#Christian perseverance

[thinkingonscripture]

The Apostle Paul: A NT Example of Submission to God

A New Testament person who exemplifies living in submission to God is the Apostle Paul. Despite his weaknesses and failures, Paul’s life demonstrates steady submission to God’s will. His transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted apostle of Christ illustrates this submission. Unlike most Christians, Paul surrendered to the Lord very shortly after his conversion on the road to…

[seekingtheosis]

Christian Perseverance through Faith - Advent Meditation on St. Luke 1:1-25

The post reflects on the annunciation to Zechariah, providing insights into the faith and struggle of Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Despite their childlessness and societal ridicule, they stayed true to their faith. The post underscores the transforma

A reflection on the Annunciation to Zechariah In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus The Christians around the world are gearing up for one their most important festivals which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger in Bethlehem. The weeks prior to the Feast of the Nativity…

[apenitentialprayer]

The desolation will certainly come. Prepare for it, not only by laying up a store of comfort, but also by laying up a store of strength to carry you through the dark hours of the storm. Train yourself now to a rule of life, to exactness in prayer, to good methods of performing your several duties, to patience and charity, so that when the storm breaks, you may gather in all your sails, pull your ship together, and hold on bravely and faithfully through darkness and dryness and disgust and despair. Fidelity is the great virtue of the time of desolation; fidelity to God, fidelity in faith, fidelity in hope, fidelity in charity, fidelity to your own good resolutions of the time of consolation, and fidelity to prayer, the sacraments, and all the outward helps of a holy life.

George Porter, S.J., future Archbishop of Bombay, in a letter to a young nun dated April 27th, 1882

[momentsbeforemass]

50% of God’s love

One of the promises you make at Ordination is to pray the Divine Office. Morning prayer and evening prayer. Every day.

If you’ve tried to do it, you know that some days are easier than others. Some days it just flows. Other times, not so much.

There are distractions. Intrusive thoughts. All kinds of things can turn quiet time with God into anything but.

But none of that is really about the Divine Office. That stuff happens with every kind of prayer.

The good part? Even when it’s not easy, or even particularly coherent, God is listening, taking it all in. None of it is ever lost or unheard.

Just as important? What God is not doing.

God’s not evaluating our prayers, figuring out whether they’re worth His time. God doesn’t grade our prayers. God has never said to anyone after prayer,

“That was a mess. Truly one of your worst. You were all over the map. Half the time, you were distracted. When you weren’t, it was all about you. And all the stuff you’ve got going on.

Really, it doesn’t even deserve a response.

But, because I’m Me, I’ll meet you halfway. I’ll give you 50% of My love, some of My grace, part of what you need.

Next time, pray better.”

God’s not looking for perfection. And prayer isn’t a performance.

Prayer is all about talking with God. Drawing closer to God. Being with God.

What God really wants is for us to persevere in prayer.

Even if we’re distracted. Or if we don’t feel God’s presence right now. For us to keep trying.

Even when it’s not easy. For us to keep coming back to God.

To persevere in prayer. Until our hearts rest in Him.

Until we are able to receive 100% of His love, all of His grace, and everything we need.

Today’s Readings

[theheartslament]

"That his love never changes. That even in our darkest moments, He is in control and his goodness remains. That He is always able and that He works all things together for the good of those who love him. And this has always been enough to keep me going."

— Cafe Thoughts of Christ

[thelordismylightandmysalvation]

Verse of the Day - Hebrews 12:1

[hiddenplacx]

[rabbits-of-negative-euphoria]

sorry if this is a stupid question, but how do you know if you are just calling yourself Christian vs you actually are Christian? Especially if works do not play into it

Works do play into it, but they do not earn us our salvation. James 2 tells us that faith without works is dead. Galatians 5 tells us explicitly what the outward fruit of the Holy Spirit in a person is. So we know that if a person claims to be a Christian, yet lives a sinful worldly lifestyle, they probably are not a Christian (and necessarily never were). A.W. Tozer once said:

"The Holy Spirit never enters a man and then lets him live like the world. You can be sure of that."

The person who is actually Christian will feel conviction and true remorse for sin (rather than ignore it). They will love the law of God (rather than resent it). They will have rough patches (I consider myself in a bit of a rough patch at the moment because making myself sit down to read the Bible feels like pulling teeth), but the true Christian looks to Christ's life, death, and resurrection for their assurance of salvation, as well as their assurance of sanctification (the Holy Spirit's refining us in holiness). Baptism is a symbol of this covenant and a means of grace (though not of salvation), which is why John Calvin wrote:

"As often as we fall away, we ought to recall the memory of our baptism and fortify our minds with it, that we may always be sure and confident of the forgiveness of sins." (Institutes, 4, xv, 3)

I find that much of assurance can be found in the healthy resignation Paul voices all throughout 1 Corinthians 15, but especially in verses 12-19 (emphasis mine):

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The Christian who feels she might not be a true Christian should look, not to her feelings, but to her faith in Christ. Is Christ able to save? If yes, she is saved. If no, then it doesn't matter.

[aspirant1598]

[quotelr]

In every situation, may we find the grace of endurance.

Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

[christianotome]

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

[alwaysrememberjesus]

Don't ever underestimate the impact of your faithfulness to God. Persevere!

[walterdecourceys]

i really do not want to do this stupid counselor internship training thing i really really do not want to see my cousin for two weeks straight. i'm sure i will do okay once i'm out there but i'm dreading it so fucking bad

[momentsbeforemass]

Prayer isn’t a performance

(for someone who’s struggling in prayer)

One of the promises you make at Ordination is to pray the Divine Office. Morning prayer and evening prayer. Every day.

If you’ve tried to do it, you know that some days are easier than others. Some days it just flows. Other times, not so much.

There are distractions. Intrusive thoughts. All kinds of things can turn quiet time with God into anything but.

The best part? Even when it’s not easy, or even particularly coherent, God is listening, taking it all in. None of it is ever lost or unheard.

Just as important? What God is not doing.

God’s not evaluating our prayers, figuring out whether they’re worth His time. God doesn’t grade our prayers. God has never said to anyone after prayer,

“That was a mess. Truly one of your worst. You were all over the map. Half the time, you were distracted.

When you weren’t, it was all about you. And all the stuff you’ve got going on.

Really, it doesn’t even deserve a response.

But, because I’m Me, I’ll meet you halfway. I’ll give you 50% of my love, some of my grace, part of what you need.

Next time, pray better.”

God isn’t looking for perfection. Because prayer isn’t a performance.

Prayer is all about talking with God. Drawing closer to God. Being with God.

What God really wants is for us to persevere in prayer.

Even if we’re distracted. Or if we don’t feel God’s presence right now. For us to keep trying.

Even when it’s not easy. For us to keep coming back to God.

To persevere in prayer. Until our hearts rest in Him.

Until we are able to receive 100% of His love, all of His grace, and everything we need.

Today’s Readings

[tabernacleheart]

...Man's suffering shows what God can do. Affliction, sorrow, pain, disappointment, loss always are opportunities for displaying God's grace. First, it enables the sufferer to show God in action. When trouble and disaster fall upon a man who does not know God, that man may well collapse; but when they fall on a man who walks with God, they bring out the strength and the beauty, and the endurance and the nobility, which are within a man's heart when God is there. It is told that when an old saint was dying in an agony of pain, he sent for his family, saying: "Come and see how a Christian can die." It is when life hits us a terrible blow that we can show the world how a Christian can live, and, if need be, die. Any kind of suffering is an opportunity to demonstrate the glory of God in our own lives. 

William Barclay

[coffeeman777]