We can hear His word, even think it’s true, but unless He opens our minds we will not gain understanding.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples on the road to Emmaus as well as in Jerusalem. On both occasions, they we distraught and discouraged at what had happened to their Lord. Before this, the women had gone to the tomb, discovered it was empty, and were reminded by the angels to remember what Jesus had told them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
Luke 24:2-9
However, the apostles did not believe and continued to live in fear. It took Jesus Himself to comfort them by opening their minds to understand what was written in the scriptures as well as what He told them before His crucifixion.
Without understanding, we can live in fear and discouragement.
My heart was encouraged by this reminder and, facing similar struggles myself, led me to pray – Lord, open my mind to understand.
His response?
Enter the Promised Land.
Go in and claim the promise!
Victory is assured, because of Me, but you have to fight.
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Luke 24:45-47
Products used
This page is in a basic, blank, A5 notebook that I use for faith journaling. I used the devotional kit by Illustrated Faith for April 2025 which is called “Forever Redeemed” and is written by Christy Sheffield who is iamwonderfullycomplex on Instagram.
Find IF on Instagram here: @illustratedfaith
Find related posts from the community on IG here: #IF_ForeverRedeemed
Find the physical kit (if still available) here: Bible Journaling Kit | Forever Redeemed
And related products here: Forever Redeemed
The block alpha (called Emma’s Alpha) is also by Illustrated Faith. It was included in a previous (Still) devotional kit, but may be brought back if there is sufficient interest so feel free to request it or check their website.
Be encouraged
🎶 Let the Redeemed ~ Josh Baldwin
Jesus paved the way for us to live in freedom and victory. Often, we are so focused on our circumstances that we fail to remember this truth. Thankfully, His Spirit – given to us when we believe – intervenes, as promised. Thankfully, His Spirit, helps us to remember His word, enables us to understand it and walk in it. No longer do we have to live in fear and discouragement. We are redeemed!
