our God is not a taker of reward, He is our reward.

Hope that helps in some way.

 

[homewardangel]

Ask yourself, is all your expectations and desires unto the Lord, or unto you? Do you place all your cares before the Lord asking His expectation and desire therein. Accepting and agreeing to His Judgment. The Lord our God knows what is good for us. We may think, but God knows.

I do this - or at least I try. (I am only human - I do fail on a regular basis). There in lies my problem. Its not that I don’t trust God’s plan or judgement for my life - the problem is that I don’t trust myself… I don’t trust that I would understand what God would be tellng me. After all God doesn’t take control, we are not robots. He gave us free will… it is that free will that causes me concern on your statement.

Remember the joke about the blonde who prayed to God every night to win the lottery and finally after many nights God answered her saying “you need to buy the lottery ticket dear”. God may have given her the winning numbers but she never bought the ticket to allow herself to win. God was trying to help her but she kept getting in her own way. (it is only a joke but I find it to be a good metaphor as well)

That would be the number one problem that I currently struggle with…I 100% try to surrender to God’s will, but I don’t know that I understand what he would be telling me his will for me is. Life does require action on our end

Any thoughts or suggestion???

 

[JohnJFarren]

THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL 1 Cor 15:28
Hello homewardangel – 24 June 2011
You have posed a very important and interesting question.

It’s not self love that’s really the problem but rather self-centeredness. If we approach the problem thinking in terms of self-centeredness, and where things should be centered, I think things begin easier to understand.

There are persons whom we love – and God Knows this – to whom we are excessively attached. And considering we are in process, continuing to grow throughout our lives, I think this is “normal.” But it is something in need of God’s Work in us together with our cooperation. Our wife … our children … our husband … of course we’re to love all these but the fact is we love them usually excessively.

Similarly with ourselves. Of course we are to love ourselves … properly … which we almost never do. But we’re growing … and God Knows that and Loves us as we are.

God must be the CENTER of all our loves and (proper) attachments. We do NOT love God first – because God’s not even in the “ball park” – He OWNS the “ball park.”

Whenever we’re stuck in whether or not we’re loving ourselves properly, think in terms of whether we’re being self-centered OR is this matter in accord with loving God and BECAUSE of our love of God, loving ourselves.

Self-centeredness > no. Self-loving, with God First > yes.
Perhaps this will stimulate some thinking in the right way.
John (JohnJFarren) Trinity5635@aol.com

 

[homewardangel]

hhmmm…more thoughts to process to help me grow…many trains of thoughts here

It’s not self love that’s really the problem but rather self-centeredness. If we approach the problem thinking in terms of self-centeredness, and where things should be centered, I think things begin easier to understand.

I agree - this makes sense to me. Many times I have found that I make personal and spritual growth “when I get over myself”. When I am able to forget how it affects me and look at how others are being affected… the decisions are easier to make. But not every instance is so easy to “get over myself” and very seldom is it clear how others are being affected in a given situation. My struggle is how do I know how others are being affected and how God wants me to act/react for others???

There are persons whom we love – and God Knows this – to whom we are excessively attached. And considering we are in process, continuing to grow throughout our lives, I think this is “normal.” But it is something in need of God’s Work in us together with our cooperation. Our wife … our children … our husband … of course we’re to love all these but the fact is we love them usually excessively.

I never thought that we loved some “excessively”…maybe you can help me understand what you mean. I believe this confuses me becaust I expect that there are some people that we will love more than others… primarily based on our “calling” in life. (Perhaps part of my current struggle is the discerning of what my “calling” in life)

I understood that based on our “calling” in life would be how our love for God would be expressed. A priest’s life would show God’s love differently than a parent’s life would. If a mother and father spends most of their time loving and caring for their family I would not see that as “excessive” love. I would understand that to be the correct love… a parent’s job is to care for the family…spending time in church, in missions, volunteering in shelters are all very good things - but for a mother or father to chose these things (excessively) over their family’s needs would have me questioning why they would do that. I also understood that a parent’s love for their children and a spouse’s love for one another was an expression of God’s love. Which is different that the love we have for close friends, neighbors or coworkers. Have you ever felt as if God has put someone in your life - so clearly they touched your life it was clearly from God. How could you not feel closer to that person than to others?

