Spiritual habits are essential on our faith journeys, but I always keep the end goal before me. My purpose in life is not to read my Bible, fast, and pray. My purpose is to know the One True God. All these habits are a means to this end goal, never a box to be checked off as having been completed for the day.
Some of my most honest prayers have sounded like, 'God I want to do this, but I know there's no way I can do it. You'll have to do it in me. Because maybe I don't want this at all.'
"Or better put: I want to want to be a saint." Great point! This reminds me of the scripture ~ I do believe, Lord help my unbelief. It's a deeply heartfelt starting point to ask God to orient the desires of our hearts according to His truth.
I identify so strongly with Eugene’s sheepish, almost embarrassed expression of desire to be a saint. Would the people who know me best fall on the floor laughing at the notion?
Spiritual habits are essential on our faith journeys, but I always keep the end goal before me. My purpose in life is not to read my Bible, fast, and pray. My purpose is to know the One True God. All these habits are a means to this end goal, never a box to be checked off as having been completed for the day.
Yes, such an important guiding principle! Thank you!
I love this, Jen. I want to want to be a saint, too.
This will be a community for the "I want to want to" people!
Some of my most honest prayers have sounded like, 'God I want to do this, but I know there's no way I can do it. You'll have to do it in me. Because maybe I don't want this at all.'
Best kinds of prayers to pray — the honest ones!
"Or better put: I want to want to be a saint." Great point! This reminds me of the scripture ~ I do believe, Lord help my unbelief. It's a deeply heartfelt starting point to ask God to orient the desires of our hearts according to His truth.
Love this prayer and take such great comfort from it!
Yes. I have been having this same conversation.
Love when we find these resonances!
I confess I had to read that line in your piece several times before I figured out what you were saying. 😉
I identify so strongly with Eugene’s sheepish, almost embarrassed expression of desire to be a saint. Would the people who know me best fall on the floor laughing at the notion?
Let's not poll my children for sure!
🤣 Exactly who I was thinking of as well!