If we intend to stir up the Spirit within ourselves and participate in the new Pentecost, we must learn how to listen to and act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Simply being a disciple of Jesus Christ demands this — for the Lord Jesus speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, and empowers us to act by the same Spirit. The Christian disciple, in fact, may be defined as the one who asks himself, “What is God saying to me? And what am I doing about it?” How, then, do we listen to the Holy Spirit, and act on His promptings?
The Spirit speaks to each of us in a variety of different ways. Sometimes He speaks to us through the words of a friend or family member, or a short passage from a book, or a sudden insight into a particular situation. The truth is, the Spirit breathes where He wills (see Jn 3:8). It is therefore incumbent upon us to prepare ourselves to hear and respond to His “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) when He decides to speak to us. But we also must learn to discern the Spirit, because not every voice comes from God (see 1 Thes 5:20-22).
Three Tips
Here are three tips on listening to and acting on the promptings of the Holy Spirit:
- Read the Word of God daily
If we’re familiar with the Bible, we’re familiar with God and His ways, and thus able to recognize Him moving within us. Read the Scriptures daily and practice “lectio divina” (We discussed this method in the Spiritual Life of the Evangelist lesson). - Test what you think might be from the Holy Spirit
“Do not despise prophesying, but test everything; hold fast what is good, abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thes 5:20-22). The Scriptures and the tradition of the Church provide us with guidelines to help us discern the voice of the Spirit. If something is contrary to them, then it is not from the Holy Spirit. But if you have a word or inspiration that is good in itself, and you think it might be from the Holy Spirit, then exercise a bit of “trial and error.” Act on it, and see if signs of God’s blessing and confirmation come. Most importantly, does it bear good fruit? - Share companionship with other Catholic disciples
God often reveals His will to us through one another, and we help each other hear and act upon and discern the will of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus teaches, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20).