 

[MindOverMatter2]

Many people lack proper self-esteem, making it difficult for them to genuinely value others. However, Scripture exhorts, “value yourself at your proper worth. Who can justify a man who runs himself down, or respect a man who despises himself.”[Ecclesiasticus 10:28-29] If we do fail to love ourselves correctly, we cannot accept God’s love. Let us never imagine ourselves hidden from Your mercy*: ‘“Can anyone hide in a dark corner without my seeing him?’ asks the Lord.” *[Jeremiah 23-24]
.

I am grateful for this amazing truth. Thank you for your contribution, and God bless you. I have often failed to love my self and even now it is something i am struggling with. Its one of the most difficult things in the world to truly love yourself. All sin is a failure to love and express our true value.

 

[Fan_of_Francis]

I am grateful for this amazing truth. Thank you for your contribution, and God bless you. I have often failed to love my self and even now it is something i am struggling with. Its one of the most difficult things in the world to truly love yourself. All sin is a failure to love and express our true value.

amen

 

[JohnJFarren]

THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL
Hello Trishie –
Thanks for your two very excellent quotes > Ecclus 10:28-29 and Jer 23:24.

I will treasure these in my collection of “special” and make good use of them.

Blessing/Sharing with you Trinity in JesusChrist! John (JohnJFarren)

 

[JohnJFarren]

THE FATHER & I ARE ONE … & YOU ARE IN ME
Hello again homeward angel – 26 June 2011
Two things I’d share with you. It’s important to differentiate between our feelings, emotions and the choices of our free will. I may not feel like praying … but I freely choose to pray. I may not feel like forgiving someone … but I freely choose to forgive that person. My feelings are not always under my complete control … they are not always I (me). The choices I make with my free will are I (me) … they go to make up who I am. Do not see yourself according to your feelings (sometimes, of course, they may be good and right) but examine the free choices you make. You’ll see yourself much better.

My other sharing has to do with being excessively attached to someone. A story > Two Buddhist monks, a younger in training, and an older, the teacher, are on a journey by foot from their monastery to a far away place. On the way they come to a dirty creek, muddy and with awkward stones to step on in crossing. Standing confused before the creek is a beautiful young lady dressed in beautiful Japanese clothes and with lovely shoes. She doesn’t know what to do to get across. The older monk approaches her, speaks with her briefly, picks her up in his arms and carries her across the creek, and sets her down. The younger monk, seeing this, almost collapses in the creek (a slight exaggeration, I confess). But he is speechless. The two monks continue on their journey. About an hour later the young monk, having recovered, speaks his confusion. “How could you take that beautiful lady in your arms? and carry her? across the creek?” “Oh,” the older monk said, “are you still thinking about her?”

I think I would spoil this story if I explained it. I think it’s meaning is quite clear to you.

We are to love this creature and that creature, and to love in special ways those close to us and bonded to us … wife, husband, children, parents, etc., etc. But if we find they occupy our minds and hearts excessively and interfere with other duties and responsibilities, then we know our love for them is excessive. “Where our hearts are, there are our treasures.” And God and his service are always “#1” in our hearts … or should be.

Blessings to us all (me too) … John (JohnJFarren)

 

[homewardangel]

John,

thank you for your expanded thoughts…

We are to love this creature and that creature, and to love in special ways those close to us and bonded to us … wife, husband, children, parents, etc., etc. But if we find they occupy our minds and hearts excessively and interfere with other duties and responsibilities, then we know our love for them is excessive. “Where our hearts are, there are our treasures.” And God and his service are always “#1” in our hearts … or should be.

