Think about those times in your life when you have felt inspired to something really great. Where does that inspiration come from?
The Holy Spirit. God inspires us to do great things with our lives.
----Matthew Kelly

Welcome to The Not So Perfect Catholic!

Disclaimer: I am not a theologian, just a Catholic empty-nester trying to figure it all out. The views on this blog are my own.

FMF Writing Prompt: Deny

Join the link-up with your own five-minute freewrite on FiveMInute Friday, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment.

 
The other morning during my prayer/devotional time, these verses from the Daily Mass Readings jumped out at me: 
"Will you lay down your life for me?"  --John 13:38
"...from my mother's womb you are my strength" - Psalm71:6
"...my God is now my strength" - Isaiah 49:5

Will I deny myself and lay down my life for Jesus if asked? Aren't I asked daily to do that? Through my obsessions, my "time killers", I should be spending that time with my family, reading His Word or religious books instead of playing games on my phone or flipping through Instagram.

That got me wondering what My mom's pregnancy with me was like. Was I an easy pregnancy? Did they know my name early in the pregnancy or did they wait? I do know that I was prayed for by both of my parents and my grandma as well as aunts and uncles. My parents gave me strength in my faith, my strength in God. I draw my strength in God from my faith. 

Getting back to "deny"; Jesus isn't just asking us not to deny Him when we're asked about Him. He's constantly asking us to deny things in this world that draw us away from Him. He's not just talking about the big things, but little things. I deleted the games on my phone at the end of my "Jesus time". I'm being more mindful of picking up my phone and immediately going to Instagram. 

In what ways do you feel Jesus calling you to deny yourself?

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6 comments:

  1. Heather KnowlesApril 15, 2022 at 2:38 PM

    Hmmm - time-killers. Yes, they really do get in the way, don't they?

    Just stopped by from FMF #17

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    1. MaryMay 14, 2022 at 10:05 AM

      Oh, absolutely! I find I'm a much happier person when I'm mindful of them!

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  2. dawnApril 15, 2022 at 5:17 PM

    Great post, Mary. What a wonderful commitment to being willing to deny yourself. You made an important point in why too. To use the time more fruitfully - that then also brings great peace, fulfilment and joy, as we not only deny ourselves, but in doing so, we bear lasting fruit. May the risen Christ fill you with joy this Easter. Dawn # FMF 21

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  3. Kym April 16, 2022 at 12:14 AM

    An excellent question to ask myself - what little things is Jesus asking me to deny? Sometimes the little things are actually harder than the big ones, because we don't see the damage they do.

    Stopping by from FMF#18

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