Release: (n) the act of freeing or state of being freed, as from captivity or imprisonment; (v) to make (news or information) known - Collins English Dictionary
We have traveled a ways together, beginning with an emphasis on intimacy, moving on to cultivate a greater attentiveness to and dependence on God.
How has he been speaking to you? Have you sensed Him giving you greater space in life to connect with Him so that you can press deep into the heart of the Savior?
We have one final 10-day segment to delve into: Release... which is just what we want to do in light of all the ways Jesus has been moving in our lives.
To pray is nothing more involved than to lie in the sunshine of His grace, to expose our distress of body and soul to those healing rays which can, in a wonderful way, counteract and render ineffective the bacteria of sin. To be a man or woman of prayer is to take this sun-cure, to give Jesus, with His wonder-working power, access to our distress night and day. -- O. Hallesby
John 20:24-29: Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
A week later his disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas had his doubts. So do we. How did Thomas respond when he saw the risen Christ? How can this passage speak into your doubts?
Obedience is really not as burdensome as it seems at first blush. We are doing nothing more than falling head over heels in love with the everlasting Lover of our souls. We are responding in the only way we can to the invading, persuading call of Eternal Love. God, you see, rushes to us at the first hint of openness. - Richard Foster
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