Feeling far from God, it is easy to fall into despair. I feel depressed and feel set far back on my spiritual journey to holiness. However, when I lie thus to myself, I am doing great damage. Sin sets us apart from God, but despair is lack of trust in God and even rejection of his mercy. O God, give … [Read more...] about A willing soul
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Ready to receive you (an Advent prayer)
O God, my Lord Jesus Christ, you came down from your great, heavenly state and humbled yourself to come into our human state. Give to me, O God, your humility that I may be ready to receive you. Help me to empty my mind and heart of all vain and worldly thoughts, hopes, and fears so that you may … [Read more...] about Ready to receive you (an Advent prayer)
An intense desire
I have just been struck with an intense desire to be free of this world so plagued by evil. So much of our culture bears the mark of the Devil: the media we consume, the laws we make. I am despairing of this world where your Kingdom seems so, so small. Christianity itself is in shambles. Your body … [Read more...] about An intense desire
Why are you afraid?
"Why are you afraid?" The words of Jesus right before he calmed the sea in Matthew. My Jesus, my Jesus, I stream tears of sadness, but they are also tears of joy because O God, my Lord, my Light, you work all things for the good of our souls. I trust in you. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp to my feet … [Read more...] about Why are you afraid?
Moved to tears
Isaac's Prayer Journal, excerpt from March 8, 2020In the back seat of a car for a few hours and having finished some homework, I planned to read a book. However, I remembered from the same passage in the Way of a Pilgrim about how I give my time for God to things that don't matter. So I decided to … [Read more...] about Moved to tears
The reward of distracted prayer
Yesterday I was greatly burdened by my fast ... and very slowly did I get anything done. However, I read a passage from The Way of the Pilgrim. In it, the merchant on his way to becoming a monk tells a story about how God repays richly with good the littlest thing we give Him. This … [Read more...] about The reward of distracted prayer