SIMPLE40 - Day 12 - Unleash the Holy Spirit
- Katie Donahue
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
We are nearly two weeks into this journey, and what a gift it is to remember that we are not walking it alone. What a gift we have in the Holy Spirit! God has given us this free and constant gift - His own love, presence, and guidance - to remain with us always.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us:
The Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us forever; he will remain with us. The Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that Christ said to us and bear witness to him. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth and will glorify Christ. (CCC 729)
This Lent, as we lean into simplicity, we are learning to notice. To slow down. To become attentive. The Holy Spirit does not only act in grand, dramatic ways, He moves in the present moment. In the quiet and the ordinary. In the unseen sacrifices and hidden offerings.
When you begin to recognize that He is active right now, you can open your heart to His promptings and whispers. You start to accept what happens, and even what doesn’t happen, as permitted by your Heavenly Father for your good. Little by little, each moment becomes a gift. The routine, the interruptions, the mundane, even the disappointments...all of it can draw you closer to Him.
Living with this posture of surrender reshapes your understanding of simplicity. Simplicity is not just about decluttering a drawer or refining a schedule. It is about inviting the Holy Spirit into every corner of your day.
Take a look at how often you consciously offer small things to God. You may discover, as many of us do, how easily we move through tasks without Him. The remedy is beautifully simple: begin...start now.
Fold the laundry and whisper, “Jesus, I do this for love of You.” Sort the socks. Scrub the dried food off the high chair. Answer the emails. Pay the bills. Prepare the next meal. Drive the carpool.
Do it all for Him.
When you begin intentionally offering these ordinary acts, you will see how the Holy Spirit is quietly unleashed in your life. He shows up, often when you least expect it. You may be pulling weeds, washing dishes, or changing a diaper and suddenly sense His peace, His nearness, His love. These small consolations are reminders: He is with you. He is pursuing you.
As you continue this Lenten journey, call upon the Holy Spirit daily. Ask Him to strengthen your resolutions, to purify your intentions, and to help you do everything, big and small, for the love of Jesus.
Come, Holy Spirit. Simplify my heart. Help me to live this day for love.
spiritual
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.
~St. Augustine
If you like this prayer, head over to Catholic All Year and print it out! Kendra has made some beautiful printables. Click the link and scroll down a bit to see them.
self
Thank God today for the willpower to stick to your personal Lenten sacrifices. Every time you think about what you gave up (coffee, chocolate, sugar, bread, etc) repeat the little prayer from above: Jesus, I do this for love of you.
When you are getting your 40 minutes of intentional movement in today, say: Jesus, I do this for love of you.
Remember, it's not supposed to be easy!
Every little sacrifice, every time strengthens the will and lessens the hold of vice over our souls, resulting in more simplicity!
service
The Holy Spirit never prompts us toward love in theory, He always leads us into concrete action. Take a few minutes today to revisit the Simple40 – 100 Ways to Serve This Lent list and prayerfully ask the Spirit where He is nudging you next. Let Him guide you toward simple, hidden offerings...perhaps one that stretches you, or one that feels almost too small to matter. Remember, when done with love, no act is insignificant.
The Spirit multiplies what we freely give.
simple recipe
It's Taco Tuesday, so I have a good, healthy Mexican dish for you! It may seem strange to put eggs in your enchiladas, but you need to just give this a try. It's an old "paleo" recipe that has served us well over the years.
Enchilada Bake (serves 4)
1 pound cooked protein of your choice (shredded chicken, pork, beef, ground beef, etc)
1 can (14 oz) enchilada sauce (El Pato is my choice)
1 small can diced green chiles
1 bell pepper, diced (choose your favorite color of pepper)
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper as needed
3 eggs
cilantro
*Preheat oven to 350
*Grease a pie plate or an 8X8 baking dish with avocado oil.
*In a large bowl, combine your protein, enchilada sauce, green chiles, bell pepper, onion, garlic and seasonings. Mix well. (Feel free to add additional seasoning to your taste.)
*Crack eggs in a small bowl and whisk.
*Add eggs to the enchilada mix and stir to combine.
*Pour into your prepared baking dish and bake for 1 hour. Check to make sure the eggs have completely cooked and the enchilada bake is set. Add cooking time if needed, up to 15 minutes.
*Let rest at least 10 minutes before serving to allow it to cool.
*Garnish with cilantro, shaved lettuce, salsa, goat cheese, carrot salsa (last Tuesday's recipe)
ENJOY
May God bless you all! Thank you for giving me a spot in your inbox this Lent.
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