Page 107 - Built For God Handbook (Annotated and Explained Edition) - The Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching - The New Evangelization - Pope John Paul II

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Two themes characterize one who has a strong faith in God and is focused
on doing God’s will in one’s life: connecting faith with life and living life to the
full. Such a person’s life will revolve around specific characteristics that are
enumerated in this chapter.

The first is humble learning and letting go of false pride in acquiring
knowledge. Another is being so secure in God’s love for us that we can be
indifferent to the opinions of others and not swayed by the passing fads or
trends of society.

The willingness to enter into silence and solitude, being open to the Spirit of
God's delicate inner movements, will be another characteristic. This faithful
attachment to God will result in a life of profound contemplative prayer that
can be likened to drifting in a kayak or canoe, letting one’s self be blown in
whatever direction the Spirit of God wants us to go.

A final characteristic of that person is a clear, single-minded determination
not to be distracted by the allurement of the false gods of possessions,
prestige, power, and pleasure, choosing instead to stay focused on an
intimate relationship with God nourished by a life of prayer.

b
a 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Proverbs 14:7-8; Galatians 2:6;
Ecclesiastes 9:1-2; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Matthew 5:43-48;
d
e
c 1 Corinthians 8:7-8; Exodus 32:18-21; Psalm 131:1-3; Isaiah 48:18-19;
f
Psalm 107:23-30; John 3:8; John 15:18-19; 1 John 2:15-17;
1 Corinthians 4:1-20.