TODAY’S VERSE: ACTS 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
REVELATION:
How far is God? Most people gather their beliefs from things that they have seen or touched. We can’t see God with our eyes, or touch Him with our hands, so it is difficult for some people to believe in His existence. But God is much closer to each one of us than you might imagine, even though you can’t see or touch Him. Today’s verse urges us to reach out and find Him, and reveals that He is never far from any one of us.
I remember one summer morning as my family and I were getting ready for the day, I noticed that my younger brother Walter’s face was swollen with rashes. I was terribly worried about what could have caused this condition, and I started questioning my brother. We went through the list of all the foods that he might have eaten the previous day, but he was not allergic to any of them. My anxiety began to rise, because I was very concerned about his health and wellbeing.
I felt such a terrible burden of fear in my heart that I went downstairs and got onto my knees. I remember it just as if it happened only yesterday. I asked God, “Please show me what is causing my brother’s ailment.” Then I sat quietly, and in few minutes the word "basketball" came into my mind. I waited a little while longer, hoping for revelation. Then silently thinking to myself, "Oh well, I hope he will be alright…" I got up and went back upstairs to my brother.
When I saw Walter, the word "basketball" came into my mind again, so I asked him if by any chance he had been playing basketball the day before. He replied, "Yeah, I played basketball outside yesterday." Then it dawned on me that we didn’t own a basketball. So I asked him, “Where did you get the basketball?” He answered, "Oh, I found it in the backyard."
Well, to make a long story short, we discovered that the ball he had been playing with was contaminated with poison ivy, and the rashes on his face had been caused by contact with the ball. That experience was a real eye-opener for me. I had never known that God could answer my prayers so quickly. I had always assumed that when you pray to God, you will have to wait a few days or perhaps even months or years for a response, because it must take time for your prayers to reach Heaven. Well, that day I discovered that God is much closer to us than we often imagine.
Dear Reader, please remember that the distance between you and God is the same as the distance between your knees and the floor. During this year, by my prayers and petitions, I plan to seek Him and reach out for Him with thanksgiving, and I will find Him, for He is not far! I urge you to do the same, and the best way to start is by inviting Christ into your life. I encourage you to accept Him as your Savior by confessing that He is Lord, and to believe in your heart that He died on the cross and was raised from the dead so that you could be saved.
PRAYER:
My Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and for Your constant closeness to me. God, I know that no matter how often I may disappoint You, You are always waiting with Your arms wide open to welcome me. God, I long to draw nearer to You this year. God, I know that it is through grace and not by my own human efforts that I will be able to draw nearer to You. Therefore I pray that You will guide my heart, mind and soul as I seek You, and reach out for You, and find You. In Jesus’ precious name, this I pray. Amen.
APPLICATION:
Here are two vital actions that have greatly helped me, and I am sure they will help you also to cultivate your faith and recognize God's presence in your life.
ESTABLISH QUITE TIME WITH GOD
Firstly, relationships are built through communication, and communication is a two-way street—so I encourage you to pray, but also to find time in your day to sit quietly and listen. Ask God to reveal Himself, and then take time to receive what He will give you. He may guide you to seek resources that will reveal His presence to you more clearly. He may show you what is not right in your life, and give you strength and guidance to correct it. I am confident that He will guide you, as long as you let Him.
GIVE GOD GLORY FOR YOUR ANSWERED PRAYERS
Secondly, if God answers your prayers, don't be tempted to doubt the result, or try to explain it as mere coincidence. Give Him glory for any goodness that He brings into your life. Humility and gratitude will always cultivate your faith. I also suggest that you keep a record of your prayers; I usually write them down in my prayer book, and review them periodically. The reason for doing this is that we tend to forget so easily what God has done for us. Remembering God’s work in the past will give you the perspective to do His Will in the present, and to trust Him with your future.
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