You Are More Than You’ve Been Told: Unlock a Fresh Way to Live Through the Rhythms of JesusSample

DAY 2: Unlocking Breakthrough Even when you’ve identified voices, old names, and old stories, and even been set free from some things that held you back; you and I can still have deep wounds, walls, and fears that we struggle with. What do we do then? Is real, tangible, down-to-earth breakthrough in your tired heart and actual day-to-day life even possible? It is. And it’s both deeply spiritual and refreshingly practical. There’s a story in Mark 9 where the disciples were not able to have the breakthrough they wanted. A father wants them to pray for healing for His son, and cast an evil spirit out, but they were not able to. This is strange because they were a part of other amazing miracles, and profound breakthroughs in the name of Jesus. But at this moment, they could not achieve the breakthrough they wanted. I know many of us can relate, as we’ve overcome many difficult things in our lives, and yet some things feel like they continue to overpower us. When they asked Jesus why they weren’t able to have a breakthrough in this instance, Jesus replied, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.” (Mark 9:2) Prayer is a physical expression of dependence on God. Through honest, surrendered prayer we are declaring to God what we cannot do in our own power, and what we can only do in His. Jesus was saying this: There is some breakthrough that you will want to have—and you can have—but you will not have unless you are fully surrendered to and dependent on Him alone. So perhaps they were praying. Perhaps they were depending on God. But perhaps they were also depending on something else as well. Can anyone else relate? I know I can. Perhaps we’re relying on God, but also some of our own power, or our own strategies that may have worked before. One hand is open, surrendered to God, but the other is holding tight to our own methods and preferences. Lots of glory to God, but also some of the glory to us. Perhaps this is why we are not moving in the power God has given us. The truth is this: You already have power and authority over the lies spoken over you and the weapons the Enemy has used against you. The problem is not in the power. The problem is in our own practices– the ways we refuse to surrender our strategies, preferences, and pride in order to be wholly dependent on the power of God alone. Paul challenged us, saying, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20) Breakthrough doesn’t come from our wisdom, our intelligence, our resume, our slick speeches, or the court of public opinion. It comes only from the power of God. God is not calling His church to just be current, relevant, or impressive; no, instead He is saying, I want my Church to be a place of power, where people are filled with my power, and praying in power, and moving in power, and are being transformed by the resurrecting power of Jesus. A lot of kingdoms have talk. God’s kingdom has power. For breakthrough to happen, we must be more than people who have signed on for good Christian living. We must be people surrendered to Jesus and dependent on His power in our everyday lives. Is breakthrough possible? It is. From a position of dependence on God. So here is an important question: What do you need to surrender to God today? Find time to be alone with God today, and talk to Him about it. Give it to Him. Both hands open. Fully transparent. Surrender anything that might stand in the way of full dependence on God. Prayer God, I surrender what I have held back from You. I turn away from the ways I have relied on my own power or talents. I have areas of my life that need Your power to break strongholds. I give them to You. I rely on you alone. I turn away from my sins. I commit my whole life to You. Amen.