What is most needed to live the faith better today?

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Christphr said:
What is most needed to live the faith better today?
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Stay in a state of sanctifying grace and be charitable.

John 15
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

12 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
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Catechism of the Catholic Church
618 The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”.452 But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, “the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery” is offered to all men.453 He calls his disciples to “take up [their] cross and follow [him]”,454 for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps."455 In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.456 This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.457
Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.458
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452 1 Tim 2:5.
453 GS 22 § 5; cf. § 2.
454 Mt 16:24.
455 1 Pet 2:21.
456 Cf Mk 10:39; Jn 21:18-19; Col 1:24.
457 Cf. Lk 2:35.
458 St. Rose of Lima, cf. P. Hansen, Vita mirabilis (Louvain, 1668).
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I’d also say prayer is first and foremost. The sacraments of course as they help you in grace. But if you don’t pray then you will fall away from even those, especially in times of crisis like we are having now. Especially mental prayer and every day as much as you can. God is your friend treat him like one, you wouldn’t go days without chatting to your best and closest friend (especially if he was right next to you in fact in you) would you? And also different kinds of prayer… have a good heart to heart (meditation) now and again. If you wish to grow in faith aim for 15 mins a day and progress this. Choose a church approved method though not some Eastern equivalent or new age thing.
Prayer will help you stay in a state of grace and so be able to discern and do Gods will which is really the point of everything.
God bless
 
Perseverance, patience, and humility. And the ability to recognize and respect your emotions without being a slave to them. That’s a big one that’s pretty rare nowadays.
 
Making it to mass and confession if you can, and praying throughout the day.
Talking about the faith and praying with others when we can .It does seem there are more opportunities than than usual to help others in need.
Offering up to God all our trials ,offering up everything we do each day out of love for Him and for repreation.
 
In an era of overwhelming distraction, focus.
 
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God created us to give & receive love in a familial relationships. So, I would say -
reception of the sacraments (where our filial relationship with God is created and nurtured)
the works of mercy (in which we respond to God’s love by loving within the familial relationship of the Body of Christ.)
 
Prayers and determination? Several times, I’ve failed in my faith as I’ve almost given up prayers so many times. I haven’t done prayers when I’m feeling low ( my “feelings” that God has given on me) when it’s actually at these times I should be taking refuge to God through prayers.
 
Also find some friends who will encourage your faith and not tear it down.
You shouldn’t shun non believers.
But you do need to find your own “tribe”.
 
Faith seems like a strange concept, it almost feels like you have to prove to yourself that you trust in God.

In 2011 I had tests done for cancer, about a month later the doctor phoned and said he urgently wanted to see me, it was non – Hodgkin Lymphoma. This was a name I recognised, our friend had this cancer, and died a few months later.
Being told I had cancer was out of my hands, there was nothing I could do about it. But I still had choices, I could dictate how the cancer was going to affect my mind and my ability to cope with the news.
A few minutes after putting the phone down; I prayed for the wisdom, strength and peace to do God’s will, whether the cancer was a death sentence, or just an inconvenience. I can only say that from the moment of making this prayer, I have experienced a profound sense of peace, and the thought of cancer has never troubled me for a moment.
Cancer could be a truly worrying process, you wait a month or two for tests, you wait for the results, and you wait for more tests. I have never once prayed for healing, at the age of 62, the prayer for healing seemed too complicated, it might or might not be my time to go. Recognising this profound sense of peace comes from God, gives me reason to be thankful.
 
0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
Also find some friends who will encourage your faith and not tear it down.
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How do you find this? Everyone is so busy, and it’s doesn’t seem ppl in my church socialize much. I’ve only found a couple of people to have coffee with in ten years of being a member.
 
Do you have coffee with them regularly or was it a one time thing.

I would say you don’t even have to be best pals.
Doing Bible Study or volunteer work will put you together with people from your church.

Although, what you describe seems to be pretty common, both for believers and non-believers, that it’s harder to find and maintain friends as grown ups
 
0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
Do you have coffee with them regularly or was it a one time thing.

I would say you don’t even have to be best pals.
Doing Bible Study or volunteer work will put you together with people from your church.

Although, what you describe seems to be pretty common, both for believers and non-believers, that it’s harder to find and maintain friends as grown ups
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I have coffee with one person about once a month. I am in a couple of ministries. I think that most people aren’t interested in the same kind of friendship as I am. And I’m sure it also has something to do with me, as I’m pretty introverted, so I’m not that open around people until I get to know them.
 
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Just so you know, it does take longer to make friends as an adult, and it’s not as close and intense as when we’re in higher school and college.

I’m saying this because I wan you to know it’s not necessarily your “fault” 🙂
 
I’m 54, lol. Why do you think the differences are which cause friendships to be less intense? We don’t have as much time, because we have more responsibilities. The formation of our values and ideas happen when we’re young, so we need people be our sounding board. Social media has reformed how friendship works. What else? Although I really feel like I need a sounding board, and I’m really interested in what and how others think. Some people, but not most, must feel the same, as that’s basically what CAF is.
 
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