words do not convince people, actions do. Speak less and act more.
Divine Mercy
divine mercy by boni acaca
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Lord, I know I am obstinate. I see it within my soul. I hold on to my will and refuse to listen to others out of pride. Give me the grace of an open mind that I may shed my stubbornness. Help me to humble myself before You and others and help me to be ready and willing to listen to Your Truth. Jesus, I trust in You.
One of the primary ways we stop the Mercy of God from entering into our lives is through obstinacy. Specifically, when we obstinately hold onto our own opinion, as a result of our pride, and therefore fail to be open to the truth, we shut the door to grace. This is a particularly dangerous sin because obstinacy, by its very definition, implies there is an unwillingness to repent and change. The obstinate person remains, day after day, year after year, closed to the grace of God. The only cure for an obstinate heart is humility before the Truth of God. Coming to God, with a sincerely open heart, ready and willing to change our convictions the moment He speaks, is the first step to being rid of this sin. Humble yourself by listening, setting aside your own firm opinion, being open and willing to change. This may be difficult at first, but you will be truly grateful you did.
What are you obstinate about? Is there a long-standing thought you hold against another? Is there something that you are convinced you are right on? Make sure that God feels the same way. Seek, today, to be open to change. The first step is to ask the Lord to open your eyes to see. The second step is to let yourself see this tendency within your heart. -
O Divine will, joy of my heart, nourishment of my soul, light of my mind, omnipotent power of my will – for when I unite with Your will, O Lord, that is when Your power acts through me and takes the place of my frail will (Diary 650).
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Lord, when I suffer, I sometimes doubt Your love and care for me. I question whether You are there, sustaining me and leading me. Give me the grace I need to endure all the effects of sin in our world. Help me to face the effects of my own sin and those of the world with courage and confidence in Your protective hand. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Will of God is much more than a future plan God has laid out for you. It’s more than His hopes and dreams for you. His Will is your path to holiness and it is a source of the greatest consolation and joy. His Will is both active and passive (permissive). It’s active in that He has definite plans for you and calls you to discern those plans and embrace them. It’s passive in that He will permit certain evils to befall you as a result of your own sins and those of the whole world. Do not fear when God permits some evil or some suffering to come your way. Jesus Himself is the perfect example of one who experienced the effects of the permissive Will of the Father. Do not be surprised or scandalized by what God permits. His passive and permissive Will invites you to trust in Him in all things and allows you to grow in faith and trust of Him no matter what your future holds. Do not be afraid of that which God permits..
Reflect upon any way that you are confused or even scandalized by what God has allowed to happen in your life. Know that He knows what He desires and He knows what He permits. Do not be afraid of His permissive Will. Do not be afraid to accept all that befalls you with faith and confidence. What God permits is done so as to manifest His providential care for you and as a way of increasing your own faith and trust in Him.
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Today I offer myself up to You, O Jesus, with a small child’s trust and simplicity, Master of mine, I give You complete freedom to direct my soul as You wish. Lead me along whatever roads You choose, I shall not question them. I shall follow You trustfully. All is possible for Your merciful Heart (Diary 228).
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God can move you to places you never thought you would reach, just trust in His plans for your life, sit back and wait.
Boni Acaca -
Be good, not only to those who are good to you, but most especially to those who hate you.
Boni Acaca -
“I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy, and to be Your instrument in the world. O my Lord, I want to be a pure and simple instrument, just as a pencil is in the hand of an artist. I want to be a tool in Your hands, Lord, and to be used by You in any way You wish.”
This reflection shows Saint Faustina’s deep desire to surrender herself completely to God’s will and to be an instrument of His mercy. She longs to be a simple and pure tool in God’s hands, just as an artist uses a pencil to create beautiful works of art.
This entry highlights her trust and willingness to be used by God for the purpose of spreading His mercy and love to others. It’s a beautiful expression of her devotion and commitment to her faith.
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Heaven and Earth would sooner turn into nothingness than a trustful soul be denied My mercy (Diary 1777).
Divine Mercy 