INSTILLING THE FEAR OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS

[SenoritaRita]

It has been said that:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
(Psalm 111:10)

And also that:

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
(Proverbs 31: 30)

As a result of this, we know that we must learn to have a proper fear and respect for God in order to be virtuous and save our souls.

Yet, how do we cultivate this fear of God in ourselves?

It is easier said than done, and this is shown by how few of us truly take these sayings to heart, and bring them to effect in our lives.

God is so often spoken of as a nonchalant topic, and most of us hardly give Him the reverence due to Him.  In fact, many people in our day and age use His name and that of His saints irreverently in vain outbursts of disrespect, mockery, and hatred.

Let us consider that with one snap of His fingers all creation could become non-existent!
It is true that God is all-good and all-merciful, yet He is also all-just.  He gives to all evil-doers the punishments which they deserve.

We are told that many saints suffered terribly in purgatory to make atonement for the slightest imperfection, and yet how much further from being holy are we than they were!

In order to instill the fear of God in our hearts, minds, and souls; let us make the resolution to consider every day what God will do to us if we are unfaithful to His Commandments. 

This will help us to keep in mind our final end, assist us in keeping a constant guard on our thoughts, words, and actions, and give us the ability do everything for the greater honor and glory of God.

And only then will we truly come to know what we need to do in order to grow in virtue, hold back the wrath of God, make us pleasing in His eyes, and in return gain the blessing of being forever happy in the world to come.

[odhiambo]

In order to instill the fear of God in our hearts, minds, and souls; let us make the resolution to consider every day what God will do to us if we are unfaithful to His Commandments.  

This will help us to keep in mind our final end, assist us in keeping a constant guard on our thoughts, words, and actions, and give us the ability do everything for the greater honor and glory of God.

And only then will we truly come to know what we need to do in order to grow in virtue, hold back the wrath of God, make us pleasing in His eyes, and in return gain the blessing of being forever happy in the world to come.

I agree with you SenoritaRita, too many times, the Lord's Name is uttered in vain.
The way I understand it, we show our fear of the Lord by loving Him and keeping His Commandments. God wants us to love Him as a Father, not fear Him as a harsh or just  judge.
To fear Him because we are afraid of what He would do to us, is like making an imperfect contrition in which we are sorry for our sins because we are afraid of the punishment that is due; compare this to a perfect contrition in which we are sorry for our sins because we hurt God who is all good.
If we die soon after an act of perfect contrition, we become Churchtriumphants .
After an imperfect contrition, it is a detour to Church-suffering  

[SenoritaRita]

I have known many people who find it hard to love God at first.  The only thing that keeps them following His commandments is fear.  Over time they usually learn to love him, but I believe that this is why the Bible says that, "Fear is the beginning of wisdom."

[odhiambo]

Very true!

[whiterockdove]

Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Have mercy on us!
Immaculate heart of Mary,
Pray for us!
Amen

Yes señoritaRita, if only we would always treat God as our best friend whom we would feel awful to offend and also treat him as the Holy,Mighty,Immortal God that he is, we would be much less careless with our actions, thoughts and words.

And as Catholics, we Christians have been given the keys to the kingdom through the treasure chest of the sacraments, of Holy Mass,
Of the blood and writings from the Saints. But how many of us just sit next to that treasure chest and never even open it or worse, don't think that we have no need for the priceless things in that chest because we have so many earthly things.

And as Catholics, we  Christians  also have the responsibility that comes with receiving the Holy Spirit in confirmation.
How many Catholics, me included, may be standing in purgatory-and I hope I
Make it at least that far- saying to ourselves that we had everything given to us and we turned our backs on it.

So we all gotta pray for each other and ask for the intercession and help from the saints!



I am a flawed, broken, sinful human being, but I know God is trying very hard to reach me, draw me in and have me as his very own.
I found St. Louise Marie DeMontfort's writings in a battered little booklet left in the free box of devotionals in the back of some church
on my travels. I went through his prescribed 33 days of prayer and reading and did a lot of journaling.  I joined the Legion of Mary as one of their prayerful members ( I am now homebound most of the time caring for my ill husband)

Thank you God for your brilliant creation of Mary!

My Lady, I am a filthy, unworthy sinner, but I am all yours and all that I have is yours.
Please, My Lady, carry me home to The Lord.   

Thanks so much SeñoritaRita, your posts are much appreciated 

[SenoritaRita]

Yes señoritaRita, if only we would always treat God as our best friend whom we would feel awful to offend and also treat him as the Holy,Mighty,Immortal God that he is, we would be much less careless with our actions, thoughts and words.

And as Catholics, we Christians have been given the keys to the kingdom through the treasure chest of the sacraments, of Holy Mass,
Of the blood and writings from the Saints. But how many of us just sit next to that treasure chest and never even open it or worse, don't think that we have no need for the priceless things in that chest because we have so many earthly things.

And as Catholics, we  Christians  also have the responsibility that comes with receiving the Holy Spirit in confirmation.
How many Catholics, me included, may be standing in purgatory-and I hope I
Make it at least that far- saying to ourselves that we had everything given to us and we turned our backs on it.

So we all gotta pray for each other and ask for the intercession and help from the saints!

I am a flawed, broken, sinful human being, but I know God is trying very hard to reach me, draw me in and have me as his very own.
I found St. Louise Marie DeMontfort's writings in a battered little booklet left in the free box of devotionals in the back of some church
on my travels. I went through his prescribed 33 days of prayer and reading and did a lot of journaling.  I joined the Legion of Mary as one of their prayerful members ( I am now homebound most of the time caring for my ill husband)


Thanks so much SeñoritaRita, your posts are much appreciated 

So true!  I absolutely agree!

That is the beauty of the Communion of Saints!  To pray and be prayed for in order to have as many souls as possible enter Heaven all the sooner!

Keep fighting, and don't give up!  You do a great work in caring for your husband -as hard as it may be at times.  God will certainly reward you for serving Him properly!

May God bless you!

Rita

P.S.  I am glad that you have benefited from what I have written...  :-)