Draw near to God – Day 10
God draws closer to you
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
UJeremiya 32
U-Isaya 41
Kwabase-Efesu 3
Against the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican City, you will find Michelangelo’s painting, The Creation of Adam. This painting shows a man, Adam, stretching out his finger towards God’s outstretched hand. Every time I look at the painting, it reminds me of God’s desire to demonstrate His power and strength towards ordinary people. Today, I wish to share a testimony of one of my colleagues at Radio Tygerberg 104fm, Lorrein Katzke, in this regard.
Lorrein: “One evening on my way home after my shift in studio, I listened to the evening message on the radio. The preacher spoke about the theme ‘Nothing is impossible for God’. At one stage, he spoke passionately and clearly to the listeners, with a heart filled with faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit: ‘Ma’am, your husband has given you the divorce papers that you have to sign. But you don’t want to, because you still believe God can restore your marriage. I say to you tonight, nothing is impossible for God.’
“The next sentence gave me goose bumps, as I experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence with me in my car, when the preacher said: ‘And you ma’am, who is currently in your car with the doctor’s letter in your handbag. You have to sign it to give permission for the doctors to switch off the machines that keep your child alive. I say to you tonight: Nothing is impossible for God. He can heal your child.’
“A few months later, I had an appointment with a mother and son who came to the radio to give their testimony on my programme, Turning Point. I did not know anything about them, apart from them having a testimony. Great was the surprise when I met them in the reception area, and the mother told me that her son was in a serious car accident a few months before. His condition deteriorated so much that the doctors called her to the hospital. They gave her the letter of permission to sign, in order for them to switch off the machines that kept the boy alive, as they did not have any hope for his recovery. On the way home to speak to her husband, she switched on the radio and listened to that particular sermon in which the preacher reminded listeners that nothing is impossible for God.
“When she arrived home, the woman told her husband about the letter and the sermon. Together they decided not to sign the letter, but rather to trust God for a miracle. The next day the doctors stood in amazement at the sudden turn in the boy’s condition. Within weeks he could go home – completely healed. All glory to God.”
Lorrein is right. God knows about every challenge in our lives. He hears when we cry out to Him – and He wants to demonstrate His greatness and power to us. In Jeremiah 32:27 God says: “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” In Isaiah 41:13 we read: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” And in Ephesians 3:20-21, we are reminded that God can do much more than we ask or think: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory …”
What is your challenge today? Take it to God. Draw near to Him, knowing that He already has an outstretched hand towards you. Your breakthrough is probably closer than you think. God bless.