Day 6 – The Spirit Speaks to Us
We often hear people complaining about not being able to hear God's voice. But logic tells us that the Spirit being the perfect leader, He surely desires to speak to us. Not that He only wants to give us instructions but He first desires to relate to us personally through His words.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me."
The safest way to cultivate this prayer life is to pray with the Scripture, which is God's Word. Studying the Word becomes not a burden but almost like a dating experience as we desire to know more about God and to nurture an intimate relationship with Him.
Having sudden and profound new enlightenments and deeper insights into the Christian mysteries are not uncommon among those whose lives are filled with the Spirit.
Our common enemies are "busyness" and "distractions". Satan likes to inject noises into our lives to distract us from listening attentively to God. Only in silence and in solitude can we feel the strongest presence of God.
Please do not be fooled by believing that praying on the road and on the job will suffice. And never let busyness steal God away from you.
"Everyone of us needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy – then we need an hour."
As our prayer life matures and our relationship with God becomes intimate, we begin to realize that God speaks to us in many different ways through countless means.
If we are attentive enough, we find God in all things. He just can't get enough of us! With a discerning heart, we begin to understand God more readily and truly know His voice. Discerning and following God's will become easier in life.
Sacraments help us to sustain our prayer life, especially the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Instituted by Jesus Himself for us, these Sacraments are our lifelines connecting us to the Vine.
A genuine relationship is, after all, a commitment. The mutual commitment in a relationship is what makes it beautiful. A healthy relationship requires effort from both sides. An unbalanced relationship is one that is shaky.
God is so serious about our relationship that He has established covenants with us. Whenever we cry for help, God is there for us, acting and responding to our needs. And He always keeps His covenant. As we listen to God, we should pay Him the same respect, receiving His words by listening to as well as acting on them. This is what real listening is all about.
If we do not take actions on what God is telling us, why should we expect God to answer us when we call for help?
REFLECTION
How am I going to create a space to listen to God's voice?
Do I tend to speak instead of listen when I pray? Do I truly believe in and act on what God is telling me, especially through the Bible?
TODAY'S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, You know me and call me by name, yet I do not know You well enough to recognize Your voice in my life. I have been keeping myself too busy and distracted to allow You to speak to me. Please grant me the desire and a listening heart to hear Your voice and to act on it. I resolve to love You with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
My beloved child, encounter me in silence and I will outpour my love for you. I dwell in you in the depth of your heart where you can hear my voice. You are my temple where I take delight and abide in. Know that a life without prayer is a life without power, because I am the Source of divine power. Remain in me as I remain in you. I love you always!
Novena 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 Six Desiring the Spirit "Trust" Luke 1: 35-38: The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence the Holy Offspring to be born will be called Son of God. Know that Elizabeth your kinswoman has conceived a son in her old age, she who was thought to be sterile is now in her sixth month for nothing is impossible with God.Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say."
Meditation: Once I am "born of the Spirit." the Spirit is my life's breath.Within me is the Life of life. It is the same Life that throughout the ages has helped God's children through peril, adversity, and sorrow. I must try never to doubt or worry, but follow where the Life of the Spirit leads. How often am I unaware of how God goes before me to prepare the way, to soften the heart, or to overrule resentment? As the life of the Spirit grows, natural desires are placed within a new horizon to be governed by the will of God.
Prayer for the Day: Lord, let me open my heart to your will and fully trust in you.With You all things are possible and with a willing spirit and a humble heart, grant that I may serve you and witness to your word 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.
If you find this reflection helpful and have not registered to receive our daily email, we invite you to sign up here. If you have a Facebook account and would like to share your thoughts there, we invite you to join this Facebook group .
psfsurwby pjcog erfowdl rsfs mcvnpiayvficodu
346341 135756An incredibly interesting examine, I could possibly not concur entirely, but you do make some quite valid points. 627871
866029 917700Woh Every person loves you , bookmarked ! My partner and i take concern inside your last point. 62914
723670 107106It is truly a terrific and helpful piece of information. Im happy which you just shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing. 85694
719361 755704Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he truly bought me lunch as I located it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! 878145
18067 613501I believe this site contains some very very good info for everyone : D. 979770
665300 9754The very best and clear News is quite a lot imptortant to us. 108644
151224 826557What is great respecting is dealing with rather of depending on. 169831
770133 645456Interested in start up a online business on line denotes revealing your service also providers not only to humans within your town, nevertheless , to numerous future prospects which are cyberspace on a lot of occasions. pays day-to-day 618470
965957 752167An fascinating dialogue is value comment. I feel that it is finest to write extra on this matter, it could not be a taboo topic however normally men and women are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers 300216
78639 797870Shame on the seek Google for no longer positioning this publish higher! Come on over and consult with my site. 143672
934595 349418Its nearly impossible to discover knowledgeable males and ladies during this subject, however you sound like do you know what youre discussing! Thanks 701024
131963 985668I used to be recommended this internet site by my cousin. Im no longer sure whether this put up is written by way of him as nobody else know such exact approximately my dilemma. You are amazing! Thank you! 150078
668055 186966Yay google is my king aided me to find this outstanding internet site! . 696228