I am sharing Part One of my communion time with the Holy Spirit concerning the foundation of our trust.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me in my communion time about examining the foundation of our trust by asking ourselves these questions, Who do you trust? Whose word do you rely upon? Whose counsel is determining the direction of your life and the future you are pursuing? Why do we readily trust the word of a human expert simply because that person has studied a particular subject and claims to know everything about it, so that we obey his instructions carefully and completely, while we question the instructions of the Holy Spirit, who possesses all wisdom and truth?

This is a matter of us recognising the One whose knowledge is perfect and whose counsel is unfailing. So the Holy Spirit wants us to look carefully at what makes us determine whom we will trust, rely upon, and depend upon concerning our lives. He wants us to examine whose counsel we permit to determine our future actions. Jesus taught us to consider certain realities that are constant on the earth and from those realities determine the position we will take concerning our trust in the Lord.

In Luke.12:24 Jesus gives us a powerful lesson on provision with these words: “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” When Jesus says, “Consider the ravens.” He is asking us to stop our thought process, observe, think carefully, and recognise the principle which is at work in the Lord’s relationship with His creation.

Firstly the ravens do not have the privilege of sowing and reaping in the way human beings do. Therefore, they cannot deliberately produce and secure their own food supply. They are also limited because they cannot build storehouses or barns in which they can preserve excess produce from a bumper harvest and draw from those reserves when difficult times come. Yet, despite all these limitations, the Lord feeds them.

The ravens cannot plan ahead in the manner human beings can because they cannot establish systems of provision for tomorrow. They cannot accumulate resources against future uncertainty. Nevertheless, the Lord takes responsibility for sustaining them. Jesus then brings the lesson directly to us with a question we must answer: “Of how much more value are you than the birds?” This raises another important question of: How do you value yourself?

Your understanding of your value before the Lord will influence how much you are able to receive from Him rather than depending upon what human beings can do for you. You are of much greater value in the eyes of the Lord than you understand and appreciate. Jesus we know did not merely speak about human value; He demonstrated it through His sacrifice for us. He gave up His position in glory, came to the earth, and died for our sins and He became our atonement so that we could once again reign in life.

Jesus did not do this for the ravens. However, because He created the ravens and gave them life, He ensures that they are provided for in their lifetime. If the Lord cares enough to provide for creatures that cannot sow, reap, build barns, or plan for tomorrow, how much more will He care for human beings whom He created, redeemed, and has called to fulfil His purposes on the earth? This message emphasises that this fact is not merely a theological idea, but it is a reality that can be observed practically.

In the area where I live I have watched my neighbours come out daily at fixed times to put food out for ravens as a duty, but I know that those same people would not go out every day to provide food for another human being. This reality becomes a living demonstration of the principle Jesus taught that the Lord provides for His creation. So certainly, what is of value to the Lord, human beings He will provide for.

Therefore because the Lord needs human beings on the earth to do His will and execute His plan, He will certainly ensure that those whom He has chosen are adequately provided for and looked after comfortably. We must never allow our need for provision to destroy our trust in the Lords ability to supply all our needs. Jesus repeatedly taught His disciples not to worry about their provision of food. Why you ask? Because He knew what worrying about provision would do to interfere with their trust in Him as their Source and Supply.

Jesus never wanted His disciples to have that conflict of interest in their hearts because anxiety concerning provision could leave them double-minded and unstable in heart, thus making them unable to receive the benefits available to them through their relationship with Him. The Lord always demands our complete and absolute trust in His ability to do what He has said because His Word is forever settled and dependable Psalm.89:34: “My covenant will I not break nor alter the word that comes out of My mouth.”

The Lord is not unreliable, and He does not make promises and then change His mind. His covenant remains His covenant, and His Word remains His Word. Therefore, our confidence cannot ultimately rest in the stability of human systems, human expertise, human resources, or circumstances. Our confidence must rest in the nature and ability of the Lord Himself who can do all things.

Jesus then goes on to give us the conclusion we are supposed to reach after considering the ravens. In Luke.12:29-32 He says these words: “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

I declare that I will trust the Lord completely and absolutely and I will not allow anxiety concerning provision to overthrow my confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness. I know that I am valuable to my Father, and I know that He cares for me, watches over me, and provides for me. I refuse to make earthly provision my highest pursuit but I seek the Kingdom of God with all my heart, and I trust that everything I need shall be added to me.

I will not be double-minded, unstable, fearful, or driven by anxiety. My confidence is in the Lord and in His unchanging Word. The Holy Spirit always leads me into all truth and delivers me from every lie. I receive grace to see from Jesus’ perspective, to trust in the Lord’s nature, and to depend upon His ability. I recover my Kingdom priority, by walking in divine provision, and I experience everything that has already been apportioned to me by the Lord in Jesus name. Amen.