BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION (part four)

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION (part four)

By Dwight Cunkle



Review, Reflect, Renew and go further on with Jesus...

In his book, Examen Prayer  Timothy Gallagher instructs us to pause and prepare heart and mind for prayer by asking God the grace to become aware of his love for us and His presence in and around us. Begin with awareness then move to thanksgiving, and we will receive wisdom and revelation from his word how to pray and how to act.

David said, “Enter God’s presence with thanksgiving-(Psalms 95 and 100). Jesus showed us how to begin prayer, “Our Father-hallowed be your name.” Paul wrote, “Let requests be made with thanksgiving,” and,  “In everything give thanks.” How important is thanks? Gallagher writes :
“... ingratitude is one of the things most worthy of detestation before our Creator and Lord, and before all creatures capable of his divine and everlasting glory, out of all the evils and sins which can be imagined. For it is a failure to recognize the good things, the graces, and the gifts received. As such, it is the cause, beginning, and origin of all evils and sins (see Romans 1). On the contrary, recognition and gratitude for the good things and gifts received is greatly loved and esteemed both in heaven and on earth.”

1. After becoming aware God looks on me with love, and
2. After giving thanks for his graces my life and world, 
3. Then I am ready to discern good and evil spirits
4. Resisting and rejecting the bad, but aided by the good 5. Move toward God in faith, hope and love. I will be able to set aside the trap of negative self-talk, self-centered introspection, and all the “bait of Satan” to trap me in offence or fear. When I am at rest and united in God’s love, 6. I am ready to hear (really “to sense the effect of” rather than just “get a word”) what God is saying in his word, in listening prayer, and through spiritual direction,
7. And to make good decisions in a pure heart of wisdom and love.

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION

(part two)

by Dwight Cunkle

     In last week’s column I listed how our enemy (the world, the flesh and the devil) afflict us with desolations contrasting them with God’s spiritual consolations. In last week’s sermon, we looked at how feelings make good indicators but lousy leaders –emotions can indicate both the source and direction of our thoughts, but our focus needs to be on discerning our thoughts so we don’t get ‘stuck” in our feelings. 
(“Nothing more than Feelings” is available as a podcast on our website, www.covenantlifechurchonline.com).

What do I do when I have become aware of my feelings and understand the source and direction of my thoughts? (loosely based on rules for discernment by Ignatius of Loyola)

Accept the good but reject the bad. As good thoughts grow when our hearts and minds are moving toward and responding to God, so peace, faith, hope and love diminish, when our thoughts focus more on our emotions and move away from God (spiritual desolation).

When in spiritual desolation (feelings which move away from God) don’t change prior decisions but change your thoughts.  Continue the direction you began while in spiritual consolation (faith, hope, love, peace, joy...). Make every effort to resist and reject the bad thoughts. Act intensely to change your thoughts by prayer, meditation,  examination and humbly seeking spiritual direction. Increase loving kindness and self-denial rather than yield to selfish or fleshly temptations.

When in spiritual consolations prepare yourself against the return of desolation.  Since there is both ebb and flow, and highs and lows in natural and spiritual life, arm yourselves to share in Christ’s suffering and for the good which comes from trials. Fill yourself with Scripture and be filled with the Spirit, praying and giving thanks much, “so you may be able to stand in the time of testing because the flesh is weak but spirit is willing.”

The choice to live in ongoing spiritual awareness  is the beginning of spiritual discernment and gateway to spiritual freedom.

Maturity comes by effort and  humility (asking God’s help).