What does God want?

[Misguidedyouth]

Hi,

I’m reading the Bible and am now past Chap. 21 where God tests Abrahams faith by asking him to sacrafice his son. Throughout the Bible, I have heard that people have been spoken to by God. Well Im having some trouble. I have lost touch with God. Im having atheistic thoughts and I had a thought that I couldnt drive away about God doesnt exist, but I dont believe it. I mean, I don’t want to, but maybe too many thoughts are making me believe this? Can repetitive thoughts make me believe things Idont want to? I feel that talking to a priest might be enough, and I realized what a terrible gluttonous person I am. Im selfish and Ive treated people badly. Why cant I hear God? I wish God would tell me what I want. In the Bible people have been spoken to by God in dreams, all my dreams are about me sinnning and doing horrible occult things. Im scared. Is this a message for me to accept that Im going to hell or what? I dont know what to think, I wish God would tell me what I could do to serve him. What does God want of me? How can I know what is really God and what is my subconcious fear of hell?

Thanks for any help

 

[CountrySteve]

rember those athest thoughts are of satan

 

[the_phoenix]

I feel that talking to a priest might be enough,

I hope that you will indeed see a priest. Seems to me like it would be a real good idea to go to Confession, where there is mercy and healing.

Today is the Feast Day of St. Philip of Neri, the joyful saint with a great sense of humor. St. Philp of Neri, pray for us!

Praying for you from today’s Liturgy of the Hours:

Prayers and Intercessions
Christ has risen from the dead and is always present in his Church. We reverently pray to him:
– Lord, remain with us.

Lord, Jesus, triumphant victor over sin and death,
you who live for ever and ever, be present among us.
– Lord, remain with us.

Come to us in your invincible power
and demonstrate God’s good will towards us.
– Lord, remain with us.

Come to the aid of this divided and discordant world,
for you alone have the power to renew souls and reconcile them.
– Lord, remain with us.

Keep strong our faith in final victory:
make us steadfast in hope for your coming.
– Lord, remain with us.

 

[kimbari]

What Country Steve said. Sinful thoughts that come out of nowhere are generally satanic attacks. When they happen, firmly turn your mind to good and beautiful things and pray. I’ve heard that satan hates the Rosary.

*…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things. * Philippians 4:8

BTW, if you’re reading through the Bible you should start with the New Testament. Less confusion that way.

Take care.

 

[Luke65]

I second what others have already said. But let me address a couple specific points.

I feel that talking to a priest might be enough, and I realized what a terrible gluttonous person I am. Im selfish and Ive treated people badly. Why cant I hear God?

I think you’ve just answered your own question. Sin blinds our minds so we cannot see the truth; because God withdraws grace when we sin, just as he rewards us with more grace when we cooperate with His grace, and have a charitable love in our hearts for our fellow man and for God. So pray to God for the graces of faith and repentance - right now! Before you read on…

I wish God would tell me what I want. In the Bible people have been spoken to by God in dreams, all my dreams are about me sinnning and doing horrible occult things. Im scared.

Well, what does the Bible say? Let’s see…

Job 33 (NIV)

14 For God does speak—now one way, now another—
though man may not perceive it.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men
as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak in their ears
and terrify them with warnings,
17 to turn man from wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,
18 to preserve his soul from the pit,**
his life from perishing by the sword.[c]

Well, it appears as though God has been speaking to you! But you have “not perceived it” - yet.

Is this a message for me to accept that Im going to hell or what? I dont know what to think, I wish God would tell me what I could do to serve him. What does God want of me? How can I know what is really God and what is my subconcious fear of hell?

