What are some things an 18 year old can do on a daily basis to devote to god?

[helpme93]

I have just gone to confession for the first time and have confessed some awful sins. What are some prayers and rituals that I can do on a daily basis to help me stay living in Gods grace? I really only pray at night, but I feel that I say the same thing every time and that they are shallow.

Also, the priest who gave me confession asked me to read this passage:

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with Thanksgiving” (Colossians Ch. 2 verses 6-7)

I think I get the main points of this, but could you all expound upon it so I can fully understand?

I am also awful at reading the bible. What are some ways that a person my age can read the bible, and actually understand it and reflect upon it?

Thank you all so much. Without this support group I would never have had the courage to go to confession and cleanse my soul of my mortal sins!

God Bless! :angel1:

 

[JoyfulLife]

I’d like to hear peoples answers to this.

For prayer, you could alternate with Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, meditating on the Stations of the Cross, Divine Office, etc.

I recommend getting the videos from Fr. Dubay “Prayer Quests” and “Contemplation” as well as his book “Fire Within.”

 

[Kay_Cee]

One of the best ways to stay in God’s grace is to get into the habit of frequent confession.

Set yourself a goal of confessing your sins at least once a month or so. Then stick to that schedule.

Besides wiping out our sins, the sacrament of confession also gives you grace to help you keep from sinning.

 

[anonymous_in_fl]

A few suggestions might be:

Frequent confession; daily recitation of the rosary; daily time set aside for silent prayer and/or reading of scripture; attend Mass daily, or, as often during the week as your schedule will allow.

Get involved with groups and activities at your parish. Be with like-minded Catholics!

 

[rossum]

What are some prayers and rituals that I can do on a daily basis to help me stay living in Gods grace?

Try Saying the Jesus Prayer and see if it suits you.

If you do take it up then please heed Bishop Ware’s warning:“But those who have no personal contact with starets [a teacher] may still practice the Prayer without any fear, so long as they do so only for limited periods - initially, for no more than ten or fifteen minutes at a time - and so long as they make no attempt to interfere with the body’s natural rhythms.”

rossum

 

[Rence]

What about being involved in or starting a community service for your community? Doing something for the community is important. Volunteering at your local Catholic hospital, or nursing home, or orphanage, or animal anticruelty facility? Start a young people’s group at your parish that does volunteer work somewhere in some capacity. Babysitting for a family that can’t otherwise afford to get a babysitter either for free or at a discount…or barter. Help your elderly or otherwise unable neighbors with their yardwork, housework, run errands.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are much more dramatic things, but there are plenty of “little things”:

-Like thanking God upon arising in the morning for the mere fact that you DID get up in the morning.

-Like thanking God for the taste of strawberry jam on your morning muffin.

-Like resolving not to complain at all, even to yourself, of the difficulties presented in your day, and offering them up for others.

-Like adopting the practice of saying a prayer, promptly at 3:00 p.m. (or some other hour meaningful for you) without fail, for God’s regaining souls presently lost in sin.

There is a really neat snippet from Luke 2:29 which I believe is in the “Liturgy of the Hours”; said before going to bed, that goes something like “Now, you let your servant depart in peace…” In essence, thanking Him for the day, acknowledging one’s relationship to God and the fact that the whole day was at least intended as a service.