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
24 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
25 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
26