God’s Divine Appointment in Verona, Italy

Our moments really do matter.

Where God leads us does matter.

I visited close to 100 churches on this European vacation, but Chiesa Di Santo Giorgio is very close to my heart because of what took place there.

As I entered the church, I saw a few people sitting there, and I took pictures. I'm realizing in one of my pictures here, you can see a man sitting on the right. After I took pictures, I sat at front row, facing the alter. I did not want to be disturbed as I wanted to spend sometime in prayer. I did that at all the churches I went to see. This was so very powerful.

This time it was different. Very different. After I finished praying, I felt God say to go to the man sitting behind me and tell him, "I heard your prayer!" My typical response was, "Please don't make me feel embarrassed God. I don't know what language this man speaks!" I found it humorous because I was in Italy, and I speak Italian fluently. Chances were he spoke Italian, too. I was making excuses because I felt uncomfortable with that task.

God wasn’t going to have my disobedience. I got up and started to leave, but when I got to the door, I literally couldn't walk. I’ll never forget that feeling, twice this happened, both times at a church. Talk about frightening. My heart started to beat really fast because my legs felt like lead. I had to sit because my legs were not moving. So, I sat down on the closest bench. Still, I was telling God it didn't make sense to me and couldn't I go to the young woman sitting on the left and tell her that instead. God, said, "Go to that man and tell him I heard his prayer!" I still tried to leave. I know unbelievable my attitude. So, I sat there trying to argue my case before God as I was still trying to leave the church. Still I just couldn’t move.

After sitting there a while, I thought God would release me by telling Him. I felt stupid to approach that man. I tried to get up to leave, but I literally became paralyzed! I'm not exaggerating, and realizing God meant business, I said, "Ok, God, I'll do it, I will go and tell him, but don't embarrass me please!" At that moment, I could suddenly walk. Even though I was scared to death, I got up, went down the isle, tapped the man on the shoulder, and waited for him to acknowledge me. I startled him. He looked at me waiting for me to speak. I asked him if he spoke Italian? He, looked at me very strangely, like really? We are in Italy, what do you think I speak? It was that kind of look, and who could blame him? He quickly said, "Yes!"

I proceeded to tell him In Italian, I was given a message from God to give to him. Now, he was looking at me very intensely. I’ll never forget his piercing eyes looking right into mine. I told him, "I don't want to sound crazy, but God will not allow me to leave this church without telling you that He said He heard your prayer!" The man started crying, tears streaming down his face, lips shaking, uncontrollably crying. I honestly didn't know what to do. He looked at me with such intensity it frightened me a bit, in a good way. As he tried to stop crying, he said to me, “Grazie! Mille Grazie!” Since that was all God told me to say, I didn't want to add anything. I told him God bless you, I turned around and walked out the church.

This experience reminded me the length God goes to in order to speak to us. We just don't always know everything, but God wants to use us to minister to people around us. I didn't know he was here in my pictures until later. I took those pictures upon entering the church so I didn't know he would be in my picture. That's not the point. The point is obedience to the small still voice within us. Doing what God asks of us.

It’s obedience that leads us to accomplish the will of God here on Earth. I will never forget how I tried to leave that church. God made it impossible. He literally stopped me from walking. Shame on me for not being obedient at what he commanded me to do. Imagine, God used someone from the other side of the Atlantic to deliver a word to that man. We don't know why this divine set up. All we know is God is God and He does what He pleases. We forget we are to be His hands and feet, and yes His voice, too. Obviously, that man was waiting to know God heard him. It humbled me just how awesome, compassionate, loving, and caring He is to us.

Walking in the Spirit is what we should always be doing. I'll never forget this man. He taught me a lesson, too. God hears our prayers and answers accordingly. What are you praying for? God heard your prayer when it comes with sincerity and willing to do things His way.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

Founder and President at Thread of Hope, Inc.

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