Faith and Guidance

Providentially, (firmly believing in Divine Providence) I am rereading and reviewing “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective            People” by Dr. Stephen Covey while preparing this talk, “Growing in Faith and knowing God’s Will”.  His recommendation is inspiring and worth doing, “Be a light, not a judge.  Be a model, not a critic.  Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.”

Our Christian life is analogous or comparable to swimming in a river or threading in water.  If we stop swimming, we will be carried away by the current.  Prayer and faith are our life saver or ‘life jacket’ to keep us afloat.

God wants to work in us and through us.  Our Christian faith especially our expectant faith is an essential ingredient.  It is a life of loving service because if it is not, it’s “an empty faith”.  It is not just a feeling, a wishful thinking or a blind leap.  Faith is believing in the unseen but not blind.

Faith is a personal act and decision based on good reason and not an emotion.  It is a definite, individual, urgent and indispensable act.  When we respond to God’s leading (discernment), faith becomes a deliberate act.  Ultimately, applying this Christian faith in our daily life becomes a commitment to know, love and serve the Lord.

Let us review the 3 kinds of faith.  First is the doctrinal or believing faith.  Basically, every time we profess the Apostles’ Creed, we express this kind of faith.  We learn in detail about our Catholic faith through The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and the inculturized Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC).

Providential or trusting faith is the second.  In God’s goodness, “everything will work out well for our good”.  “We know that in all things, God works for good unto those who love Him, those He has called according to His promise” (Rom 8:28).

Third is Expectant faith, the belief that actively claims God’s promises.  This kind of faith sees the direct results of God’s actions and interventions.  Our Mother Mary’s expectant faith is the best example when she told the servants in the Wedding at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:1-11).

How do we grow in faith? The Christian life program (BCLP) of the Brotherhood starts with the first life-changing process which is conversion or transformation to a life of righteousness followed by commitment and finally being commissioned. It is the totality of our spiritual renewal.  Our active involvement with the BCBP Community definitely allows us to grow in faith.

Consistent reading and study of the Bible and inspirational books by Christian authors also build our faith.  We believe what we read and apply in our daily lives lessons from the Bible and from the rich culture and tradition of our Catholic faith.  The Word of God is alive especially when we are touched or “disturbed” by the message of the passage.

When confronted with doubts and uncertainties, we pray for more faith and allow the power of the Holy Spirit for the necessary action and intervention (expectant faith).  You must be familiar with the story of the “doubting Thomas”.  He was absent when the Risen Christ appeared to the other apostles.  He did not believe.  When he finally saw Christ with His wounds, he prayerfully exclaimed, “My Lord and My God!” strengthening his faith.

Knowing God’s Will. The following are Bible passages that show us how God wants us to know His Will.  He wants us to be in an intimate relationship with Him.  Sin and intellectualism are 2 ways of breaking that relationship by not keeping the Commandment of Love.

“Whoever accepts and keeps My Commandments is the one who loves Me.  If he loves Me, he will be loved by My Father, I too shall love him and show Myself clearly to him” (Jn 14:21).

“I will teach you, I will show you the way to follow.  I will watch over you and give you counsel” (Ps 32:8).

“The Spirit of Truth is with you and will be with you” (Jn 14:17).

How are we guided?  Basically, our guidance emanates from the Holy Bible and from the rich culture and tradition of our Catholic Church.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, refuting error, for correcting and training in Christian life.  Through Scripture, the man of God is made expert and thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17).

We study the Words of God to be applied in our daily living (panginabuhi dili panlantugi) because we are not “faith defenders”.

In our social dimension, the directions in our lives pass through 3 stages: dependence during childhood, independence upon adulthood and then interdependence (Covey).  However, we remain dependent on God in our Christian life.

Our marriage commitments in the family being parents, spouses and children are avenues of God’s guidance and will in our lives. The circumstances, God’s leading (discernment) and signs that come our way are manifestations of God’s guidance and will.  

It is God’s will that you are now undergoing this Christian life program that started with your first attendance to the breakfast fellowship through your sponsor.  Together, we pray that we sustain and be fruitful in our mission/vision to bring Christ and win for Him our respective marketplaces.  With God’s guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we pray that each one of us maybe able to formulate our personal mission statement in consonance with God’s will for us.

“The fool considers his way right while the wise man listens to advise” (Prov 12:15). Our brothers and sisters serving as discussion leaders in our Christian life program (BCLP) are guiding us towards knowing God’s will.  St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Brothers and sisters, I want you to be thankful to those who labor among you, who lead you along the ways of the Lord and also reprimand you.  Esteem them highly and love them for what they are doing.  Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thes 5:12-13).

Growing in guidance and discernment.  If we have the desire, we certainly grow in our ability to discern or know God’s will in our lives.  “If we have the will (desire), God will show the way”.  We simply pray and honestly seek for God’s guidance.   Through our brothers and sisters in the discussion group or with our BCBP Community, we can talk-over options to come up with the right decision.  We patiently and consistently take time to grow and mature spiritually to understand the will of God in our lives.

