Before I continue, I’d like to put forth this question as food for thought: What could God accomplish through each of us if we were to do as they did in the Book of Acts, put our faith into action by being still, waiting on the Lord, trusting the good God is working out in our behalf? Acts 1:7 tells us Jesus said to those who had accompanied Him, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After the Lord said this, He was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They stood there intently looking up, astounded as they watched the Lord depart heaven bound. Suddenly, two men stood with them. “Men of Galilee, why are you staring so intently into the sky? This same Jesus, Who has been taken from you, will come back in the same way you have seen Him ascend.”
Thomas was there with all the other disciples, and they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying to join with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with His brothers
Years ago, I had a vision of a brick wall. All I could see was this fortified wall of layered red brick and mortar. As I watched, pieces of mortar were falling to the ground. Before long enough mortar had fallen so light began to shine through the chiseled gaps. Our God is so amazing, He has given us the gift of free will. In first Peter 2:16 we are cautioned not to use our freedom as a cover-up for evil; instead, live as servants of God, waiting on Him, setting before Him all the glory as we do all things as though we are serving the Lord.
Yes, in whatever we do, let us work at it with all our heart, as working for the Lord, not for our own self-glory or for the glory of others (Colossians 3:23) but to give all glory by our words and our deeds to our heavenly Father, Who is so very good and faithful, just and merciful. Know God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit will work faithfully, diligently to bring every wall that has us trapped in fear or the past or in emotional trauma until it falls if we are willing.
Whatever the obstacle, and there are and have been and will be obstacles, Holy Spirit shines the Light of the Truth to expose every pattern of deception we utilize. In Hosea 5:6 God says, “My people are destroyed, they perish from lack of knowledge. However, intelligent people with a discerning mind are always learning, their ears are open listening for knowledge and fresh insights (Proverbs 18:15 Message). Yes, everyone who follows God’s Word has good understanding (Psalm 111:10), for those who fear, honor, revere and obey the Lord are blessed, for they find great delight in the Truth (Psalm 112:1).
There is great delight and encouragement to be found when we follow the Lord’s directives as Joshua instructed the people to do: Trust the Lord’s directives, ignore the distractions, ignore fear and doubt, ignore stinking thinking, ignore ridicule – walk in faith praising God. Day-to-day as you move forward, include reading, studying the Word of Truth, giving thanks to our heavenly Father. Believe the Word, proclaim the Word, wait and pray, trust – for the Lord has much more to reveal to you, more than you can now bear (John 16:12).
Our heavenly Father’s desire is to free us from the heaviness of guilt, from shame, from condemnation, misery, and ridicule so we can be joyfully light-hearted, singing and dancing and jumping with joy as David worshiped the Lord. We can read the stories in the Bible and imagine Moses freeing the Jewish slaves, leading them to Mt. Sinai. We can also imagine Jesus removing from us the chains of slavery, leading us to sacred Mt. Zion, from where our help comes (Psalm 121:1 AMP). Yes, giving us the right to be children of God who trust in, lean on and confidently hope in our heavenly Father, trusting Him, for His Word makes us like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved instead abides forever (Psalm 125:1 AMP).
This process of renewal and recovery being freed from the harmful traits of Codependency is deep work based on shifting our relationship with God and ourselves.This process is about us, not about anyone else in our life. It involves learning to take accountability and responsibility for our own actions, feelings, behaviors, issues and lives to ensure our real needs are met. Renewal and recovery is about discovering who we are in Christ so we can learn to love ourselves by developing the fruit of the Spirit so we can be kind and patient, we can be self-controlled and gentle and good to ourselves. For then we will be able to love God and others as we learn to love ourselves properly (Matthew 22:39).
This blog offers a portion of the content found in podcast “Doubting Thomas,” which has been uploaded on the website along with additional free resources lessons and books.
Lord, consider our threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand, Father, to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy and precious
Servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30