#faith and surrender

[compassionmattersmost]

Carried Through the Storm: Trusting the Divine Footprints in the Mystic Journey

On the spiritual path, we often find ourselves in moments of struggle, isolation, and uncertainty, wondering where the Divine is in our darkest hours. The old story of Footprints in the Sand offers a timeless reminder: even when we feel most alone, we are never truly abandoned. The footprints that carry us through the storm are those of the Divine, supporting us in ways we may not recognize in…

[philosophybits]

Faith is not an aesthetic emotion but something far higher, precisely because it has resignation as its presupposition; it is not an immediate instinct of the heart, but is the paradox of life and existence.

Søren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling

[inquisitor-apologist]

Thinking about how, at the end of the day, at the fatal moment, the sunset of the Republic, it wasn’t Yoda, or Obi-Wan, or even the Chosen One himself standing in the way of Palpatine. It was Mace Windu.

Mace Windu, the inventor of Vaapad and Master of Form VII, the Jedi's strongest duelist, the only person to ever defeat Palpatine in combat. Mace Windu, Master of the Jedi Council and the youngest Master ever appointed to it, the revered leader of the Order. Mace Windu, who forgave even those who tried to kill him, who risked his life over and over again for his troops, who, after 3 years of desperate war, tried to negotiate with battle droids. Mace Windu, who knew the clones were created by the Sith and chose to trust them, who saw every Shatterpoint in the Republic, and loved it still, and fought for it until his last breath, until he was betrayed by Anakin, who he believed in and trusted despite everything.

Mace Windu, High General and hero of the Republic, the embodiment of the Light, the last and greatest champion of the Order, the best Jedi to ever live.

[urloveangel]

I always receive what I want or better ✨

[starlet-sky]

Only God knows our hearts. •:::❤️‍🔥:::•

[portraitsofsaints]

Father Dolindo Ruotolo

Servant of God

1882-1970

The Surrender Novena Apostle

Father Dolindo Ruotolo was an Italian Roman Catholic priest, miracle worker and prophet, who suffered the wounds of Christ. He was called the “mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit.” He was totally dedicated to Mary, Mother of God and the rosary. He was Padre Pio's spiritual director who called him a saint. His life was one of humiliation and inner pain. Our Lord gave him the “Surrender Novena” “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, You take care of everything.” He offered himself as a victim soul for mankind and was afflicted with many sufferings, including complete paralysis for the last ten years of his life.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

[spoiledbratblog]

[pinestripe37]

Bowed before the ever-shining Throne of my Creator.

Humbled beneath God's Gracious Mighty Hand.

Sheltered in the shade of Grace from every difficulty.

This is healing and Home, the place of peace,

Surrender is serenity:

The safety where my comforted heart becomes docile with humility

As I'm lovingly held in Jesus' Embrace all throughout my fragility.

[ssummerwwine]

“if we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

galatians 5:25 esv

[walkswithmyfather]

Daniel 6:17-28 (NIV). [17] “A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. [18] Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. [19] At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. [20] When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” [21] Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! [22] My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” [23] The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. [24] At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. [25] Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly! [26] “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. [27] He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” [28] So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

“The Impact of a Godly Influence” by In Touch Ministries:

“A life of surrender to God isn't always easy—but it's always blessed.”

“Daniel had the rare opportunity to influence four kings with godly principles. Remaining true to God often meant putting himself in danger, but he never once wavered in his convictions.

Complete confidence in God’s ability to protect and provide empowered Daniel to make bold decisions. He delivered bad news to rulers, even though such an act could have gotten him killed (Daniel 2:26-44; Daniel 5:17-28). What’s more, he challenged a law requiring him to violate God’s command to worship only Him (6:7-11).

Daniel wasn’t intent on being popular; he was committed to doing what was right in the Lord’s eyes. And when he had to face consequences for choosing the unpopular course of action, he did so with a calm and trusting spirit.

