I have had observable personal breakthroughs recently. The acute grief and ulcer causing pain of lost relationship has stopped. Vision and hope have replaced foggy confusion. I have greater self-control over my stress eating and anxious impatience because of the renewed perspective of joy and hope in God. My ineffectiveness in certain tasks has been replaced by discernment and focus. How did this happen?
Did I just try harder? Did I buy something? Did a human fix me? No.
Personal and church wide breakthroughs come when we are hungry enough to recognize that it is time for a change and cry out to God for gracious supply of helpful intervention. It has happened to me and many others. God resources us for change.
Sunday, we entered into a day of prayer and fasting for personal and church-wide renewal. I shared some thought from the Bible about changes that God makes possible. Here is the jist of it.
Jesus can change our luke-warm attitudes. Apathy, meaning the absence of passion, can turnaround and become electrifying passion for God’s priorities. (Rev. 3)
Jesus can change our primitive behaviours. Acting out of our animal drives can be defeated and replaced by yielding to the productive influence of Holy Spirit, who grows fruitful virtues. (Gal. 5:19-26)
God changes and transform our minds through special revelation (Rom. 12:1-2). The metamorphosis of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly through a cocoon can happen in our minds. The type of turnaround seen in a re-routed ship or a plane can happen in our behaviour and attitudes.
You know it is time for a breakthrough when your past threatens your future. This could be your moment of breakthrough.
What breakthrough do you need? Read the list of reflection questions on the ‘hungry for a breakthrough’ post.
Seek divine intervention and skillful support.
