What to do?

[ABitConfused]

I am an 18 (almost 19) year old girl. I like things such as movies, tv, books, video/computer games, Disneyland, frilly dresses. I have always thought these things were fun and felt grateful to have them. However, a lot of these things are not religious (or directly anyway). So I’m not sure they really bring me closer to God. God wants me to be as close as possible to Him right? So does watching/reading/etc and thinking about these things not bring me closer to God, therefore are against His will and sinful?

I feel a bit like I am worrying too much (I have anxiety issues) but at the same time I think it is a genuine concern. I want to follow God’s will. On the other hand I like these things and would like to continue enjoying them (and giving thanks to God for them). I don’t feel like I couldn’t give these things up but I don’t know… Does God want me to?

 

[empther]

I am an 18 (almost 19) year old girl. I like things such as movies, tv, books, video/computer games, Disneyland, frilly dresses.

There is nothing wrong with these things. God’s first words to Adam and Eve were not, “Become hermits, withdraw from the evil world, fast, sacrifice, and otherwise make your lives miserable for God.”
No.
God’s first words to Adam and Eve were, “Increase and multiply”.
That is,
enjoy life, find a good spouse, have a good time, and maybe once in a while go to Mass an Sunday.

God wants me to be as close as possible to Him right?

Yeah, but he doesn’t want every woman to be a cloistered nun praying to him every waking hour, or every man to be a monk doing the same.
Somebody has to have the kids, keep the human race going, keep the world working. Is this vocation any less worthy than being a nun or monk?
.

So does watching/reading/etc and thinking about these things not bring me closer to God, therefore are against His will and sinful?

On the contrary,
if it is your vocation to live in the world, raise a family, and all the rest,
and if this kind of life brings you happiness,
then this will make you closer to God.

I feel a bit like I am worrying too much

You do.
Lighten up. Don’t be afraid of the world. God will get you through it.

 

[empther]

In my book Empress Theresa,
18 year old Theresa Hartley achieves limitless powers and prevents global starvation from a change in the weather.

She’s not an outstandingly religious girl. She’s just an ordinary Catholic. She even says she’s ordinary: “Reporters want to interview me because I did remarkable things. I’m not remarkable. Millions of girls are just like me. Go interview them.”

But she saves seven billion lives.
It was the decent thing to do so she did it. She never gave a thought to this being God’s will. She did it because she had a good heart.
Was she close to God? You bet!
“Theresa is the right hand of God” --Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Scherzer

 

[angell1]

a proper balance is what’s necessary. don’t let thesse things take over so that it distracts you from God. though from the sounds of it, you are giving him thanks which is perfectly fine. even jesus and the apostles had banquets, went to weddings and received gifts once in a while

 

[Loving_disciple]

I am an 18 (almost 19) year old girl. I like things such as movies, tv, books, video/computer games, Disneyland, frilly dresses. I have always thought these things were fun and felt grateful to have them. However, a lot of these things are not religious (or directly anyway). So I’m not sure they really bring me closer to God. God wants me to be as close as possible to Him right? So does watching/reading/etc and thinking about these things not bring me closer to God, therefore are against His will and sinful?

I feel a bit like I am worrying too much (I have anxiety issues) but at the same time I think it is a genuine concern. I want to follow God’s will. On the other hand I like these things and would like to continue enjoying them (and giving thanks to God for them). I don’t feel like I couldn’t give these things up but I don’t know… Does God want me to?

There is nothing wrong with liking any of these things. However if you are spending more time with these things than God then it is could idolatry and it will pull you away from God. Just remember God comes first and everything else comes second.

 

[KittyKat33]

I am an 18 (almost 19) year old girl. I like things such as movies, tv, books, video/computer games, Disneyland, frilly dresses. I have always thought these things were fun and felt grateful to have them. However, a lot of these things are not religious (or directly anyway). So I’m not sure they really bring me closer to God. God wants me to be as close as possible to Him right? So does watching/reading/etc and thinking about these things not bring me closer to God, therefore are against His will and sinful?

