Breakthrough - Mountain Movers

So [Israel] came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote [the Philistines] there. Then David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the bursting forth of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]. (1 Chronicles 14:11 AMPC)

“I, God, will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They’ll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them.” (Micah 2:13 MSG)

At the first of each year our pastor prays over families and anoints them with oil with the intention of giving them God’s blessing to help them thrive through the coming calendar year. Our family was out of state during this year’s blessing of the families, so I asked him to pray over us later and he did. I won’t share with you all that he said, but there was one word that he repeatedly prayed: BREAKTHROUGH.

What is a breakthrough?

a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy’s frontline defense.
an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate
any significant or sudden advance, development, achievement, or increase, as in scientific knowledge or diplomacy, that removes a barrier to progress**

Although I don’t know what was in his head as he prayed, these descriptions of breakthrough make sense to me: removing or overcoming an obstruction; a sudden and significant advance or development; removing a barrier to progress; breaking through the obnoxious impediments to God’s Abundant Life that the enemy of our soul sets up. Breakthrough seems like something that all of us need, in greater or lesser measures.

If you think of your life, where do you want to see breakthrough? In your physical health? In your finances? In your marriage? In your relationships with your kids or parents? In your employment situation? Or…..?? How do we get the sudden overcoming of impediments in these various areas of our life? Some of our situations can look pretty impossible. Thankfully, we serve the God of the Impossible.

Looking into their eyes, Jesus replied, “Humanly speaking, no one, because no one can save himself. But what seems impossible to you is never impossible to God!” (Matthew 19:26 TPT)

I expect each of us can remember examples of when the God of the Impossible showed himself strong in our lives or in the lives of people around us. It is good to remember those times. But months, years, and even decades of fighting wear us down and make it hard to keep praying for God to intervene. When we find ourselves waiting long periods of time for God’s help, we have to keep believing. God has good plans for us and will provide what we need. He’s rarely early, but he will be on time – his time in his timeline. When we pray for a breakthrough in these times, we may hear the strong but sweet voice of God:

But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT)

Take your position. Stand firm in faith. Don’t lean on your own understanding of the situation, but trust in God’s omnipotent wisdom. God makes a way where there seems to be no way. The breakthroughs may be more subtle – like waking up in the middle of the night with the answer to a problem. Or they may be crazy huge like God parting the Red Sea for the Israelites or tearing down the walls of Jericho. The people each had their part to play – to step into the dry seabed and walk between the walls of water; or, in the case of Jericho, to walk quietly around the city six days and on the seventh day to SHOUT!! – but these (and other!) stories show us that with faith all things are possible. When we stay hopeful and patient, God can break through the strong restrictions and stalemates to progress.

I am weary from the waves
Crashing over every day
God of mercy, please come rescue me
I am longing for Your voice
Gentle whisper in the noise
Father, tell me everything’s all right

Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough, yeah

You alone can take my scars
Piece by piece restore my heart
Take what’s broken, make it whole again

Your power and Your presence
Breaks strongholds, King of Heaven
When You speak, mountains move
I believe there will be breakthrough

Shake the mountains, break the walls apart
Open the Heavens, Almighty God, You are
Overcomer, Defender of my heart
It’s who You are, God
By Your power, the oceans open wide
Your fire falls down, Heaven and Earth collide
King Jesus, forever by my side***

God of the Breakthrough,

Thank you for all the times when you have provided breakthroughs for us and for all your people through the ages. Thank you that nothing is impossible with you. Today we pray for areas of our lives where we need breakthrough. Burst all our confinements, make us aware of the new things you are doing – whether subtle or bold – and help us do what we need to do in order to see your breakthroughs in our lives. Give us patience, hope, and confidence in you, we ask in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, AMEN.

“Do not remember the former things,
Or ponder the things of the past.
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19 AMP)

**https://www.dictionary.com/browse/breakthrough