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Skill Level 4: Docility to the Spirit

Docility to the Holy Spirit is your cooperation with the Holy Spirit. One of the many paradoxes of the Christian faith is that in order for you to be victorious you must first surrender your own personal will to the will of God who loves us beyond our comprehension. When you cooperate with the Holy Spirit, your will and the Father’s will become one. The Holy Spirit helps you to say ‘yes’ to the Father.

Becoming Docile to the Holy Spirit

“Sometimes the Holy Spirit prompts us to do bold things, such as driving Philip to go and baptize or how he pushed Peter to go and baptize Cornelius. Other times, the Holy Spirit leads us gently and the virtue is in allowing ourselves to be carried by the Holy Spirit, in not resisting the Holy Spirit, in being docile to the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit works in the Church today, is acting in our lives today. Some of you may say: ‘I have never seen Him!’ But pay attention to what is happening, to what comes to your mind, to what comes in your heart. Good things? It is the Spirit that invites you to take that path. It takes docility! Docility to the Holy Spirit.“ - Pope Francis, Daily Mass homily of May 13, 2014

Offensive Play Call: Becoming Docile to the Spirit

Crossing the Goal Playbook for Disciples Part 2: Life in the Spirit

Skill Level 4: Docility to the Spirit Game Plan 1: Becoming Docile to the Holy Spirit

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1. How does the Spirit speak to Philip? Does Philip get all of his instructions at one time? What extraordinary things is Philip able to do through the power of the Spirit?

Acts 8:26-40_____________________________________________________

2. How does the Spirit direct the travels of the disciples? What did they do in their lives in order to be open to these leadings of the Spirit?

Acts 16:6-10 _____________________________________________________

Your Game Plan

Watch Video Now: Life in the Spirit—Cooperate with the Spirit

3. How can you prepare yourself to clearly hear and obey the will of God?

Romans 8:5 _____________________________________________________

4. How can you be docile to the Holy Spirit?

Luke 11:13 _______________________________________________________ Titus 2:11-12 _____________________________________________________ Gal 5:25 _________________________________________________________

Summary Life in the Spirit means a whole new way of life. When you open your life to the Holy Spirit, things happen and you begin to change. You are freed from personal habits of sin, which may have plagued and enslaved you for many years. Your mind is renewed and you gain a new capacity to no longer be “conformed to this world.” The Holy Spirit instills a desire to fulfill both the Great Commandment to love God and others and the Great Commission to go and make disciples. You discover a greater knowledge of God’s love and seek a closer relationship with Jesus with a growing desire to experience sacramental life, prayer, scripture, and fellowship.

Crossing the Goal Playbook for Disciples Part 2: Life in the Spirit

Skill Level 4: Docility to the Spirit Game Plan 1: Becoming Docile to the Holy Spirit

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Executing Your Game Plan

Spend time in quiet prayer each day this week (huddle up with God) invoking the Holy Spirit to guide you to what God is calling you to do. Write down what you hear in your playbook no matter how simple it may be and then execute the play. Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a servant, and the loving commitment of a child. It participates in the “Yes” of the Son become servant and the Fiat of God’s lowly handmaid. (CCC 2716)

Crossing the Goal Playbook for Disciples Part 2: Life in the Spirit

Skill Level 4: Docility to the Spirit Game Plan 1: Becoming Docile to the Holy Spirit