God's Love

[razzelflabben]

Through development of a spiritual discipline.

I see a lot of people talk about this, could you explain what you mean by spiritual discipline. What would those be?

 

[razzelflabben]

so if we are exploring the "feeling" of God's love, what does God's love "feel" like?

 

[Secundulus]

I see a lot of people talk about this, could you explain what you mean by spiritual discipline. What would those be?

so if we are exploring the "feeling" of God's love, what does God's love "feel" like?

A Spiritual discipline is something that you dedicate from yourself to God each day. There is no single answer to what this is unless you join a convent where you will be subject to the spiritual discipline they embrace.

Outside of the Monastery or Convent, each person must develop their own spiritual discipline. This may include such things as fasting, The daily office (I will provide links if you desire), daily prayer, intercessory prayer, etc. The content is not as important as is the fact that you set something aside for God each day and then stick to it.

As to the second part of the question, about "feeling".

"Feeling" as we normally use the word today in Christianity is a relatively recent concept which originated with the German theologians of the 18th Century and finds its fulfillment in liberal protestantism today. (edited to add: Liberal Catholicism suffers from this also. All denominations have been affected.)

However, feeling is not entirely absent from earlier Christian expressions. If you are up for a "deep read", I recommend you try the Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. This Catholic Christian Saint wrote this book in the 16th Century and may answer you questions about feeling. This book is available on line, from Amazon, or in any number of bookstores.

 

[razzelflabben]

A Spiritual discipline is something that you dedicate from yourself to God each day. There is no single answer to what this is unless you join a convent where you will be subject to the spiritual discipline they embrace.

Outside of the Monastery or Convent, each person must develop their own spiritual discipline. This may include such things as fasting, The daily office (I will provide links if you desire), daily prayer, intercessory prayer, etc. The content is not as important as is the fact that you set something aside for God each day and then stick to it.

to anything I set aside in my day for Christ would then yeild me this "feeling" of God's Love????

As to the second part of the question, about "feeling".

"Feeling" as we normally use the word today in Christianity is a relatively recent concept which originated with the German theologians of the 18th Century and finds its fulfillment in liberal protestantism today. (edited to add: Liberal Catholicism suffers from this also. All denominations have been affected.)

However, feeling is not entirely absent from earlier Christian expressions. If you are up for a "deep read", I recommend you try the Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. This Catholic Christian Saint wrote this book in the 16th Century and may answer you questions about feeling. This book is available on line, from Amazon, or in any number of bookstores.

this does not answer what Love "feels" like. In fact, in my response, I said that God's love transcends feelings, transcends actions, is beyond our ability to comprehend. In other words, if all you want is a feeling, your missing most of God's love. But everyone keeps on about how to feel God's love. so what I want to know is what does it feel like. Is it a warm fuzzy like many people see love as being? Is it the depravity of man as many here seemed to promote? Do I feel God's love only when I suffer as some believe when they "beat" themselves for God? What does God's love feel like if God's love doesn't encompass much more than just our feelings?

Edit: wouldn't it be much more appropriate to say, how can we know God's love more?

 

[Secundulus]

[

to anything I set aside in my day for Christ would then yeild me this "feeling" of God's Love???? this does not answer what Love "feels" like. In fact, in my response, I said that God's love transcends feelings, transcends actions, is beyond our ability to comprehend. In other words, if all you want is a feeling, your missing most of God's love. But everyone keeps on about how to feel God's love. so what I want to know is what does it feel like. Is it a warm fuzzy like many people see love as being? Is it the depravity of man as many here seemed to promote? Do I feel God's love only when I suffer as some believe when they "beat" themselves for God? What does God's love feel like if God's love doesn't encompass much more than just our feelings?

Edit: wouldn't it be much more appropriate to say, how can we know God's love more?

What does it feel like? Maybe this is individual? For me it feels like he is Abba. This is not a warm fuzzy or a feeling of depravity. It is simply the realization that he is the father. It feels like a Union with God.

But unlike our earthly father, I can take anything and everything to him.

On the other hand, maybe I am certifiably insane. Maybe it is different for others. All I know is that what St. John of the Cross wrote is what I once felt.

 

[Nadiine]

...cut...

As to the second part of the question, about "feeling".

"Feeling" as we normally use the word today in Christianity is a relatively recent concept which originated with the German theologians of the 18th Century and finds its fulfillment in liberal protestantism today. (edited to add: Liberal Catholicism suffers from this also. All denominations have been affected.)

However, feeling is not entirely absent from earlier Christian expressions. If you are up for a "deep read", I recommend you try the Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. This Catholic Christian Saint wrote this book in the 16th Century and may answer you questions about feeling. This book is available on line, from Amazon, or in any number of bookstores.

What exactly is he relaying? About his own personal experience of God's love towards him personally?
Just curious, I've seen you mention this book before & it sounds like it's impacted you some

 

[Secundulus]

What exactly is he relaying? About his own personal experience of God's love towards him personally?
Just curious, I've seen you mention this book before & it sounds like it's impacted you some

It did impact me as I think I experienced what he is talking about a few years ago.

Essentially, the theme is that God withdraws his presence from you in order to make you stronger in the faith.

