Romans 8:16 has always intrigued me. If there is one thing that I want to experience it is this inner testimony of the Spirit. But I have learned that to really absorb this I need to be patient. If I may use a slightly profane example, it is a little like downloading a file. Spending time with God is like logging onto the internet to get those downloads of his love that we need. But for this particular download we need to allow for plenty of download time because God’s love is a very big file. And what’s more we have very slow operating systems. What tends to happen is that we spend a little time with God but soon become impatient when we feel that nothing is happening. And so we log off before the file downloads. This example is a little clumsy theologically but here’s my point. If you want to know God, you must be patient and allow for plenty of ‘download time’. It is great to spend bits and pieces of time with God whenever you can, but try scheduling bigger blocks of time. Perhaps an hour or two somewhere quiet or even a day or half a day. There will be plenty of stuff that God wants to download and once you do this you will be back for more for sure.
Do what I have suggested.
Read John 16:5-15 in the light of Romans 8:16
