Vicka speaks on following
God's will and renouncing negative things
Source: http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com/medj/reports/02_01_04.html
This past month a woman from China stayed in Medjugorje,
with my community. She mentioned that she thought it must
be easy for the visionaries to discern what God wants of them.
"When you see Our Lady every day", she said, "you
know how to follow the right path. But for us, how are we
to know the will of God in our lives and how can we be sure
not to be mistaken?" I took a chance that Vicka would
have some "winter time" to spend with us and would
share some insights of hers. She welcomed my friend very kindly.
Because she radiates such a heavenly joy and love, one may
think she can give a magic recipe for peace! Well, she did
draw a clear line to happiness, but indeed nothing magic!
Vicka spoke directly to my friend without even one question
being asked. She said, "People who think they are clever
and intelligent will do things according to their own plans
and not care about God's plan. Because of pride, they fail
and face many difficulties in achieving their goals and in
seeking God".
--In my case, I follow my own plans, yes, because
of pride, but also because I want to know what will come step
by step?
Vicka: You know, many people say they want to do the Will
of God, but actually, when they have to choose a way, they
choose what they like most, what brings them pleasure. But
one cannot do the Will of God some of the time and at other
times follow one's own feelings! Many say, 'Lord, show me
the way', but deep in their heart they have not yet made a
strong decision to put God in the first place. They keep going
back and forth with Him, and then they lack peace. After a
while, they are stuck with no way out, and they find themselves
in great pain. Then they cry to God saying: 'Lord, why have
you allowed this to happen to me?!' Unfortunately, these people
have created their own problem! But God is merciful. When
you follow Him again, He will work everything out for you.
When you start with a strong decision to fulfill God's plans
for your life, then God sees your good will and He gives you
everything! God is always ready to give! And if you have missed
the right path, He is always ready to take you back in His
arms and to console you! But all this time spent going the
wrong way and then returning to where you started, see how
much time you've lost? You have no time to lose! All you have
to do is to ask for the thing you need and then be open to
receive God's graces. People just do not ask God for it. There
is in every person's heart, God. Everyone knows somehow that
God exists but some people avoid thinking about it and they
deny it.
-- Is it not right to follow our feelings? Aren't
our feelings from God too?
Vicka: You have to see God's Will first so that you have
inner security and peace in your heart! When you have fear
in your heart, you cannot feel right. You are not in harmony
within yourself and you cannot trust your feelings. Seek first
to be happy with yourself, to love yourself. When something
is from God, you feel great joy, peace and harmony within
you. When you feel fear, confusion and anguish, that is something
from the enemy. If it is God's will, there will be problems,
yes, but He will smooth out the way for you. When it is God's
will, God will give you everything you need, problems and
difficulties will finally go.
--That sounds so easy for you!
Vicka: You have to do it step by step, don't think of something
big. It doesn't happen overnight! Usually, the most difficult
part is the start. You have to start slowly to understand
and to listen to God's will. Day by day you are learning to
listen to God's will. You will find God's graces working for
you. You'll receive God's graces when you follow God's will.
There are times that God wants to test you to see if you are
truly willing to follow His Will. God wants you to choose.
Sometimes you have struggles among other attractions and alternatives.
God has given everyone a great gift: a free will, a freedom,
he wants you to choose and to use your free will. God does
not want to force you into anything. Sometimes we fail and
choose the wrong things. God is merciful and God knows. As
long as we have the good will to follow Him, God will help
us.
--How can we win over those feelings that trouble
us?
Vicka: Don't be afraid of anything, just renounce them and
give them to God. You cannot pray if you let those troubles
in. You know, Satan is always trying to trouble our hearts.
We have to be aware of him, of his actions, and not let him
work in our hearts. He will introduce worries and fears and
he will disturb you in many ways. But all this, just give
it to God and accept his peace! People do not realize how
much He wants to give us, how much He loves us! You don't
need to be afraid of anything.
Three days later an American friend visited Vicka. That day
the question was about Vicka's out-of-town missions:
-- How do you decide where to go, does it depend
on invitations?
Vicka: "But you know, people are constantly asking us
(the visionaries) to come to them, requests arrive day and
night! No, you see, the important thing is to look into your
own heart and ask, 'what does the Gospa need me to do?' I
receive many invitations from countries with all they need
materially and I could spend my time in the United States,
in Italy or so. But I also have to listen to those countries
with nothing that have many difficulties and to tell myself,
'I will respond when the Gospa puts a sign in my heart'. I
wait peacefully and sure enough, she shows me the right time,
the right place, how and when she wants me to go. When this
sign comes, you just know it, you can feel it, it is clear.
And even if some friends push me to go and visit them instead,
I must not pay attention to their request, because friendship
has nothing to do with it, it is something else. You should
not decide on a trip in order to please your friends; you
have to follow what your heart tells you in prayer and stick
to it. You have to be strong. The important thing is to go
forward, in peace, in the way God shows you in your heart."
These words from Vicka may help a lot of people who, in the
Marian movement, have an earnest desire to be instruments
in the plans of the Gospa. As a matter of fact, when confusion
comes up and pressure is felt in working together for a mission,
a retreat or other activity, what a grace it is to be able
to share the same goal and decide together: "We are going
to open our hearts and welcome what God has in store for us.
How can we put ourselves at the service of Jesus and Mary,
finding their plan for us, and not putting our own plans first?"
When God really holds the first place in our dealings, our
first concern is to please Him. Obviously, we all see that
God blesses the efforts of those who do not compromise His
work with other priorities.
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