Lisa Notes: Who is the greatest saint?

Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world?

It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God wills, who receives everything as an instance of God’s goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it.
- WILLIAM LAW

That is not me.

Honestly, it’s still sometimes hard for me to even imagine those words as true, that God really cares more about whether I care, than about what I do.

Because he knows that when I care, I will do.

I want to care more. Plus pray more. Fast more. Give more alms.

But I want most to want more to be thankful, to see more of God’s goodness, and to have a heart more ready to praise God.

To love the most.

That’s the greatest.

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:3 (MSG)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:13

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Do you struggle to believe it’s more about the being than the doing?

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fsamons 60p · 653 weeks ago

I think it's a struggle for most of us. The flesh is weak and falls away so quickly. Even when we know it sometimes... Father help us. I'm one of the weaker souls... The best thing we have is the wisdom to know it and have the Holy Spirit working on us. You're not alone.
My recent post A GRIM SIGHT

1 reply · active 653 weeks ago

Lisa notes 103p · 653 weeks ago

The flesh definitely is weak. I look forward to the day when we can put it off and be done with it. In the meantime, yes, Father help us... Thanks, Floyd.

outsidemywindowinsidemyheart 38p · 653 weeks ago

Yes, my dear friend, I do struggle with that belief because for the majority of my Christian life I was in a church that taught it was more about doing than being. I still find it necessary to be reminded that He cares much more about who I am than what I'm doing. I loved the way you phrased it, Lisa, "Because he knows that when I care, I will do." Thank you for the reminder.

Then you know where I'm coming from. I come from a long line of "doing" too. Love you, Dianna.

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jenni · 653 weeks ago

most sermons i remember as i child was that we have to physically show that we are doing good, not just think it. If that makes any sense.
its always a lovely shock to be reminded about his words than what other people may expect of you

go in peace

1 reply · active 652 weeks ago

Lisa notes 103p · 652 weeks ago

Same lessons I learned, Jenni. Sometimes I question myself, wondering if that was really the message preached, or if that's just all I could understand at the time. Not sure.

But now, yes, it is always refreshing to remember that God wants our hearts more than anything else. All the other stuff will follow.

Praying for grace in your pain this week.