What Should I Do?

[Jaime]

[quote name='Spem in alium' timestamp='1343198612' post='2458708']
Jaime, I just wanted to thank you so much for these particular suggestions. Yesterday I resolved myself to give up a bad habit for the preservation and protection of this person's soul, and now things feel a lot different. I've struggled for a while to give up this particular habit, and now it's like I've got a NEED to do it for this person. Maybe that's silly. But it's given me more direction I've had in a long time, so thank you.
[/quote]

That's amesome!!

[Spem in alium]

[quote name='KnightofChrist' timestamp='1343200391' post='2458710']
This may help with that problem and help you with your prayer life in general as well.


[url="http://deaconlincoln.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/bishop-sheen-on-prayer/"][b]Bishop Sheen on Prayer[/b][/url]

Distractions are unavoidable.
Only solution?
Ignore distractions…

Everyone prays, but many times it is in time of need and usually material needs.
The question becomes, “Are we really seeking to Love God or are we seeking favors?” We may be missing a deeper relationship with God when we only wish for these material things.
In the Gospel of Luke 11th chapter. Is there a Father among you that would give his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
Our blessed Lord says you will get something else. There is no prayer actually that is unanswered.

Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier, aka The Creed for the Disabled:
I asked God for strength that I might achieve. 
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things.
 I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy. 
I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
 I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. 
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. 
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. 
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

We are dealing with an infinite mind and we not understand God’s ways.
Our finiteness can not grasp the infinite.

There are two kinds of prayers that are generally answered:
1. Prayers for others;
2. [url="http://www.catholic-forum.com/churches/cathteach/mary_sheen_devotion.html"][b]Prayers that request some kind of trial in order to save a soul.[/b][/url]

Three kinds of prayer

1. Lip prayer-vocal prayer, the kind we know by heart, out of a book, and pray together. Generally if these are simply said without the head/heart they are not real prayers.

2. Head prayer – meditation. This requires silence. A simple way to meditate is to pick up the NT and start with the Gospel of Mark and read a passage. Then simply start to think about it. Jesus healed the sick, but he left them and did not cure them all. He went up on the hill side to talk to his disciples alone. We need a starter and that’s where scripture comes in and apply it to our own life. When you run out of thoughts then go back again to scripture. It takes a long time to meditate. Our Lord rising from the dead and the road to Emmaus. This is a 7 mile journey. What has happened? We thought Jesus of Nazareth was going to save Israel-Politics. Did you not know that the Son of Man must suffer in order to enter into his Glory. When we meditate on scripture the Lord may appear as a stranger, but as we walk on He starts to reveal Himself to us. We need to talk to Our Lord when we meditate. In silence God will speak to you.

3. Heart prayer – This is Love. Words are not so much used, but there is a continual sense of the presence of God. The conversation of lovers. Like a teenager on the phone. What were you talking about? Nothing.
We are to carry the atmosphere of the presence of God with us. This is really what prayer is… continual presence of God in our lives. This can lead to action prayer; whatever we do in life turned into prayer.

It does not make any difference what we are doing, but rather what we are thinking about. The fulfillment of our vocation is what matters, not what that particular vocation may be. All action is a reflex to prayer. We must give the primacy to prayer not action. Prayer leads to proper action not action to prayer. The first word of our Lord was come, and the last was go. First come to the Lord then go and spread the love. Prayer is simply being in love.
[/quote]

Thank you for that Great advice. I most like the part about heart prayer. Will work to implement it in my life and in my relationship with this person.

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1343201264' post='2458711']
You should give them money.
[/quote]

They steal money from me and from other people in my family, so I'm kind of already doing that!

[quote name='jaime' timestamp='1343224068' post='2458730']
That's amesome!!
[/quote]

I think so too.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='jaime' timestamp='1343022918' post='2458020']
St Therese believed that any act could be sacred. She believed that by sweeping the floor to the best of her ability and offering it to Jesus, it could redeem souls. I was in a similar situation where someone I cared about renounced God. I couldn't talk her out of it so I quit smoking as a sacrificial prayer. Everytime I wanted to smoke, I'd ask myself if it was worth her soul? The answer has been "no" for five years now. Will it save her soul? I have no idea. But I know that no prayer goes wasted. And I know I don't smoke.
[/quote]
[quote name='Spem in alium' timestamp='1343198612' post='2458708']
Jaime, I just wanted to thank you so much for these particular suggestions. Yesterday I resolved myself to give up a bad habit for the preservation and protection of this person's soul, and now things feel a lot different. I've struggled for a while to give up this particular habit, and now it's like I've got a NEED to do it for this person. Maybe that's silly. But it's given me more direction I've had in a long time, so thank you.
[/quote]

Beautiful witnesses.

[size=2](Serious question: if you ever see the fruits of your prayer, will you continue to abstain from those habits? Would you simply change the intention?)[/size]

[Spem in alium]

[quote name='franciscanheart' timestamp='1343254054' post='2458836']
Beautiful witnesses.

[size=2](Serious question: if you ever see the fruits of your prayer, will you continue to abstain from those habits? Would you simply change the intention?)[/size]
[/quote]

Thanks

I've gone a few days rejecting this particular habit, and now I can really see how much it was consuming me. I think I would continue to reject it even if my intentions were fulfilled. For one, it's a very destructive habit, so good to avoid anyway. And to me it seems kind of pointless (for want of a better word) to prayerfully sacrifice something for someone else and then after they no longer need that kind of prayer pick the habit up again as if it had never been lost in the first place. I do hope that eventually this person will not require the kind of prayer I offer now. I will always keep them in prayer though, so perhaps I would change the intention in the event that they came back to Christ.

[MissyP89]

I go through this with my family. There are a lot of great suggestions up there. Generally, just try to show them charity. Remember that by professing Jesus as your Savior, you are saying certain things about the sort of person you intend to become and the way you want to treat others. Try to live up to the name "Christian" as best you can.

At the same time, though, DO NOT stress yourself out worrying about their soul. Don't feel guilty when you make mistakes. Don't let yourself believe that only you can save them. These are attitudes the devil uses to shift our focus away from Jesus and onto the world.

You can only do so much. Don't underestimate the power of a kind word ... but at the end of the day, the decision is theirs to make. Do whatever you can to put that decision and all of your worry into God's hands.

I am praying for you. Be strong, and don't worry.

[Spem in alium]

[quote name='MissyP89' timestamp='1343257637' post='2458847']
I go through this with my family. There are a lot of great suggestions up there. Generally, just try to show them charity. Remember that by professing Jesus as your Savior, you are saying certain things about the sort of person you intend to become and the way you want to treat others. Try to live up to the name "Christian" as best you can.

At the same time, though, DO NOT stress yourself out worrying about their soul. Don't feel guilty when you make mistakes. Don't let yourself believe that only you can save them. These are attitudes the devil uses to shift our focus away from Jesus and onto the world.

You can only do so much. Don't underestimate the power of a kind word ... but at the end of the day, the decision is theirs to make. Do whatever you can to put that decision and all of your worry into God's hands.

I am praying for you. Be strong, and don't worry.
[/quote]

Thanks so much, Missy. You gave me a lot to think about The hardest thing for me isn't so much living with this person's abuse and aggression or having to act like everything is perfect with every single person who comes into my home. The hardest thing is actually seeing my parents' hearts break more every day. I might sound very dramatic here, but my family is broken, and most of the time it seems that nothing can fix it. Trusting in God and praying makes a lot of the pain easier, but sometimes I just wonder where He is and what He's planning. Sometimes it's very hard to trust and very hard to pray.

I have told no one but my best friend about this. It's a lot easier to type than to say.