Grow: First Steps with JesusSample

IS GOD REAL?

Today I am inviting you to take the first steps into growing a relationship with a real and living God. You may ask like so many others do: “How do I know God is real?”

Allow me to share my story. At the age of thirteen I attended a youth camp. I have been attending church for as long as I can remember, but at this particular camp something of the reality of God just struck me for the first time. I discovered that He loves me and I realised that I was living without Him. A desire arose in my heart to live my life with Him. Have you ever felt this way?

In the 66 Books of the Bible there are many similar testimonies of people who encountered the reality of God. One of those characters is a person by the name of Saul. We read his story in the book of Acts chapter 9 verse 1-19: 

Acts 9:1-7: Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.

Consider this testimony from the Bible. How is it possible for such a great persecutor of those who were following Jesus to turn around and to become the greatest promoter of Jesus? The answer is simply that Saul had a real encounter with a real God! He did not want to live his life devoid of God any longer. 

There is more proof of God’s existence; it’s not just my testimony or the testimony of people in the Bible. I ask you to consider the wonder of creation, the intelligent design, the order, the ecosystem, the balance of everything in the universe, and the fact that the earth is the only planet containing life.

More evidence is the biological wonder of the human body. Have a good look at the function of every cell in your own body. It did not merely ‘happen’ by accident. It was planned and carefully executed by our Creator.

God put it together to show that He is indeed the Creator of all. 

This Creator is extending an invitation to you to live your life with Him and to enter into a meaningful and exciting relationship with your Creator. 

Each day’s session will include an affirmation for you to repeat. Here is our affirmation for today:

God, You are real. Please show me more of You.

Action Step for Today:  Make a list of probable evidence of God’s existence. Maybe consider people you know who believe in God or elements of creation that testify to a greater design.