This I understand… but this could be with many things - correct? The alcohol or drug to the addict, the new love occupying your thoughts, your worries about family or financial matters, work, ect… I do not mean that you are incorrect, but I don’t call these “excessive love” matters. I see these as anxiety or cognitive distractions (not that my verbage is correct - this is just how I separate them for myself… those are things that I am possibly over processing or anxious about) That being said, it probably would be those matters that I ask God to help me with - and I am unable to find a definite answer from God on. If I could find what God wanted on those matters then I would not be anxious about the matter.

Two things I’d share with you. It’s important to differentiate between our feelings, emotions and the choices of our free will. I may not feel like praying … but I freely choose to pray. I may not feel like forgiving someone … but I freely choose to forgive that person. My feelings are not always under my complete control … they are not always I (me). The choices I make with my free will are I (me) … they go to make up who I am. Do not see yourself according to your feelings (sometimes, of course, they may be good and right) but examine the free choices you make. You’ll see yourself much better.

I do work separate my feelings and emotions from my will - not that I am perfect at this but I am aware of the matter… but feelings prompt actions many times. (i.e. when we find hope in a certain matter that prompts us to act; fear prompts us to defend our self or find safety - but we have to control how we react to these emotions to be sure our actions are appropriate)

Let me provide an example… a person is living alone, for years but they don’t want to live alone. This causes them lonlieness and anxiety - so of course they want to make a change to ease their anxiety and lonliness. How are they to know if living alone what God wants for this person? Is the single life God’s plan for them or are they making choices that have led them to be alone in life? Are they getting in God’s - and their own way?? (going to the wrong places, isolating themselves, bitter personality - a million possibilities here). Do they love their own thoughts of what they want too much to accept God’s way? (so busy not wanting to be alone that they can not accept God’s plan for them to be single)

 

[JohnJFarren]

Greetings Terry – 27 June 2011
You mentioned things you didn’t term “excessive” loves > “alcohol or drug to the addict, the new love occupying your thoughts, your worries about family or financial matters, work …” I don’t want to lump these together. Certainly the addicts “loves” are very different from the others. And, although we are to be concerned about family, money, work … we are not to worry about them (that is the ideal anyway).

Would you say these “loves” are not only good but perfect. I’m sure you wouldn’t. Well, all I’m saying is that to the extent they are not perfect, they are imperfect, and therefore excessive.

You asked how is a person to know whether this path or that one is God’s Will for him or her. Terry, there is very seldom a clear and easy answer. I know. I’ve walked down this road many, many times. There are times when I’ve begged God to enlighten me. Sometimes God has. But more often God has not. God says to me in my mind/heart, “John, have I not said you are gods? Have I not created you in Our image and likeness? … and given you an intellect and a power of choice? Have I not given you spiritual friends and counselors? No, John. I will not decide this for you. YOU decide.” Terry, God don’t want no puppets. He would rather we made a mistake and learn … than not to grow and mature.

Has not this been very difficult for me? Yes. But I’ve done it. Repeatedly.

Here are several things you may already be doing > regularly pray to the Holy Spirit for help … talk with and consult with your spiritual friends … think of Jesus’ applicable words in Scripture … and Old Testament words too. This may not lead you to certainty in your choice … but it will strengthen your understanding and your faith and trust in Divine Love … and give you the boldness God likes in His sons and daughters.

Let us pray pro invicem for each other John

 

[homewardangel]

John - thank you for your posts and words for me to ponder upon. But again I just find that I have spent time trying to figure something out that I can not. I am going to rest my mind for a bit on this matter. It has brought me to a point of resignation.

Take care

 

[JohnJFarren]

“DO NOT BE AFRAID … I AM WITH YOU”
Hi Terry, homewardangel –

You grapple with something you cannot understand. This is a blessing from God. It is a blessing to know that we cannot at this time understand something. The Holy Spirit continues to dwell in you. Rest your mind. Your Love is growing.

I too have several “points of resignation.” I carry an incurable wound … and God Wills I carry it.

At the moment you are where God wants you. Be encouraged. The two of you … God and you … will continue to walk together.

I Bless you. Please bless me. John (JohnJFarren)