It is tempting to think that if we do what is right, we should be rewarded and protected. But sometimes doing the right thing will get us punished—like Daniel, who was cast into the lions’ den. How we respond is just as important as carrying out God’s will. Our reaction is being watched and evaluated by those in our sphere of influence, who want to see if we really believe our claim that the Lord is in control. God is using our experience and our witness to reach others for the kingdom.”

[4dkellysworld]

When everything's gone wrong

When life gets overwhelming and everything feels like it's falling apart, what can one do? (This is for the anon whose ask disappeared from my inbox but also for anyone else who needs it)

First, give yourself time and space to just rest and be. Allow yourself the grace to just be without any expectations or obligations. This answer by Lain is so good and I encourage you to read it and apply whatever resonates.

Second, I cannot recommend this enough, read the posts under my releasing tag. Learn how to release and apply it to everything that you are unable to ignore or detach from. If you are holding onto a lot of mental and emotional pain, it will help relieve a lot of it. Once you drop them for good, the peace is always there and it only grows as you drop more. If there's anything not covered in the existing posts, feel free to send in an ask and I can answer it.

Third, learn how to genuinely surrender, it will give you a lot of peace too. Sometimes one might reach a point where everything gets too much to handle and trying to manage everything gets too exhausting so you just want to give up, I was once there too. You just get to a point where you realize there is nothing that can be done but to surrender.

Surrender = Complete acceptance of what is, as it is + giving up control + faith that everything will be okay

Even if you don't have the last component (faith), if you can apply the first two, a lot of the burden will be lifted and somehow things will resolve on their own. But you need to actually surrender, there's no point lying to yourself about it. These two posts may be helpful as a starting point: here and here. This guided surrender meditation helped me a lot when I first started on this path and helped me understand what it feels like to be in complete surrender.

Fourth, I recommend reviewing your life and being selective about what you keep and what you will drop. Whatever isn't working or is holding you back, perhaps it is time to drop them? Just like how releasing is weeding out all the limiting thoughts and emotions we've been holding onto and letting them go, you can do the same for your life and lifestyle, including relationships, lifestyle habits, attitude, expectations, goals etc.

If you want to let go of something but are afraid to do so, you need to go deeper within yourself and find out why that is the case. Why do you still want to hold onto something that is causing you pain? Why do you want to hold onto the pain when it is only draining you? Ask yourself these questions, find out the causative thoughts and beliefs and then drop them.

Free yourself from these self-imposed limitations.

[alextvalencic]

I haven't written any reactions to the last few updates about Jonathan or Renfield, but something struck me about the last line of Jonathan's entry for today:

"What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night and gloom and fear?"

Despite all that he has seen and witnessed, despite knowing exactly what the Count is planning on doing to him and even when, Jonathan has not given up that he can escape his awful date and he continues to write for Mina, believing she will one day read his words.

Hope springs eternal!

[ae-cha08]

Sometimes God will let us be uncomfortable for a dark, difficult period so He can bless us later on. He’ll close a door, which we don’t like, but later on He’ll open a bigger door. God is not as concerned about our comfort as He is about our purpose.

There are times when He will shake things up to force us to change. His goal is not to make our life miserable; He’s pushing us into our purpose. ✨️

[thebeautyofanoracle]

[theinwardlight]

Christ is ever ready to direct and strengthen those who put their trust in Him. May the remaining days of my life be spent to His honor and glory, who is ever worthy. What a feeble and unworthy instrument am I to be called to proclaim the glad tidings of the gospel to others. But the Lord hath a right to make use of such instruments as He sees fit to employ in his service, "male and female all one in Christ". Therefore let none shrink or give back, who are thus called, but give up unreservedly to the Divine Will.

The Journal of Ann Branson, Quaker minister [1840]

[infinitedabar]

God is an expert in showing his mercy to everyone. There are times when we think that it will be the end for us and the last thing we think about is God. But, there he is, with his arms wide open waiting for us to recognize that we only depend on him. That without him we are not going to make it. We can try but we'll end up falling again into the same cycle. Proverbs 3:5-6 syas "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Trusting in God is hard. Specially when you have to surender your will to him and give up on things that you want but, is it what we really need? Trusting is recognizing that he is the bridge that allows us to cross to the other side.