Prayer Pledge // Day 17

Week Three // O Holy Spirit, Beloved of My Soul

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You.

Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.

Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders.

I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me.

Let me only know Your will. Amen.

Week Three Intention

We pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our local communities and dioceses.

Week Three // Day Five

Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.

My king-sized bed dons a down-comforter. It’s light and airy, yet also provides an incredible amount of warmth. At the end of every day, it provides relief and comfort. So much so that I often have a hard time leaving my bed the next morning. Its soft nature is such a stark contrast to the brusk-ness and battles I face from day-to-day that it can be difficult to leave its comfort behind.

Coincidentally, one of the titles of the Holy Spirit is “Comforter,” and He accompanies me everywhere I go. I hadn’t given this much thought until a couple of years ago. I was crying to a dear friend about an ill family member when she asked me, “Have you ever specifically asked the Holy Spirit to comfort you?”

Her question was a true moment of realization. It had never occurred to me that I could ask for comfort and consolation. I thought it was simply something God would give you if He thought you needed it. It almost seemed wrong to request relief, as if the need and desire for consolation meant that I didn’t have enough faith in God. Thankfully, this isn’t true.

Just as the human needs sleep every night, the Christian needs consolation from the Comforter daily. This is especially true when dealing with anguish. Consolation is a resting place. It’s rejuvenating; it makes us stronger. It doesn't take away the cross, but instead enables us to carry it with renewed purpose and strength. Christ Himself illustrated this fact during his agony in the garden when God sent an angel to comfort Him. If He needed consoling in order to better carry His Cross, than we certainly do!

Asking for consolation doesn’t make us weak. We already are weak. Rather, it’s an act of humility, an acknowledgment that we need God and we need His grace.

Admit to yourself an area of your spiritual life that needs consolation. Bring that wound (big or small) to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners

Have you ever specifically asked the Holy Spirit to comfort you?

Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet

About Grace Bellon

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Grace is a regular contributor to the BIS Blog. She had planned to be a nurse until an encounter with Christ in Confession ignited a spark that resulted in an ongoing career as a high school Theology teacher. Though a cradle Catholic, she continues to be amazed at the depth of peace and joy that can be found within the Faith and can’t help but share that passion with others as a teacher, writer, and speaker. Outside of ministry, she dabbles in a bit of everything, excels in almost nothing, and like most moms, cannot survive without at least one cup of coffee a day. Grace resides in Charleston, SC with her hunky husband and their daughter who looks just like him. You can find out more about her here. Read all of Grace's posts here.