Advice of Monsignor Jonas on how to have faith and put it into practice

Based on the story of Anna, the mother of Samuel, Monsignor Jonas Abib advises on how to have faith and put it into practice.

“In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping freely,and made this vow: “O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the hardship of your servant, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life. No razor shall ever touch his head.” As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth,for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking she was drunk,
said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “No, my lord!” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my heart to the LORD. Do not think your servant a worthless woman; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have requested.”
 1Sm 1:10-17 ).

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Much worse than Physical sterility is the spiritual sterility of our faith. Sin, the world, the demon managed to make us men and women sterile in faith and not trusting in God.

It is necessary, like Anna,  to pour our heart before the Lord.

Unfortunately, we are men and women of little faith. When we spend just a little bit of energy we say, we nget tired and lose heart. We say that is impossible and we give up. We pray a little bit “and, with that, we think we pray a lot. It’s like in a race: the runner needs to have strength in the legs not only on the downpath; He needs to continue with firmness and agility at the same pace, even going uphill. The one who wins is the one who never slows and preserves the steady pace until the finish line.

Como ter fé e colocá-la em prática?

Every Christian needs firmness, because the world has become a desert of faith and love.

 

After Pentecost, the Apostles preached, and people turned and received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The number of Christians grew in such a way that only the Apostles were not in sufficient numbers to serve them. The deacons, including Stephen.

The burning and strength of conviction of Stephen were sizes that shook the structures of the Sanhedrin. Because of this, many people were angry at him.Condemned and martyred to death, so she couldn’t talk. Saul was the one who carried the mantle of those who stoned. The revenge of God was much bigger: what Stephen did not speak, Paul said and did.

No one can shut us up in front of our testimony. We, Christians, we need to react.Therefore, we proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord!

The apostles also suffered many persecutions. After being arrested, Peter, John and the other Apostles were forbidden to preach in Jesus’ name and perform miracles.Upon returning to the community, however, instead of being fearful and afraid, they all prayed.

“Now, Lord, look at the threats that make grants to thy servants and announce boldly your Word. Hold out for that to come true healing, signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus “(acts -30 4.29).

This is how the Lord prepares His brave warriors. Yesterday they were Peter, John and Paul. Today, it’s you and me. The method is the same: the Lord puts before us concrete situations in which we need to put our faith into action.

Prayer:

Do not be surprised if the situations are tough, this is because you need a firmer training of faith. Ask the Lord for this free grace.

“Lord, I need to be a person of faith, I need to grow in prayer and to pray without ceasing, with faith in the face of impossible, knowing that nothing is impossible for the Lord and everything is possible for he who believes. I need to pray knowing that anything can be changed by prayer. Lord, I need to be a person of prayer, faith, conviction and determination in you. Change my mind, my heart, my attitudes of prayer. I renounce all unbelief and wickedness. Release me by your spirit; I can’t continue and I don’t want to remain sterile. I need your miracle. By Your holy spirit, renew me, restore\ me. That the fruitfulness of prayer comes back to me and that sterility does not remain in my life, Lord. Amen! “

Monsignor Jonas Abib

Portuguese version