01/25/2023 – Chapter 18 Discussion: “Love is All You Need.” / 1). “God is love.” and, 2) “God is simple.” – (say what? – See attached link)
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“As Kierkegaard say in his lovely book title, “purity of heart is to will one thing.” – pg. #93 (which further connects to “God is simple”. We are not simple: We are created in the image of God, but we were born with “original sin.”)
“All sins come from divided hearts.” (pg. #95)
“Saint Thomas says that love has two forms: desiring the good when absent and rejoicing in it when present. Agape, and therefore holiness, is the one and only desire that is granted infallible fulfillment.” (pg #93)
“For ‘the moment we long for God and [long} to obey his will, we enjoy him … the fullness of our enjoyment exactly matches the extent of our desire for Him”. (pg. #94)
“But I, my Lord, ask for one thing only and have only a single prayer – give me a pure heart” (pg. #94)
Remember the prayer acronym: “ACTS” – Adoration / Confession / Thanksgiving / Supplication. So, prayer progresses naturally here from supplication to adoration and thanksgiving by the grace of God, the source of all good things.
Simple, no?
Soli Deo Gloria indeed!