But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
“Await providence in the house of self-knowledge with the light of faith, as did the disciples. For the disciples remained in the house in perseverance, in watching, and in humble and continual prayer, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. The soul should remain fasting and watching with the eye of its intellect fastened on the doctrine of my truth.”
Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in Little Talks with God (Brewster: Paraclete, 2001) 116. This is a wonderful little book of thoughtful devotional readings.
Today’s Scripture is posted on the banners here at Budapest Summit hosted by IHS Global. My hope for attendees and everyone reading this daily meditation is that God will stir our hearts to await providence, that is, God’s generous gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of mission.
We often think, albeit wrongly, that people and money make things happen in mission. We can get ahead of God and try to do things on our own with that perspective. We, as people, participate in God’s work empowered by the Holy Spirit, but it never becomes our work. It’s always God’s work.
Persisting in prayer, watching with anticipation, and awaiting the Holy Spirit are key responsibilities of God’s people linked to mission. To “await providence” is to resolve to trust in God’s generous provision of that which ignites mission, namely, the work of the Holy Spirit.
Father in heaven, as we labor in prayer, pour out your Holy Spirit at this Budapest Summit and on all those reading this around the world. Help our minds remain fastened on You as the driving force of mission. Hear our prayer in the name of Jesus as we await providence. Amen.