I've been thinking a lot lately, and I really don't think I have much faith at all. I think the only reason I go to church and pray to God is that I fear the consequences that may occur if I don't do these things. What should I do? How do I gain real faith and not just worship in fear?
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What should I do?
- Thread starter Dream
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ukok
Freaked out, insecure, neurotic and Emotional
To pray, in itself is an act of faith...as is calling on the name of Jesus...ask the Lord to increase your faith, pray for it unrelentingly. I will pray for you, please pray for me also...we all need prayer 
..none of us has yet reached our final destination.
God Bless.
..none of us has yet reached our final destination. God Bless.
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InnerPhyre
Well-Known Member
Frequent confession, communion, and adoration. On top of that, realize that failing to go to mass is harmful to us not because God spanks us for failing to show up, but because we miss the graces which the mass provides us. So it is harmful to us spiritually in the same way starving ourselves is bad for us physically. Since we know this to be true, that is where the mortal sin comes in. We know that we have an opportunity to go to mass and receive that abundant grace that God has died to give us. To decide not to go is to consciously reject that grace. Spiritual depression is common. Hang in there and you'll ride the wave out of it.DreamTheater said:
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Epiphanygirl
Don't De-Rock Me
Can I recommend a book for you? It's called "If your mind wanders at Mass" by Thomas Howard.
It will help you understand why you are there in the first place, it will bring things back into focus for you.
It will help you understand why you are there in the first place, it will bring things back into focus for you.
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Magisterium
Praying and Thinking
Peace be to you,DreamTheater said:
It seems to me that the first step is realizing just what faith is in the first place. There's this modern idea that faith is an interior attitude like courage. People tend to say "just have some faith" like you're supposed to muster it up through some interior strength. This is not the case.
"Having faith" is more like having cake or a cookie. Faith is something external which God grants us when we ask for it (and it's much sweeter than any sugary confection
). Saint Paul describes faith as "the realization of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1)
In answer to your question, you gain real faith by asking for it. God in His Wisdom saw fit that mankind should be required to cooperate in receiving the gifts of grace. For this reason, in recognizing our deficiencies, must go to God who is the source of all good things and simply ask Him for what we need.
"And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive." (Mt 21:22 DRV)
God Love you
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"Lord I believe, help my unbelief!"
And above all DT, I would encourage you to DO exactly what you feel isn't working. It doesn't matter if you feel like the only reason you're doing x,y,or z is because of fear -too often we think that because we don't have a perfect intention, it's no intention at all. Ah, that's what the evil one would like us to think!
But habit builds virtue. Keep going to Mass; keep praying. God won't leave you hanging, and the persistent prayer and action will build your habit, and building habit will lead to virtue. There are the Christian Virtues, but there are also those we work on ourselves. God will give you grace, but you must keep going. Run the race, DT.
And above all DT, I would encourage you to DO exactly what you feel isn't working. It doesn't matter if you feel like the only reason you're doing x,y,or z is because of fear -too often we think that because we don't have a perfect intention, it's no intention at all. Ah, that's what the evil one would like us to think!
But habit builds virtue. Keep going to Mass; keep praying. God won't leave you hanging, and the persistent prayer and action will build your habit, and building habit will lead to virtue. There are the Christian Virtues, but there are also those we work on ourselves. God will give you grace, but you must keep going. Run the race, DT.
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