My life of faith and guidance.  In my over 5 decades of existence (57 yrs) and looking forward for more fruitful and fulfilling life, I claim with expectant faith that God has been, is and will continue to be with me firmly believing in His Divine Providence.  I am His special creature destined for a purpose to glorify, honor, serve and love Him through the life I am living.

Normally, I have undergone the 3 stages of my social life: from dependence to independence and interdependence (Covey).  However, I am totally and continuously dependent on God’s Mercy and Grace from day one until the end of my days.

I have pointed out significant events or circumstances regarding my faith in God and how I am guided by His will.  I have posted “Growing in faith and knowing God’s will” and “Dependence on God (BCBP Mactan edition)” last March 22, 2011 and April 21, 2011 in my website, respectively.  In addition, the following are several other experiences worth revealing.

I thank my parents for bringing me to life.  The family’s economic inadequacy led me to self-reliance at a tender age.  I did not depend on them for my higher education to realize a simple ambition, a “prison break” from my bondage to poverty.  I recall my regular pleading to our Mother of Perpetual Help every time I passed the Church during my secondary education.  God granted me a benefactor I consider as the most unforgettable character, a great philanthropist and a sincere friend, the late Bro. Richard Kloster, OFM.

I finished a degree in agricultural education and was readily employed by my Alma Mater.  With self-discipline, I evaded from any ‘boy-girl’ relationship while still studying in College.  Having a teaching, research and extension job, I felt confident and ready for a relationship side by side with my selfless dedication to support my younger siblings in their studies and the financial needs of my parents.  I was frustrated with their uncooperation and so after 3 years, I decided to wean-off from them to have a family of my own.  Judy was part of that decision because after 2 years of friendship through our socio, religious and cultural student-faculty campus organization (The Pillars), we were married about 4 months after her graduation.  Our honeymoon was spent in time with my graduate studies in UP at Los Baňos.  Two (2) lovely and stress-relieving daughters were the products of our union.

After 15 years of loyal and satisfactory government service and a year of thorough deliberation, I decided to voluntarily resign from the academe.  That paradigm shift resulted in many adjustments and a period of depression that lasted for almost 2 years I consider as the lowest period of my life.  I was guided by reading a number of inspirational books ultimately the Holy Bible.  Our decision to join and commit ourselves to the BCBP is like “finding the pearl of great price.”  However, it is not an assurance of a problem-free life because the more I desire to be closer to God, the more trials came my way.  The Spiritual Gifts of wisdom, understanding, patience and love I prayed for during the Baptism of the Holy Spirit lighten my load regaining peace and harmony at home.

In my previous witnessing, I presented 2 significant events how the Lord works in mysterious ways that strengthened my expectant faith totally dependent on His will.  First is the birth of our only son, who is now 17 yrs. old meaning we are already 18 years with the BCBP and the second was my reconciliation with my parents-in-law especially with Mama.  More are noted.  In 1997, when my father-in-law was hospitalized during the death of Lady Diana, he gave us their house and lot upon his discharge.  I consider his gesture of giving their real property to us as the “last quarter blast” for the year.

Confronted with the agrarian reform problem in 2001, we were led to the newly retired regional director through a sister of BCBP Mactan who was his secretary.  Amazingly, we were given a clearance and our legal counsel eventually became a BCBP brother.  Equally astonishing was my unexpected reunion with his wife connected with the Department of Agriculture Region 8 who was my co-worker in the Farming Systems Development Project for Eastern Visayas (FSDP-EV), a joint project with the Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA), Baybay, Leyte.

I feel spiritually high praying for priests and religious friends and knowing they are also praying for me.  This is an example of spiritual interdependence.  On the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary of her religious life, Sr. M. Joseph Ann Vogel, OSF (our HS guidance counselor, 1972) informed me through a greeting card dated June 15, 2004 that I am one of those they pray for regularly in their Perpetual Adoration Chapel.  Full of gratefulness, I heartily express all praises and thanksgiving to the Lord for the Franciscan Sisters, my powerful intercessors.

Lately, I discerned it is a calling for me to be “reflective writing” inspired and motivated by my personal slogan, “Read, write, believe and live”.  Starting January 25, 2011, I have been blogging through www.blogger.com in my desire to connect my limited thoughts with the vast minds of the world and ultimately to the Infinite Mind.

I have posted an open letter titled, “The winning edge” last August 13, 2011 addressed to a Baybayana “born again” nurse working in Texas, U.S.A.  A brother knight (K of C) now based in New Zealand inspires me to go on writing.  A very moving, worthy and meaningful comment states, “I learn a lot from your blogs.  I love your blogs.”  To date, blogger.com recorded 4,484 page-viewers throughout the world making me a “world-class” not a “worldly” Christian unmoved by the recent controversial issue on the Cyber Crime Law. Open or visit my website: www.nestofglory.blogspot.com and be my blog follower.

The foregoing events and circumstances in my life are my simple ways of dynamically growing in faith and being reconciled with God’s will for me. “Lord, teach me always to do Your will, Amen” (Ps 143:10). nmg

Note: Talk 12. "Faith and Guidance" delivered October 6, 2012 during the Brotherhood  Christian Life Program (BCLP N0. 8) BCBP Consolacion, Cebu.  This is my simple contribution to the Year of Faith (2012 – 2013).