Day 5
Faithfulness to the Spirit's Inspirations

Yesterday, we touched on the fact that the path for attaining holiness for each person is unique just as we are unique. Apart from the commandments and teachings that are applicable to all Christians, God has entrusted to each one of us particular roles and missions that are unique to us, awaiting for our responses and actions. In short, we need to understand what God is asking of us specifically. The job of the Holy Spirit is to coach us and lead us to this realization. Then we are required to work closely with the Spirit in fulfilling those roles and missions. It takes time for us to come to a full realization of our unique calling. The way the Spirit guides and coaches us is through frequent inspirations in our daily lives. The moment we respond faithfully to His inspiration, God will grant us the necessary grace and strength to accomplish it, even if it is beyond our own abilities and capacity to handle. Our faithfulness to one inspiration leads us to the next.

When we profit from an inspiration that our Lord sends, he then sends another, and thus our Lord continues his graces as long as we continue to profit from them.

– St. Francis de Sales

Slowly but surely, we will realize what God is actually asking of us in different stages of our life. Our continuous faithfulness (docility) to the prompts of the Spirit promotes us from one stage to the next, until we have come to a full/fuller realization of our unique mission in life. This process requires in particular our faithfulness, patience and perseverance, on top of humility, openness and our willingness. The more we practice our docility to the Spirit, the stronger and more frequent His inspirations, and the more graces will be granted to us who heed His voice.

Jesus said: “To everyone who has will more be given, and he will have abundance.”

– (Bible: Matthew 13:12)

The more we practice aligning ourselves with the inspirations of the Spirit, the easier we can
listen to God's voice. “Practice makes perfect” even works in the spiritual sense.

Don't be surprised that these prompts of the Holy Spirit often begin with small things. Sanctification begins with small and ordinary matters. It is in fact harder to be docile to the Spirit in small and especially mundane things. That requires great humility and patience!

“Our ordinary activities are not an insignificant matter. Rather they are the very hinge on which our sanctity turns, and they offer us constant opportunities of meeting God, and of praising him and glorifying him through our intellectual or manual work.”

– St. Josemaría Escrivá

Don't underestimate the power of being responsive to “small” prompts. Doing that consistently yields great fruits in us! Remember what Mother Teresa often said, “Do small things with great love.” See what a great saint and spiritual giant we have in Mother Teresa!

Dear Holy Spirit, what a tremendous privilege it is for me to have you as my personal life coach! While I am unworthy, you have come to take me by my hand. Humble me, O Holy Spirit, let not my ego get in the way of your work upon me. Never permit me to prefer any lesser things to being always faithful to your prompts and inspirations. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen!

Novena to the Holy Spirit:

Invocation Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, and console me. Tell me what to do, direct my every choice.I promise to submit myself to all you desire of me and to accept all that you permit to happen to me. Let me only know your will.Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Day Five Desiring the Spirit Thirst” John 7: 37-39: On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: Rivers of living water will flow from within him.” He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was of course no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Meditation: You need to be constantly recharged by the power of the Spirit of God. Commune with God in quiet times until the life from God, the Divine life, by that very contact, flows into your being and revives your fainting spirit. When weary, take time out and rest.Rest and gain power and strength from God and then you will be ready to meet whatever opportunities come your way. Rest, allowing every care and worry and fear to be enveloped by grace, then the tide of peace and serenity, love and joy will flow into your consciousness even in the midst of suffering. (2 Cor. 1:3-7)

Prayer of the Day: Lord, allow my thirst to be satisfied. May your Spirit direct my heart to be awakened. Allow me to seek you in all things and bring forth your kingdom on earth. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 
Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into heaven, did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.