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 Six

Tell me what I should do… give me your orders.

During my high school years, I worked at a seasonal ice cream shop. It was a staple summer experience of the small town in which I lived and we were usually pretty busy. The space was small and tight. Maneuvering around in there sometimes got a little tricky; especially when we had long lines on the busy nights. Most customers were pleasant, but there were occasions when a customer got heated and tempers flared. Despite all of this, I liked the job. I liked taking orders—even the complicated orders—because what was expected of me was clear.

When it comes to the orders of the Holy Spirit, things aren’t always so straightforward.

If you’re just beginning to pay attention to your relationship with the Spirit, His orders can read a lot more like the cues of a baby. When a baby cries (especially as a newborn), it’s not always clear to us why. We know the baby must want or need something. But whether it's food, or a diaper change, or a blanket, or a snuggle, we can’t really know for sure. It can be stressful, but that doesn’t mean we don’t answer simply because we don’t understand the call. All parents spring into action, trying everything until the baby’s cries stop.

When we feel prompted by the Spirit, even if His cues aren’t as straightforward as a customer ordering food, we have to have this same promptness in responding. Even if it means trying a few different things before we fully figure out what it is He wants.

Thankfully, just as a mother gets to know her child’s nonverbal cues, the language of the Holy Spirit becomes more understandable to us over time. The “guess work” subsides and we understand His orders more clearly. As we progress in our spiritual lives, His promptings become more and more obvious, just as our ability to understand our growing children progresses over time.

Respond to anything you think may be a “cry” or a prompting of the Holy Spirit with the attentiveness of a loving mother.

Prayer + Discussion for Prayer Partners

How do you typically respond when given a directive? Is there anyone you have to answer to that you find difficult to respect or trust?

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