Trust is the issue here. Trust, and the desire to receive … now. One of the themes in our current chapter of Christ’s Object Lessons is that we need to persevere, we need to keep on praying for the Holy Spirit on a daily basis.

I was reading of the early days of the church after Pentecost and came upon these words, used to describe Jesus and His approach to prayer.

“His own example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith … will avail to bring to men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against sin.”

       Acts of the Apostles, p.56

If Jesus needed that experience so do we. My experience is that trust takes time to develop, that continual request for the Holy Spirit and the daily reception of His gift will allow the trust to grow as we see God at work in our lives.

Can I suggest a way in which we can exercise a little trust, and benefit from the experience? This coming Sabbath Upper Room will change the normal service and remember that much of the year’s harvest has been collected. We should be thanking God for the work of the farmers in the field.

We can give thanks as we worship, we can also give service as well. How about deciding that this Sabbath you will bring gifts to church so that you can reveal your relationship to God.

To show this is an act of trust in God, can I suggest that instead of bringing just one tin, or a handful of vegetables – you give a much larger quantity? You perhaps might choose to give a sacrificial quantity and show yourself how God will care for you.

We deepen trust as we exercise trust – and then remember the results.

Take a look here at the website to see the poster relating to the event at Upper Room.