How Close is God to You? By Machelle McDowell
How close are you to God?
There are so many scriptures that describe just how close God is to us! I would like to share some of those scriptures with you today!
I love Isaiah 49:16- We are engraved on the palm of his hand! I think of Jesus being nailed to the cross and thinking of us by name each time he sees the scars on his hands. They represent each and every one of us.
One of my favorite scriptures that remind me of God’s presence is Zephaniah 3:17- “The Lord is in your midst.” This verse comes to life for me when I step outside early in the morning and see the sun popping up over the horizon and hear the melody of the birds as they herald in the morning. The gentle breeze that taps my cheek and moves my hair brings to life the breath of God upon my soul. It is like God says, “Good morning, I’m here!”
The list goes on! Jeremiah 29:13 reminds us that when we seek him, we find him, when we seek him with all of our heart!
He is not far away at any given moment. His spirit dwells within a child of God. God says he will dwell in us and walk among us; and he will be our God, and we shall be his people. Amen!
Did you know, God knows you by name? Isaiah 43:1 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” That powerful promise confirms that God knows our name! Before we were in our mother’s womb, he knew us! He laid down his life for us!
We are all familiar with the story of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19! Jesus walked into Jericho in the midst of a crowd of people. Zacchaeus was curious to see Jesus. He had heard a lot about him. He was a small man in stature and because of the crowd could not see Jesus, so he climbed into a sycamore tree to get a better look. Little did he know, his life would be changed that day, forever!
Jesus, walked through the crowd and stopped at the Sycamore tree! He glanced up and called Zacchaeus by name, “Zacchaeus, come down!” Zacchaeus answered the call! Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Unlike us, Jesus does not forget a name. We all love it when people remember our names. it makes us feel special. Our names are written upon his heart and he yearns for us to write his name upon ours!
Maybe, he is calling your name today? Maybe you yearn to experience this closeness I speak of? Answer him! Call out to him and he will answer you!
Our very soul clings to him according to Psalm 63:8 and his right hand upholds us! How much closer can he be to us? We only need to recognize his presence and lean into it. Draw near to him. He desires to be close! It is us that push him away.
In the presence of God Joy is inevitable, even in the midst of turmoil. God manifests himself everyday to us, we just fail to recognize Him.
My favorite hymn speaks of God’s touch on our lives, “ He Touched Me.” This would have been an appropriate song for Zacchaeus to sing to our Lord. It explains exactly what happened to him that day in the Sycamore tree when called him by name! And what can happen to you, today!
Shackeled by a heavy burden, Neath a load of guilt and shame. Then the hand of Jesus touched me, and now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, Oh He touched me, and oh the joy that floods my soul! Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met this blessed Savior, Since He cleansed and made me whole, I will never cease to praise Him, I’ll shout it while eternity rolls!
How much closer could we ask for? For God to touch us and make us whole. His presence is forevermore!
How close is God to You?