This happened to me. I was abandoned with nothing. I prayed and there was nothing there. I despaired. I all but abandoned the faith. I even cried in my feeling of abandonment (maximum confession time).

However, I did not stop seeking him even though my studies were miguided (gnosticism).

Eventually, on Christmas day, 2004, at 10:00 am, God spoke to me and told me he is real. I think he spoke to me only because I was weak and in danger of of straying too far.

Nevertheless, I believe he spoke to me and there is nothing on earth or in heaven that can make me believe that he did not. He is Abba.

On the other hand, people who I have told this to before think that i am imagining things. I don't care. I would rather be insane and have God than attempt to rationalize things to be acceptable.

In no way do I claim to be a prophet or to speak for God in any way. I only claim to know beyond any doubt that he is real, and he is alive, and that he cares.

 

[razzelflabben]

It did impact me as I think I experienced what he is talking about a few years ago.

Essentially, the theme is that God withdraws his presence from you in order to make you stronger in the faith.

often times we feel like God has abandoned us, in fact, we see this feeling in Psalms, but Hebrews tells us that God never leaves us, never withdraws his favor.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.[/quote]

This happened to me. I was abandoned with nothing. I prayed and there was nothing there. I despaired. I all but abandoned the faith. I even cried in my feeling of abandonment (maximum confession time).

However, I did not stop seeking him even though my studies were miguided (gnosticism).

Eventually, on Christmas day, 2004, at 10:00 am, God spoke to me and told me he is real. I think he spoke to me only because I was weak and in danger of of straying too far.

Nevertheless, I believe he spoke to me and there is nothing on earth or in heaven that can make me believe that he did not. He is Abba.

On the other hand, people who I have told this to before think that i am imagining things. I don't care. I would rather be insane and have God than attempt to rationalize things to be acceptable.

In no way do I claim to be a prophet or to speak for God in any way. I only claim to know beyond any doubt that he is real, and he is alive, and that he cares.[/quote]That is an awesome testimony, just be careful about the idea that God abandoned you, if He had, you would never have been drawn to Him.

See, this is why I asked the question about God's love and how it feels. Just because you didn't "feel" like He was there, didn't mean He wasn't or that He stopped loving you. What it means is that at the time you didn't know what the love you were seeing looked like. If God is drawing you to Himself as you describe, His love was always there.

 

[Nadiine]

often times we feel like God has abandoned us, in fact, we see this feeling in Psalms, but Hebrews tells us that God never leaves us, never withdraws his favor.

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

This happened to me. I was abandoned with nothing. I prayed and there was nothing there. I despaired. I all but abandoned the faith. I even cried in my feeling of abandonment (maximum confession time).

However, I did not stop seeking him even though my studies were miguided (gnosticism).

Eventually, on Christmas day, 2004, at 10:00 am, God spoke to me and told me he is real. I think he spoke to me only because I was weak and in danger of of straying too far.

Nevertheless, I believe he spoke to me and there is nothing on earth or in heaven that can make me believe that he did not. He is Abba.

On the other hand, people who I have told this to before think that i am imagining things. I don't care. I would rather be insane and have God than attempt to rationalize things to be acceptable.

<cut>

*problem w/ quote tags*

This is common for Christians -- we know that we know when God communicates with us - either thru a soft whisper in our spirit, or thru something specific happening that we had been asking or seeking Him about.
This just recently happened to me too, a turn of events happened after a REALLLLLLLY long string of negative, unfair events that got so taxing, I shifted my prayers finally to another type of approach.
Within days I saw the tables turning to exactly what I had prayed for.

That proved God is still there, still working and hasn't left. I knew He hadn't, but..... His timing is just WAYYYYYYYYYY longer than mine is.
LOL
Let me put it this way, He's never EARLY is He? (at least in my situations) =)~

He is good, and it's important that we keep this in mind:
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Thank you Lord!

 

[MrJim]

However, feeling is not entirely absent from earlier Christian expressions. If you are up for a "deep read", I recommend you try the Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. This Catholic Christian Saint wrote this book in the 16th Century and may answer you questions about feeling. This book is available on line, from Amazon, or in any number of bookstores.

I picked up a used paperback of this a dozen or so years ago but never read it~maybe it's time..

 

[razzelflabben]

*problem w/ quote tags*

This is common for Christians -- we know that we know when God communicates with us - either thru a soft whisper in our spirit, or thru something specific happening that we had been asking or seeking Him about.
This just recently happened to me too, a turn of events happened after a REALLLLLLLY long string of negative, unfair events that got so taxing, I shifted my prayers finally to another type of approach.
Within days I saw the tables turning to exactly what I had prayed for.

That proved God is still there, still working and hasn't left. I knew He hadn't, but..... His timing is just WAYYYYYYYYYY longer than mine is.
LOL
Let me put it this way, He's never EARLY is He? (at least in my situations) =)~

He is good, and it's important that we keep this in mind:
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Thank you Lord!

amen, and sometimes our waiting feels as if He has left us when He is there all the time.

BTW, I have an awesome story about God working all things together and trusting Him in all things, but that would be getting off topic.The verse isn't off topic, a personal story would be off topic. Sorry, thought I better clarify.