Today, we are continuing with our series “Passing on the Catholic Faith to your Children”, and you can find the other posts in the series here.
In my original post, I mentioned leading by example, and that do-what-I-say-not-what-I-do is an unacceptable approach.
If we are leading by example, we must make sure that we are setting the right example, and in order to do this we need to give ourselves over to God without reservation.
I made some diagrams to help demonstrate to you how God wants to be an active part of your life.
Example 1: You have no relationship with God.
In this example, your life doesn’t intersect with God. You have turned your back on him, and you’re doing your own thing completely. There are no thoughts or pieces of your life that you are giving to him.
Example 2: Your life intersects with God.
I picture this one as the “lukewarm” Christian. You live your life pretty much how you want, but you do give God a little slice by going to church on Sundays. You don’t let God interfere with your daily decisions. You view being a Christian as a part of you- in a long list of other things you also “are”. You don’t “get it”.
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Example 3: You give yourself to God… almost completely.
You “get it”. You have a relationship with God, you pray daily, you include God in the big (and even the day to day) decisions in your life. You want to be a good Christian. You are living your life for God. However there’s still something you’re holding back. There is some area of your life that you’re not willing to give to God. You have a hold out. Perhaps there is some area of your life where you are rejecting God’s word because it’s more convenient to you to be blind in this area. It’s possible the thought of changing your life in this area is overwhelming and scary to you. Or it’s possible that you just have a selfish desire that has taken root in your life, and you’re unwilling to let it go. Satan is putting up a good fight for your soul.
Example 4: You give yourself completely to God.
You are fully enveloped in God. You trust him, you have let go of your selfish desires, and every area of your life is devoted to him. You hold nothing back. You trust God’s word. You are willing to be obedient. No one is perfect, and we will all still sin, but there’s no area where you are unwilling to follow. This is a complete intimacy with God, and it’s what we should all be striving for.
What about you? Is a little part of your circle hanging out? If there’s an area of your life that feels overwhelming to change, or you don’t even know how to go about changing it, I want you to remember a phrase that I tell myself all the time. “I can’t, but God can”.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
Check out the Whole Series! “Passing on the Catholic Faith to your Children”
I am overjoyed by these new installments ( passing on the Catholic faith) of Catholic icing. Not only am I a mother of two beautiful children, but I’m also a catechist at my church and I’m always looking for new ideas and inspiration to get my kids ( both personal and classroom) excited about the Catholic faith. Your a true blessing lacy and an answer to my prayers. Keep up the great work!
This is really an excellent post! Thank-you so much for sharing it.
God bless,
Hannah
But how it it possible to know if you’ve let go of all your selfish desires? I mean, we’re all still selfish sometimes, and therefore still have selfish desires. It’s the reason I can’t really wrap my mind around plenary indulgences– completely unattached to sin? It’s a level that seems impossible to attain.
Lord, help me devote every molecule to you. Be merciful to me, a sinner,
I did try to throw in that piece about how we are ask still sinners. I was really thinking of something specific where someone chooses to ignore God on purpose, such as the use of birth control, because they’re just not willing to trust God in that area. A true hold out where you are more or less just choosing to plug your ears.
I would think of the last picture almost as a mystical experiece of God.
I’m guessing most people who are committed to their faith are more like the 3rd picture… we all have something that would make us closer to God… whether it’s praying more, being more patient, etc.
We may have experiences of being totally with God like the 4th picture (especially say if we went on retreat), but I would think it’s hard to maintain it full time in our daily life. But, we are always striving to be with God.
I think I’ve seen these illustrations before and the 4th picture is a mystical experience.
I am so happy to find this site My grandchildren will benefit from my being a better example I want to do a small St Joseph altar like I have seen in New Orleans If anyone knows some ideas I would appreciate them Thanks Judy