Fortitude in the Desert

Intercessors of the Lamb - 04-20-09 Desert Spirituality

"In the desert, in the times of waiting, of searching, fortitude, a gift of the Holy Spirit, works so powerfully within us because it gives us the power to change. It gives us the strength to allow God to change us. The Spirit is always saying, "That was okay then, but now I want you to do this or be this. Things have changed. Let this go. Let's do this.” There is always change. We are continuously in a growth process. And it takes courage to change. There will be tests; there will be dry times in prayer. There will be aridity. There will be real desert times. That takes courage. This is when we call on this gift of fortitude. This is when we find the Holy Spirit coming to us with this gift, as if to say, "Hang in there! Hang in there." Even the psalmist used to say, "Oh, Lord, how long? How long do I have to endure this?" Through fortitude, the Spirit tells us, “It is just a little while longer, just a little while. We are almost there." He knows how to give us hope, doesn't He? He knows how to keep us going. This is how the gift of fortitude works. We can persevere. We can stay faithful."

Excerpts from THE FRUITS OF HIS LOVE

Excerpts from THE FRUITS OF HIS LOVE
Mother M. Angelica


The Value Of Suffering
Suffering in any form was, from the beginning of time, a mystery, and a blot on the human race. It was feared, dreaded, and shunned—a sign of contradiction and a curse. Jesus came as man and, because He accepted the consequences of our fall and suffered as we all suffer, He elevated suffering, transformed it, gave it power, and considers the pain of each member of the human race His pain. So much so that when I alleviate the pain of my brother, or am compassionate with his life, Jesus considers this done to Him.
There was suffering, pain, hunger and thirst, before Redemption, and there is still suffering, pain, hunger and thirst after Redemption. Redemption gave me more than an exemption from pain: it gave me Jesus, grace, the Spirit, love, peace and joy. It raises me above pain.God does not will that I suffer, just as He did not will that Adam and Eve sin. But since they sinned and I inherit the weaknesses that are a result of that sin, I do and always will have something to endure.
Christ's Redemption merited for me a participation in His Divine Nature as God through grace, and a participation in His sufferings as Man, through the Cross.
He came down from glory to my suffering level that I might rise from my misery to His Glory. But to do this I must take upon myself the whole Christ—suffering and resurrected.
He took upon Himself my sins that I might sin no more.
He took upon Himself my weaknesses that I might have grace to overcome.
He took upon Himself my pain that I might hold His Hand in mine.
He took upon Himself my humiliation that I might be raised to His Throne.
He took upon Himself ridicule and insult that I might stand tall in persecution.
He took upon Himself the loss of His friends in His hour of need that I might never be alone in the hour of my need.
and then
He stood alone, abandoned by God and man, so that I need never feel desolate or rejected.
Now it is our cross—His and mine.
Now there is a reason behind each tear, each pain, each heartache.
Now the cross is no longer in the mud of despair—it is raised on high and on it is God's own Son.
Now it is no longer a sign of His vengeance but a sign of His love.
Now it no longer destroys but molds and renews.
Now it no longer oppresses my spirit but empties it so that it may be filled with God.
for
Each heartache empties my soul of me and fills it with Him.
Each tear washes my soul and makes it more beautiful to His Eyes.
Each disappointment strengthens my will to cling to Him alone.
*Each anxious day makes me look to Him for support.
*Each tension-filled hour makes me reach out to find serenity in His grasp.
*Each pain is added to His on the Cross to redeem the world.
*Each doubt makes me search for Truth and hold it fast.Each separation gives me an awareness of the one thing necessary.
Each time my love is spurned I know how He feels when I ignore Him.
Each time I am treated unjustly, I know His feelings when He was called a devil.
Each time pride, jealousy, or ambition rears its head I see His Crown of Thorns.


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Prisoners of Hope

Joyce Meyer Ministries — Broadcast

YouTube - I OFFER MY LIFE TO YOU

severe test of affliction

USCCB - (NAB) - June 16, 2009:

"We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God
that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
for in a severe test of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For according to their means, I can testify,
and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part
in the service to the holy ones,
and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and to us through the will of God,"

This reminds me of the passage where Jesus heals Peter's mother in law and then first thing she does is gets up and serves the others there.

There are many graces that come through suffering...and we can glorify God by allowing those abundant graces to flow from us to others as it was intended. The main thing is to give yourself to the Lord first and then be obedient to His will as you give of yourself to others according to your means.