We can hear what God has to say (Ps 85:9). Often this hearing is initiated by opening our mouth to speak or lifting our pen to write. The Spirit teaches us as we step out to speak or to write. The Spirit is the Paraclete (Jn 14:16, 26), a term which can also be translated as Lawyer for the Defense. When you have an expert lawyer, your best strategy is to be quiet and let that lawyer speak for you. How tragic it would be to have the best lawyer and then to not allow him or her to defend you properly. This is called stifling the Spirit. "Do not stifle the Spirit" (1 Thes 5:19).
We naturally want to know the entire message before we speak or write. But often the Spirit moves in us as we begin to speak or write. God receives glory when it's obvious that He is speaking through us, for we are not able to have such wisdom. The Holy Spirit gave Sts. Peter and John "self-assurance" when they were being interrogated by the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:13). Those who heard them speak were amazed because these two apostles were "uneducated men of no standing" (Acts 4:13). At their testimony, the powerful leaders of the Sanhedrin "could think of nothing to say" (Acts 4:14). Similarly, instead of us Spirit-led Christians being tongue-tied, our accusers won't be able to speak.
Through the Spirit, God will give us "words and a wisdom which none of [our] adversaries can take exception to or contradict" (Lk 21:15). "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22).
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the grace to rely on You rather than on my own understanding (Prv 3:5-6). |
| PROMISE: | "Whoever acknowledges Me before men – the Son of Man will acknowledge him before the angels of God." –Lk 12:8 |
| PRAISE: | St. Isaac Jogues administered the Sacrament of Baptism to several Iriquois who had earlier attempted to kill him. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College