I feel a bit like I am worrying too much (I have anxiety issues) but at the same time I think it is a genuine concern. I want to follow God’s will. On the other hand I like these things and would like to continue enjoying them (and giving thanks to God for them). I don’t feel like I couldn’t give these things up but I don’t know… Does God want me to?

God wants you to enjoy the world He created! God’s Will is that we live in the world He created and follow His natural order. These things are good and they don’t bring you away from God, right? So how could they be bad?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Some women are called by God to enter a convent to focus entirely on God and leave the material world behind. Most, however, live in the world. There is nothing wrong with that as long as we are “in the world” and not “of the world.”

1 John 2:15-17 (NRSVCE):

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.

 

[Allegra]

You don’t have to give up the things you like completely, but keep in mind that God is first in your life and if you forgo a frilly dress or trip to Disneyland here or there in order to do a work of charity or spend time in adoration, you’ll reap the spiritual benefits.

 

[ABitConfused]

Thank you so much everyone for your answers! I feel a lot better now. I think I was just being a little paranoid.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Do yourself a big favor:

1. Heed the advice of those who tell you to relax and enjoy the gifts that G*d has given you, and
2. why don’t you say the Rosary every night just before going to bed…and keep it to yourself. Don’t let anyone know you are doing it. Keep it to yourself.
   You will find it will help you enormously, and it will change your life!
   Try it, it works.

 

[petra22]

1. why don’t you say the Rosary every night just before going to bed…and keep it to yourself. Don’t let anyone know you are doing it. Keep it to yourself.
   You will find it will help you enormously, and it will change your life!
   Try it, it works.

: )

 

[empther]

There is nothing wrong with liking any of these things. However **if you are spending more time with these things than God then it is could idolatry ** :bigyikes::bigyikes::bigyikes: and it will pull you away from God. Just remember God comes first and everything else comes second.

This is harmful “advice”.

We all spend 99% of our time and effort going about the business of everyday life. It could not be otherwise.

God only requires a one hour Sunday Mass once a week. He knows how busy we have to be.

 

[Baloo]

This is harmful “advice”.

We all spend 99% of our time and effort going about the business of everyday life. It could not be otherwise.

God only requires a one hour Sunday Mass once a week. He knows how busy we have to be.

This is almost blasphemous. Busy? What is more important than the matters of God? You are correct that it is only “Required”, but it is difficult for one to have a truly balanced relationship with God when they only give him one hour a week…doesn’t sound like a balanced relationship to me! There is so much more in a relationship with God than just giving him an hour a week at mass…and yes we do have busy lives. But God is always there for us, we can always fit more time for him in our busy schedules.

As far as the original posters question goes, We all enjoy things like books, television, and movies. But do not value the things of this world over those of the next. After all, our ultimate goal here on earth is to be with our Lord in heaven. Empether, I suggest you read Mark Chapter 10, Verse 17, and think about it. Your priorities seem to be unbalanced.

17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “**Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 [c]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in [d]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”**

 

[empther]

This is almost blasphemous.
( Really now, your holiness! Isn’t this going too far? )

…

Empether, I suggest you read Mark Chapter 10, Verse 17, and think about it. Your priorities seem to be unbalanced.

Quote:
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “**Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 [c]but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in [d]the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
__________________**

Boy, are you wrong! Do you have reading problems?

Jesus’s first answer to the rich young man was what I said about the issue.
The man’s question: “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered he only needed to obey the commandments, that is, not be a sinner.
But the young man wanted to be somebody special, a “holy hero”, a saint, somebody better than the rest of humanity. Only then did Jesus challenge him to totally dedicate his life to God, like a cloistered nun, or monk, or like the Apostles as Peter soon pointed out.
( Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” ) But as I said above, God doesn’t want everybody to be like that. Somebody has to have the kids and keep the world going.