Do not stifle the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

I cannot count the times that this simple sentence has resonated in my head and heart.  As we all know, life with chronic pain and illness can be wearing, tearing down our resolve just as it depletes our energy. But the five words above always bring me back to what is really important, at least in my little corner of the world.

Although we are physically weaker than we would like to be, and we are sometimes not as emotionally resilient as we need to be, the more we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit, the more we can rise above the struggle and keep shining with God’s love and grace.

Praying, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit and let it move me through the day,” is a powerful way to invite this essential component of coping into our routine.

Keeping these five simple words at-the-ready helps reinforce their strength in the midst of our weakness.

Understanding that the Holy Spirit is with us, even when we might not be able to consciously sense it, helps us move from stifling it to allowing it to work.

And, when the Spirit works, oh, my! What a difference it makes in all ways, large and small!

Blessings for the day,

Maureen