Spiritual Low

[JA25]

Lately, I haven’t had the motivation to pray or talk to God. I just don’t feel inspired to keep up with our relationship. I don’t like feeling this way, however. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

 

[EmeraldWings]

yes, ignore your feelings.
those good feelings you get from God are not essential to your prayer life or your relationship with God or anything else,
when we get feelings of motivation or consolation, they are a gift from God, and they are only meant to help us when we need it, or whenever God sees fit, but they are not meant to be there always,
at first, when we are in the infancy of our spiritual life, God uses those kinds of consolation to attract us to Him and prayer and everything else, but they are a crutch, and they prevent us from advancing in the spiritual life, because as long as we have them, we feel content where we are,
but when God takes those feelings away, it is then that you really see yourself,
for example, someone might really think they are holy and devout and really love God because they “FEEL” it…but then when God takes those feelings away, then it gets hard…and it is then that your love is truly tested,
before God was showing His love to you, now it is your turn to show your love to God, and how you do that is, despite how you feel, keep going, keep praying attentively, keep going to mass and confession, keep practicing your virtues, keep reading good catholic books(www.tanbooks.com btw)
keep talking to God and showing Him that you love Him simply by doing everything you do for Him, especially by accepting and offering up all your sufferings, why? because that is the most selfless proof of love you can give, to endure what you don’t want to do shows God that you love Him more then yourself, that you will deny your own comfort, your own ease, for the love of Him,
Jesus showed us how much He loved us by enduring many cruel physical torments, by going through the most acute and painful mental anguish, and also by taking on the guilt of all the sins of the world, have you ever felt guilt for something you did? and likewise did not feel guilt for what you should have felt guilt for? well just imagine, Jesus felt the guilt of EVERY sin, the ones we felt guilty for, the ones we didn’t, the sins of those who don’t care at all, every sin big and small, and He felt that guilt as a perfect person would, because He is infinitely perfect, He felt an infinite guilt…
now, just be thankful that God is not asking such sacrifices from you, but remember this image of Jesus suffering, and use that as your motive to go on, if you do everything out of love for Jesus this way, then your love will be of a perfect kind, whereas to do everything because we “FEEL” good, is an imperfect motive, and is not true love.

God right now is calling you to a higher sanctity, or in other words, He is calling you to a higher love of Him and of your neighbor, and a practice of more than ordinary virtues,
of course don’t get me wrong, those consolations you get from God are good things, and you will get them again, but only when God sees necessary,
and not that i know all the reasons why God consoles us, but He will console you when you need the extra push, or just simply because He wants you to feel consoled because He loves you so much.
so, when God gives us those feelings, it’s because He loves us, and when He takes them away, it’s because He loves us, but in either situation, we should be grateful, we should be able to say “Thank you Jesus!” when we are consoled and also when we are not consoled, because we know that whether He gives or takes, it is always for our own great benefit,

well, i think that is enough for now, but here are a few things that i think will help you in your current situation -
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=18087275
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=18175319
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=13047443
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=12961507
audiosancto.org/

ok, hope this helps, take care.

 

[Scoobyshme]

yes, ignore your feelings.
those good feelings you get from God are not essential to your prayer life or your relationship with God or anything else,
when we get feelings of motivation or consolation, they are a gift from God, and they are only meant to help us when we need it, or whenever God sees fit, but they are not meant to be there always,
at first, when we are in the infancy of our spiritual life, God uses those kinds of consolation to attract us to Him and prayer and everything else, but they are a crutch, and they prevent us from advancing in the spiritual life, because as long as we have them, we feel content where we are,
but when God takes those feelings away, it is then that you really see yourself,
for example, someone might really think they are holy and devout and really love God because they “FEEL” it…but then when God takes those feelings away, then it gets hard…and it is then that your love is truly tested,
before God was showing His love to you, now it is your turn to show your love to God, and how you do that is, despite how you feel, keep going, keep praying attentively, keep going to mass and confession, keep practicing your virtues, keep reading good catholic books(www.tanbooks.com btw)
keep talking to God and showing Him that you love Him simply by doing everything you do for Him, especially by accepting and offering up all your sufferings, why? because that is the most selfless proof of love you can give, to endure what you don’t want to do shows God that you love Him more then yourself, that you will deny your own comfort, your own ease, for the love of Him,
Jesus showed us how much He loved us by enduring many cruel physical torments, by going through the most acute and painful mental anguish, and also by taking on the guilt of all the sins of the world, have you ever felt guilt for something you did? and likewise did not feel guilt for what you should have felt guilt for? well just imagine, Jesus felt the guilt of EVERY sin, the ones we felt guilty for, the ones we didn’t, the sins of those who don’t care at all, every sin big and small, and He felt that guilt as a perfect person would, because He is infinitely perfect, He felt an infinite guilt…
now, just be thankful that God is not asking such sacrifices from you, but remember this image of Jesus suffering, and use that as your motive to go on, if you do everything out of love for Jesus this way, then your love will be of a perfect kind, whereas to do everything because we “FEEL” good, is an imperfect motive, and is not true love.

God right now is calling you to a higher sanctity, or in other words, He is calling you to a higher love of Him and of your neighbor, and a practice of more than ordinary virtues,
of course don’t get me wrong, those consolations you get from God are good things, and you will get them again, but only when God sees necessary,
and not that i know all the reasons why God consoles us, but He will console you when you need the extra push, or just simply because He wants you to feel consoled because He loves you so much.
so, when God gives us those feelings, it’s because He loves us, and when He takes them away, it’s because He loves us, but in either situation, we should be grateful, we should be able to say “Thank you Jesus!” when we are consoled and also when we are not consoled, because we know that whether He gives or takes, it is always for our own great benefit,

well, i think that is enough for now, but here are a few things that i think will help you in your current situation -
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=18087275
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=18175319
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=13047443
gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=12961507
audiosancto.org/

ok, hope this helps, take care.

Well spoken! Uhh, I mean, written.

 

[ConservativeOne]

I think everyone goes through “dry spells”. I’m ashamed to say I know I should pray more than I do. My problem is laziness or distractions - TV for one - but, when alone, I do talk to God and Our Lady - daily and often - as I would speak to anyone. Although not formal prayers like the Rosary, etc., I talk to Them - while sitting and facing an image of Our Lady and quite often not planned - just spontaneous moments. My heart pours out to them all my thoughts, needs and hurts. And, while I’m looking at a picture or statue, my prayer is directed to Heaven - and I know they’re listening to my every word. It’s not the daily recitation of the Rosary or a novena - but I pour my heart out to God the Father, God the Son - and His Mother, Mary.

Pray for me, please - that my prayer regimen may increase. And just keep trying in small ways that could grow. God and Our Lady bless you.