The last words of Jesus to his men, on Ascension day before he disappeared out of their sight, was WAIT and PRAY. They weren’t to attempt anything for him till they were baptised in the Holy Spirit. Not a thing! Wait, pray, wait … pray…….wait……….pray………wait………… pray……….. how long Lord???

I’ve been challenged to adopt the practise of the Catholic NOVENA during the nine days between Ascension (Friday 15th May) and Pentecost (Sunday 24th May). The  ‘Novena’  mirrors the prayers of the first disciples as they obeyed the command of our Lord Jesus to  wait, ‘tarry’, and pray  for the Holy Spirit.

I’ve committed myself to follow the Novena (Latin for nine) and together focus prayer for a move of the Holy spirit on these key groups : young people, women, men, the marginalised, care homes, mental health issues, and for all our church leaders and our ‘dry’ churches.  I’ve produced a guide  to use over the nine days to share with others feeling the same way – we desperately need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit today  – not the shallow false hyped up thing that is passed off in so many churches as ‘God is at work’.