Breakthrough, Merriam-Webster 2: an act or instance of breaking through an obstacle. - We may have been searching high and wide for external obstacles impeding the path forward and may have made it through a few, but perhaps the obstacle blocking our path through is we ourselves.
I find it interesting that breakthrough begins with the word “break”. What in us must be broken first in order for us to proceed on through?
-Doubt
-Envy
-Fear
-Greed
In my personal experience, upon reflection, every significant tangible breakthrough in my life was preceded by an internal, personal breakthrough. Paradigms shifted. Trust properly placed. Mood altered. Perceptions realigned. Etc… Often times it was not pleasant.
1. The Break
Years ago I was forced to the conclusion that despite my best efforts and intentions, and through no fault other than my own I was awful at finding a wife. The single most important thing to me ironically. Begrudgingly I was forced to admit to myself that I had made a royal hash of my personal life and prayed to God saying that I now remove my meddling hands from it and would follow His way only. Immediately after this prayer I was washed over with a sense of peace, not knowing what would happen or when but that when it happened it would be God’s will for my life.
2. The Through
God was evidently in a showing off kind of a mood. The very next week I met Narcisa in the last place I would have expected honestly, the gym. Bay Plaza Bally’s, The Bronx to be specific. She walked behind me unseen and I knew my wife had just passed by even before I turned around. I introduced myself not asking for a number or any other follow up questions that night as the Lord instructed me. This was a matter of trust. Trust that He will do as He said He would do how and when He chooses to. I had reached the point that when the Lord said wait, I would wait and my faith was rewarded. The very next time I went to the gym I went 1st to the treadmill thinking it would be nice to run into Nar… and before my thought was completed there she was on the treadmill next to me. We were married 6 months later.
Put another way after years of relationship failure at my own hands once broken my personal life transformed in the relative blink of an eye and we just celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary earlier this week.
The timing of your breakthrough may vary, but know that what the Lord has promised and destined for your life will come to fruition. An important component of the breakthrough is your faith.
To the woman with issue of blood:
“Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” -Mat 9:22
To the Roman Centurion with the ailing servant:
“9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.” -Luke 7:9,10
To the friends of the man lowered through the roof:
“Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”” -Mat 9:2
Let us not lean on our own understanding or look to our own strength or cut short our promise, but instead when asked what is possible let us answer like Ezekiel does in Ezekiel 37:
“2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.””
If your eye has wondered off of the Lord and on to your present condition, or your faith relocated from the Lord’s strength to your own weakness this is an excellent time to refocus your faith and hope back on the Lord instead of yourself or your situation.
Where there is doubt and a loss of faith in your life prophesy in your own life as God has commanded you. In conclusion further on in Ezekiel it states:
“9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’””
God bless,
Rev. Eric L. Woods
