The poor in spirit

Ivan Hlavanda

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I have noticed that there are unfortunately many Christians that do not understand the meaning of what it means to be 'poor in spirit'.

The whole principle on which life is run today is about believing in your-self, self-confidence, assurance and self-reliance; the powers that are innate in yourself and let the whole world see them. This idea is absolutely controlling the life of men at the present time. There is a tragic confidence in the power of education, knowledge as such to save men, to transform them and make them into decent human beings.

There is nothing so unchristian in the Church today as this foolish talk about 'personality'. Have you noticed this tendency of some to talk about 'personality' and say such phrases as 'what a wonderful personality that man has'?

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? To be 'poor in spirit' does not mean that we should be diffident or nervous, nor does it mean that we should be retiring, weak or lacking in courage. We have all met those naturally unobtrusive people who, far from pushing themselves forward always stand in the background. They are born like that and may even be naturally weak, retiring and lacking in a sense of courage. None of these things indicate that you are 'poor is spirit'.

To be poor in spirit is not a matter of the suppression of personality. You do not have to go out of life in order to be 'poor in spirit'. Rather than it means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and of self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. It is nothing then that we can produce; it is nothing that we can do ourselves. It is just a tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God.

If we are truly Christian, we shall not rely upon our natural birth, upon the fact that we belong to certain families, nations or nationalities. We shall not build on our natural temperament, our position in life, or any powers that have been given to us. Or the money and wealth that we have. We shall not rely upon our gifts like natural personality, intelligence or any abilities, morals and good behaviours. There must be a complete deliverance from and absence of all of thath. It is to feel that we are nothing and that we have nothing, and that we look to God in utter submission to Him and in utter dependence upon Him, and His grace and mercy. The way to become poor in spirit is to look at God.
 
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I have noticed that there are unfortunately many Christians that do not understand the meaning of what it means to be 'poor in spirit'.

The whole principle on which life is run today is about believing in your-self, self-confidence, assurance and self-reliance; the powers that are innate in yourself and let the whole world see them. This idea is absolutely controlling the life of men at the present time. There is a tragic confidence in the power of education, knowledge as such to save men, to transform them and make them into decent human beings.

There is nothing so unchristian in the Church today as this foolish talk about 'personality'. Have you noticed this tendency of some to talk about 'personality' and say such phrases as 'what a wonderful personality that man has'?

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? To be 'poor in spirit' does not mean that we should be diffident or nervous, nor does it mean that we should be retiring, weak or lacking in courage. We have all met those naturally unobtrusive people who, far from pushing themselves forward always stand in the background. They are born like that and may even be naturally weak, retiring and lacking in a sense of courage. None of these things indicate that you are 'poor is spirit'.

To be poor in spirit is not a matter of the suppression of personality. You do not have to go out of life in order to be 'poor in spirit'. Rather than it means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and of self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. It is nothing then that we can produce; it is nothing that we can do ourselves. It is just a tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God.

If we are truly Christian, we shall not rely upon our natural birth, upon the fact that we belong to certain families, nations or nationalities. We shall not build on our natural temperament, our position in life, or any powers that have been given to us. Or the money and wealth that we have. We shall not rely upon our gifts like natural personality, intelligence or any abilities, morals and good behaviours. There must be a complete deliverance from and absence of all of thath. It is to feel that we are nothing and that we have nothing, and that we look to God in utter submission to Him and in utter dependence upon Him, and His grace and mercy. The way to become poor in spirit is to look at God.
i used to live like that now i ive wanting to be on fire for god and trying to help people with the me issues as me
 
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Ivan Hlavanda

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i used to live like that now i ive wanting to be on fire for god and trying to help people with the me issues as me

I too also struggled with this for months, thought poor me, I lack in so many characteristics, but as time went on, and God revealed to me more and more through scriptures, I noticed how unworthy I am of Him to even notice me, never-mind saving such an awful person and give him the wisdom as Christianity was always a joke to me.
 
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Broken Fence

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I have noticed that there are unfortunately many Christians that do not understand the meaning of what it means to be 'poor in spirit'.

The whole principle on which life is run today is about believing in your-self, self-confidence, assurance and self-reliance; the powers that are innate in yourself and let the whole world see them. This idea is absolutely controlling the life of men at the present time. There is a tragic confidence in the power of education, knowledge as such to save men, to transform them and make them into decent human beings.

There is nothing so unchristian in the Church today as this foolish talk about 'personality'. Have you noticed this tendency of some to talk about 'personality' and say such phrases as 'what a wonderful personality that man has'?

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? To be 'poor in spirit' does not mean that we should be diffident or nervous, nor does it mean that we should be retiring, weak or lacking in courage. We have all met those naturally unobtrusive people who, far from pushing themselves forward always stand in the background. They are born like that and may even be naturally weak, retiring and lacking in a sense of courage. None of these things indicate that you are 'poor is spirit'.

To be poor in spirit is not a matter of the suppression of personality. You do not have to go out of life in order to be 'poor in spirit'. Rather than it means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and of self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. It is nothing then that we can produce; it is nothing that we can do ourselves. It is just a tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God.

If we are truly Christian, we shall not rely upon our natural birth, upon the fact that we belong to certain families, nations or nationalities. We shall not build on our natural temperament, our position in life, or any powers that have been given to us. Or the money and wealth that we have. We shall not rely upon our gifts like natural personality, intelligence or any abilities, morals and good behaviours. There must be a complete deliverance from and absence of all of thath. It is to feel that we are nothing and that we have nothing, and that we look to God in utter submission to Him and in utter dependence upon Him, and His grace and mercy. The way to become poor in spirit is to look at God.

I thought the poor in spirit meet to be like a child in spiritual matters ever dependent on God for spiritual food and wisdom. To forget about pass mistakes and press onward in repentance and God's spiritual help.
 
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GoldenKingGaze

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Mother Teresa, when she was in the US, said that there are an awful lot of those poor in spirit here (unable to see beyond material things).
Why are they blessed?
 
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Julian of Norwich

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Why are they blessed?

I believe that it's because they may need His blessings so much. (?) I think in the article I read (one that I can't remember now) it made this very much clearer, possibly due to there being more context from Mother Teresa.
 
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