Our Barriers

We all have certain beliefs about God that keeps us from praying to God. Here’s a few of them:

Belief: God helps those who help themselves.

God’s reply: I help anyone who asks.

Belief: God’s graces come with a price.

God’s reply: All is free!

Belief: God tests our faith.

God’s reply: I do not test your faith. I strengthen it.

Belief: On the saying: Do your best and leave the results to God.

God’s reply: I don’t need your help. Leave everything to Me.

Belief: The way/will of God is a way of suffering and sacrifice OR that suffering is a grace.

God’s reply: I do not cause suffering. I take away suffering.

Belief: When God calls us, He is there to take away everything from us.

God’s reply: I call you because I have something to give you.

Belief: You need to make a sacrifice to obtain God’s favor.

God’s reply: I do not need anything from you. It is you who needs everything from Me.

What God taught me about sacrifice:

God’s statement:

Sacrifice is one of the most misunderstood value in Christian faith. God does not want us to sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice, to impress others or even to impress God. Sacrifice is an act of selflessness, done as an act of love or compassion. It is an act done for the well-being of others. It is learning to put God and others above ourselves. When Jesus sacrificed Himself, He did this because of His love for us. He wanted to spare us from languishing. In other words, it is a purposeful sacrifice borne from love and mercy. To God, such an act is not even a “sacrifice” because He is predisposed to do such, for God is love and the measure of love is selflessness. And, when we attain union with God, so are we predisposed to do the same.

It is not the sacrifice that matters but the intent for which it is done. If one sacrifices in the hopes of receiving “favors” in return (from God or others), then such is not an act of sacrifice but a self-serving act with a “hidden agenda”. If one sacrifices simply to conform, adhere to tradition or to give in to pressure, then this is not a sacrifice at all. When sacrifice is done for the right reasons, there is an accompanying feeling of joy knowing that what was given added to the well-being of another ... this is why a true sacrifice is not a sacrifice at all.