Virtue helps us battle sin which can become our vices. Temperance helps us moderate our sensual desires, and helps us cast off the spirit of the world. Lust, one of the seven deadly sins, can be counterbalanced with chastity. Practicing virtue and choosing what is good reorients us to God and His goodness, and we grow in reverence.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Seven. Reverence. Reoriented to God.”
Reverence, by definition, is profound respect and love. The virtue of temperance helps us develop reverence. When we have a reverent attitude toward God, we honor Him, express our gratitude, and are drawn to obey His commandments. As I grow in reverence towards God, I see my belovedness and value myself. As I lose reverence, my ego and will reigns.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Seven. Reverence. His Will. “When we doubt our true nature and belovedness, we carry that in our heart. This battle finds its way into the world, many times without our awareness, breaking down trust. In the book The Courage Way, Shelly Francis and the Center for Courage and Renewal share ideas about creating spaces of trust among people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. They have identified eleven “touchstones” or “ground rules” to help move groups into greater trust, belonging, and understanding:
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. Looking for God’s Goodness and Weekly Reflection Summary.”In the secular world, according to the Free Dictionary, the word “chastity” is defined as the condition or quality of being chaste, especially the condition of not having had sexual intercourse or of abstaining from sexual relations. But in reality, it is much more than that; it helps frame our dignity and how we treat others. This gift makes us free to love.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. Dignity of Love.”In the spiritual life, I can promise myself nothing without the special help of God . . . From one moment to another, I may fall into sin; consequently, even though I may have labored many years in acquiring virtues, I may in one instant lose all the good I have done, lose all my merit for eternity, and lose even that blessed eternity itself. It’s easy to doubt my true nature that God created, but with the Spirit’s help, I remember.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. But Deeply Loved.”The concept “Live only in today; don’t worry about tomorrow,” is a fine ambition, we may think, but what does it mean? “Living in today” means dealing only with what is at hand now and the available courses of action.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. Adapting.”In order to grow into our best self, we usually need to stretch our thinking and make changes. Whether it is in a daily spiritual examination or in the rooms of recovery with a Fourth Step, we make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. For some of us, no challenge seems more formidable; there’s nothing more difficult than facing ourselves as we really are. It’s hard to face the truth of how far we are from our true nature and God’s purity of heart.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. Facing Truth.”Chastity is a fruit of the Holy Spirit which helps us right-order our desires and cultivate a pure heart. It is a purity and freedom from immorality, especially of a sexual nature.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. Divine Help.”This month we will contemplate the Spirit of Chastity. This fruit of the spirit allows us to flourish because we develop a habit of reverence for ourselves and others. Chastity enables us to moderate our sensuality, using our sexual powers to pursue happiness. We become spiritual, cleansed and pure in heart, living as God intended for us.
Continue reading “Week Thirty-Six. Tempted to Doubt. Chastity.”Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer. Set a timer on your phone for ten minutes. Begin your time reading The Litany of Letting Go from turning the Paige blog, give up all control, sit for the remaining time in silence and wait for God to pull on the strings of your heart.
PRIDE + CONTROL
From the belief that I have to “do it all”…
From the fear that if I don’t do it, no one will…
From the belief that my way is the best or only way…
From the temptation to give unsolicited feedback, advice, or correction…
From resistance to accepting the help or ideas of others…
From the tendency to seek inner peace by controlling my outward environment…
Deliver me, Jesus.
BUSYNESS + STRIVING
From the constant urge to be “productive,” even if it means filling my time with unimportant tasks…
From the desire to “keep up’” with those around me…
From the view of busyness as a status symbol…
From the belief that I have to earn rest or wait until I’m completely exhausted to pause…
From all unnecessary pressure or “shoulds”…
Deliver me, Jesus.
PLANNING + PREPARATION
From the insatiable desire to always know what’s coming…
From the fear that if I don’t perfectly plan or prepare, I will endure needless suffering…
From the belief that my plans are better than Yours…
From any suspicion or skepticism of Your infinite love and care for me…
Deliver me, Jesus.
SELF IMAGE + SELF-TALK
From my ruthless inner critic…
From impossible or unreasonable expectations of myself and others…
From the belief that I am lazy or inadequate if I lower or adjust my standards…
From the temptation to equate my work/productivity with my worth…
From false ideas about who I am or who You are…
Deliver me, Jesus.
PEOPLE PLEASING
From the fear of what others will think of me when I am true to myself and to Your call for me…
From the tendency to care more about what others think of me than than what You think of me…
From the desire for affirmation…
From the fear of asking for what I need…
From the fear of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries…
From the fear of letting others down…
From the fear of letting others see my mess…
Deliver me, Jesus.
RESTLESSNESS
From all forms of restlessness…
From any false sense of urgency…
From my love of comfort and fear of the cross…
From the desire to “earn” Your love rather than receive it unconditionally…
From undue attachment to anything other than You…
From fear of what will happen when I surrender all to You…
Deliver me, Jesus.
Jesus, I love You. Help me to love You more.
Jesus, I trust You. Help me to trust You more.
Jesus, I surrender to You. Help me to surrender more.
Amen.
Sunday. The Beauty of Self-Control. A fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Monday. Peace of Heart. We must first have peace within our heart.
Tuesday. The Wisdom of Self-Control. Loving the good is the key to life.
Wednesday. The Crosses we Bear. The cross will not crush you,
Thursday. Our Dreams. Self-control is critical in helping us achieve our dreams.
Friday. Leads to Love. Do that which best stirs you to love.
Smitten With Goodness 