I think God just answered all of those questions! Far from being a message that you’re going to Hell, He is “terrifying” you with these dreams precisely to “preserve your soul from the pit”. Perhaps He is showing you “doing horrible occult things” so that you will recognize just how much your actual sins offend Him. This is certainly how you should understand these things. Let God lead you back to that narrow path that leads to salvation. Go to confession; receive the Sacraments in faith; obey His laws, always remembering to pray for His help so that you can do these things. Then His will for you will become clearer and clearer. And remember, God chastises everyone He calls a son (Hebrews 12). So rejoice! You were made a son of God in your Baptism, and He has not forgotten you.

Thanks for any help

And thank you for edifying the faith of others, giving us yet more proof of the truth of God’s Word. God bless.**

 

[Edward_H]

God seeks total union with you. Ask Him to convert your doubt into abandonment into your Father’s arms.

Give Him your doubt, in other words. Give it to Him so He can do something useful with it.

It’s all about total intimate union with Him. Ask Him to take away anything that’s in the way…your doubt, your thoughts, your pride, your sins, your past, your worries, anything.

It’s utterly simple…He wants it so…and we tend to foul it up.

 

[GloriousOrder]

Remember, dear friend, that God does not demand that we “do this” or “don’t do that”. Identity is the whole point of this glorious existence He has gifted us. God does not want our hearts to be sorrowful because we don’t do something or because we do something; no!, He wants us to identify ourselves inwardly as true children of His own. The more you order your soul and all your thoughts to God, and less and less to what “God wants”, the more joy and peace you will have. You can talk to God and joke with Him in your deepest thoughts, you know. He’s not a clay tablet or a statue or a hateful, abusive father. God is our LORD, our heavenly comforter, our advocate; yes, He is our judge, but He will judge us on how strongly we have loved, and how much love has permeated our lives and actions.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said it simply: Love God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength; love yourself as you love God, and love others as you love yourself. If the first third is rightly-ordered, the second third will be rightly-ordered, and the last third will be rightly-ordered. It is a hierarchy. Loving God is thinking about Him in all things, praying constantly all day; by that, I mean just having the blessed Trinity on your mind, thanking Christ our Lord for every moment and every event. Say to yourself “Lord, that was a pretty strong gust - do you have to push me around like that?” God is Three Persons, three holy blessed Persons - one of whom has become man! He knows what it’s like!

If you love a person, you talk with him and want to be with him, and you also want the good for him. Truly loving someone, wanting that union, also means that you wish that person happiness, health, and welfare. Now, if you want union with almighty God, what do you have to do? Since union with Him is manifestly close at hand (He being infinite and thus EVERYWHERE), all that remains is to wish the good for Him; however, if you truly will the Good for your beloved, God, it means you have to become good, joyous, happy, childlike, and without anxiety yourself. If you want union with someone but also want their good, after all, you must be virtuous - or else your union will not make the beloved happy! It’s a two-fold exercise.

God WANTS YOU! He wants every sentient being in His embrace forever. It’s really not that difficult.

 

[kayla]

" Lord I believe, help my unbelief"
Mark 9:21
Jesus says…All things are possible to him who believes.

 

[Monica4316]

Hi,

I’m reading the Bible and am now past Chap. 21 where God tests Abrahams faith by asking him to sacrafice his son. Throughout the Bible, I have heard that people have been spoken to by God. Well Im having some trouble. I have lost touch with God. Im having atheistic thoughts and I had a thought that I couldnt drive away about God doesnt exist, but I dont believe it. I mean, I don’t want to, but maybe too many thoughts are making me believe this? Can repetitive thoughts make me believe things Idont want to? I feel that talking to a priest might be enough, and I realized what a terrible gluttonous person I am. Im selfish and Ive treated people badly. Why cant I hear God? I wish God would tell me what I want. In the Bible people have been spoken to by God in dreams, all my dreams are about me sinnning and doing horrible occult things. Im scared. Is this a message for me to accept that Im going to hell or what? I dont know what to think, I wish God would tell me what I could do to serve him. What does God want of me? How can I know what is really God and what is my subconcious fear of hell?

