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Writer's pictureVeridee Hand

It Is Your Choice

Warriors Arise: July 17th, 2020

John 20:24-25 (NKJV) Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”


Jesus had appeared in the midst of His disciples the evening He resurrected from the dead, but Thomas wasn't there. All of the disciples doubted everyone who came with a message from angels or Jesus Himself. Even when Jesus showed up in their midst they didn't believe, they thought He was a spirit. Jesus showed His nail-pierced hands and feet. He offered for them to touch Him. While they were deciding whether they believed it was truly Him or not; Jesus sat down and ate.

No one wants to be left out. I wonder if Thomas was thinking, "Why couldn't He have come when I was there?" Is Thomas being obstinate, because he is upset with himself for not being there when Jesus appeared? Maybe He feels He was the least of the disciples which might lead him to believe Jesus didn't love him as much as He did the others. Had Thomas had a difficulty believing the things he saw Jesus doing? The miracles, raising the dead, casting out demons, cleansing the lepers? None of this is revealed in Scripture but they would be human thoughts. Think about how you respond when you have been left out, even if it was not on purpose.

Thomas, for whatever reason, was being obstinate. He wouldn't believe his closest friends, the other ten disciples. The real problem, he made a vital decision without seeking to hear from God. We tend to do this in our lives, especially when we are hurt. Ironically, when we are hurt or disappointed, God is the first one we should turn to. We should let God speak before we speak.

When we make a decision because we have been hurt or wronged, we tend to speak from that point of pain. The other ten disciples didn't leave Thomas out, they went to tell him; but that wasn't good enough. Whether Thomas thought he would be made a fool by their joke or thought he was not accepted by Jesus; he responded harshly.

Thomas' response is based on a decision, a choice he had already made. He may even choose not to believe, even if he puts his hands in the nail holes. Maybe he wasn't there when Jesus showed up, because he couldn't stand it any longer. He couldn't stand all the people coming and saying they had a message from an angel. He thought how cruel it was for people to say they had seen Jesus. Maybe he left because he had judged others incorrectly; therefore, he would not be lumped together with the ones he had judged. It would take a whole lot for him to believe. Therefore, he made a choice, I will not believe.

This kind of attitude happens all the time. Christians are not the only ones who struggle. The enemy tries to divide us all the time. When we hear someone testify we are hurt, because we weren't there when it happened or because they received from God what we felt we should have received. We judge them for being off their rocker; if I haven't seen, it then it isn't so. Christians and non-believers choose before they are given the facts. Each one makes a choice without knowing the truth. When we do not want to know the truth we are in bondage to a lie. That bondage will lead to a hard heart, causing one to reject God.

With all that is going on today, assumptions have been made into facts. The media plays to people's emotions. The control mongrels grasp for any way possible, many times harmful ways, for their 15 minutes of fame. Most of these people do not care about the wellbeing of others, their health, livelihood, or personhood. On top of that, our nation is being stripped of its heritage. Innocent lives are being lost and yet many have made a choice before they are willing to look at the facts. Why won't people listen to the facts or investigate the facts themselves? Because we have already made a choice. We have already cast our lot to one side. The problem is that uneducated people, who are hurt, are a danger to everyone. When I say uneducated, I am not talking about the level of one's education. I am talking about those who refuse to look past the smoke screen and read the facts. How many times had Thomas heard the message delivered that yet another person had seen and heard Jesus? Yet, Thomas wouldn't believe the facts.

I do not have to join a peaceful protest, to know it is going to lead to a riot. I do not have to stand in front of a statue, to know that someone wants to pull it down. I do not have to see the police being overtaken in the streets, to know they are being killed by the very people they have protected for years. I do not have to wait to see the aftermath of sickness this fall caused by our continued isolation, to know it is going to be catastrophic. This is why I pray. We are in a spiritual battle and there have been enough facts on the table to know the devil is involved. But too many have made the choice that until they see the above mentioned happenings with their own eyes, they will not believe the affects. Until it comes to their door they will not pray. The Bible tells us in John 10:10 "the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Think of all that has happened in the last 5 months. The devil is causing the division within our country and all around the world as he steals jobs, children's education, kills with the coronavirus, and destroys our heritage and freedom. This verse came in the middle of Jesus sharing with them about thieves and robbers trying to steal sheep from the fold. Jesus says His sheep will hear His voice. Are you listening to God's voice or have you already made up your mind, like Thomas? Do you want to know the truth or have you surrendered to the hirelings, who will take from you and flee when the wolf comes?


John 10:7-18 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”


Father, I ask for You to come and minister to my mind. I ask for You to cleanse it with Your righteousness and peace. I ask for You to restore wisdom, truth, knowledge of You and Your ways. I need the truth. I ask for You to come and breathe upon me. I pray for Your Spirit to be sent to all people. I pray the minds of people will be set free from the lies of the enemy, and from the hirelings who promise to care for them but have no intention on doing it. I pray for the captives to be set free. I pray for the heart of individuals to receive Your love and a passion to sacrifice themselves for the safety and well-being of others. I pray for You to come. Many have made a choice without knowing the truth, without getting understanding, without asking You. I pray for You to come and speak to each mind. I pray for ears to be open and eyes to see that You have a way out. You will lead each one into real freedom, a freedom we are responsible for honoring. I ask for You to lead Your sheep away from the enemy and into Your fold, and Your protection in Jesus' name amen.


A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.


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