Sometime in 2008, the Lord showed me a movie on PBS titled, "The Nun's Story". While I am not catholic and not called to be a nun, there were amazing profound TRUTHS in this movie that would well be heeded for OUR journey of death to self, words that could not be denied or ignored. (Nuns are also considered wed to the Lord, brides - in fact in the movie when they finish their novice training, the candidates come to get their full habit (outfit) while wearing wedding gowns and walking down the aisle - very prophetic!) The Lord then had me buy the book (very difficult to find BUT FOR GOD who found one for me at an obscure little book shop somewhere on the East coast!). He has had me watch the movie a few times since then - and again this past Tuesday (04-13-10). Walking our walk with our Lord is not about religion and rituals - those things you can toss aside. HOWEVER there is truth in the way the nuns were portrayed...how they were taught to live in humility. The Lord had me write down some of the lines that you should prayerfully consider:
"...strive toward perfection by inner silence - to make your self available to constant conversation with God."
"one should never engage in useless conversation"
"never ask for anything for ourselves."
"it is not a life of refuge from the world; it is a life of sacrifice, a life against nature - a never ending struggle for perfection in Him."
"poverty...chastity...obedience"
"the sacrifices expected are only attainable if we make them with love."
"we can endure greater sacrifice because the object of our love is our Lord Jesus Christ."
"....must be a constant alertness against imperfection..."
"perfection = for the love of God the believer is obedient in all things unto death."
"despise the vain pleasures of this world for closer union with God."
"divest yourselves of the vanity of this world and receive for yourselves the habit of humility"
"...the more I try, the more imperfect I become."
"When I succeed at obedience, I fail because of pride for succeeding."
"Don't forget - you are only an instrument - in yourself you are nothing until you are lifted up."
"You must learn to accept with love whatever comes to you."
"There is no resting place where obedience is easier, where it becomes natural, where the struggle ends...."
Half way through the movie, the main character finally gets to go to the Congo on a missions assignment...she has struggled through all of her years of training as a nun - as she is leaving she says to her earthly father, "It will be so much easier in the Congo to remember I am nothing. There'll be no worldly associations in the jungle." We must learn this IN THE MIDST OF ALL - not when we are safely hidden away in our caves - although time in the cave CAN be a strong beginning and is meant to be so - but we must learn to WALK IT in the midst of everything.)
"...a lesson we all have to learn - disappointment."
At one point the main character finally lays on her face before God and proclaims, "What I do from now on is between You and me alone." Sadly, this is HOW IT SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING OF HER WALK.
"....perfect obedience as Christ practiced it..."
These are here because the Lord said to post them. They may speak to you, or not. Don't just go out and buy the movie or try to find the book - your walk is not my walk (and vice versa) - the Lord may use this in your life - or not. ASK HIM as in all things!
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