What is real?

I was listening to a minister preach, when he stopped... looked at his hand and said to the congregation, "God is more real than my right hand." He then continued to preach... but every once in a while, he would glance down at his hand.

In my life, I have had instances where God has been so real that it literally brought fear to my heart. But this blog isn't about me, it's about us and our struggle to be the best Christians that we can be.

So... I ask you these questions:

• How real is God to you?
• How does that impact your life?

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32-40)

Some of the people mentioned here had great victories through the mighty hand of God. Others, didn't they suffered, were tortured, killed... in either instance, God was more real to them than their own lives.

How real is God to you?