Thanks for any help

Hi there, well faith is a choice… it’s not a thought or a feeling. No amount of temptations can make you lose your faith if you don’t consent to them, and if you fight them. In the end, whether you believe or not, is your choice, in your free will. Faith won’t just “leave”, if you don’t let it. If you reach out to God for help and pray (for example, pray the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy chaplet) - He will help you to hold on to your faith.

I suggest maybe also reading about the Saints (such as St Padre Pio) and different miracles in the Church, like Eucharistic miracles… and books like “Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel that show historical evidence for the Resurrection. God is definitely real

what does God want? He wants us to know Him, to learn to love Him, so that He can share with us His own life, and so that we can be in union with Him. He created us for Himself, and to give us the joy of knowing Him, because He is our ultimate joy and happiness. We dont always see that here on earth, but we will see it in Heaven. And there are many people who have already found it to be true here on earth. We grow spiritually through trusting Him, receiving the Sacraments, and prayer.

Now the fact that God doesn’t speak to you, - that is not extraordinary, - He only directly speaks to people when there is a definite reason. (like if He wants them to communicate something about Him to others). But He can speak to you in your heart, just trust Him and grow closer to Him… but don’t seek any experiences, that is not what our faith is about. Maybe it might help you to go to Eucharistic Adoration… Jesus is directly present there, go there, trust Him, open up and just talk to Him talk as you would talk to a friend. Trust that He loves you very much. (after all, He died just to bring you back to Him).

As for talking to a priest… that is a good idea. Try to talk to a priest. If you feel guilty for your sins, - well the answer to that is making a good Confession tell all your sins to the priest in Confession and receive absolution, and trust that God forgives you. If you are honest and don’t leave anything out intentionally, - God will forgive all your sins.

Remember… “perfect love casts out fear”. Maybe it might help you to read books by the Saints about loving God. For example, St Liguori’s “The practice of the love of Jesus Christ”, or “the Introduction to the Devout Life” by St Francis de Sales.

God bless

 

[Misguidedyouth]

Remember, dear friend, that God does not demand that we “do this” or “don’t do that”. Identity is the whole point of this glorious existence He has gifted us. God does not want our hearts to be sorrowful because we don’t do something or because we do something; no!, He wants us to identify ourselves inwardly as true children of His own. The more you order your soul and all your thoughts to God, and less and less to what “God wants”, the more joy and peace you will have. You can talk to God and joke with Him in your deepest thoughts, you know. He’s not a clay tablet or a statue or a hateful, abusive father. God is our LORD, our heavenly comforter, our advocate; yes, He is our judge, but He will judge us on how strongly we have loved, and how much love has permeated our lives and actions.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said it simply: Love God with your whole heart, mind, soul, and strength; love yourself as you love God, and love others as you love yourself. If the first third is rightly-ordered, the second third will be rightly-ordered, and the last third will be rightly-ordered. It is a hierarchy. Loving God is thinking about Him in all things, praying constantly all day; by that, I mean just having the blessed Trinity on your mind, thanking Christ our Lord for every moment and every event. Say to yourself “Lord, that was a pretty strong gust - do you have to push me around like that?” God is Three Persons, three holy blessed Persons - one of whom has become man! He knows what it’s like!

If you love a person, you talk with him and want to be with him, and you also want the good for him. Truly loving someone, wanting that union, also means that you wish that person happiness, health, and welfare. Now, if you want union with almighty God, what do you have to do? Since union with Him is manifestly close at hand (He being infinite and thus EVERYWHERE), all that remains is to wish the good for Him; however, if you truly will the Good for your beloved, God, it means you have to become good, joyous, happy, childlike, and without anxiety yourself. If you want union with someone but also want their good, after all, you must be virtuous - or else your union will not make the beloved happy! It’s a two-fold exercise.

God WANTS YOU! He wants every sentient being in His embrace forever. It’s really not that difficult.

Thank you for your post. It’s helped me a lot, as did all posts. This is a great website that helps me a lot.