Every January I name my year, I am calling 2018 ‘The year of breakthrough’ and this is why…
Whilst praying for a friend a few weeks back I began to see people stood in a room that they had outgrown. They had become uncomfortable as their heads pressed up against the ceiling, they became irritated and began quarrelling for lack of space. Deeply frustrated with the limits containing them, yearning for something undiscovered, deep down they knew the truth, they were made for more. As I watched all of a sudden they found themselves breaking through the ceiling into a much larger room above. The new room was spacious, they could breathe again, there was peace, there was great joy and rejoicing.
I believe 2018 is a Breakthrough year, my breakthrough year and YOUR breakthrough year. There are promises to be fulfilled, dreams to be realised and new territory to be taken in all areas of life.
Those places that have brought us the greatest frustration, the most discomfort, where we have felt stuck, these are the very places breakthrough will come. Like with the story of Joseph, found in Genesis 41, we are told it was ‘in the land of his suffering’ that God then made Joseph fruitful, isn’t that what God specialises in?!
Also think on this… through Josephs life, Josephs whole family were saved. Through his family and one of their descendants (Moses), the Nation of Israel was saved and through one of their descendants (Jesus) comes salvation to all who receive it!
I want to encouarage you DONT GIVE UP. Do not focus on the limitations holding you back right now but on the coming freedom ahead. Just like Jesus did when facing the cross. Instead of thinking of the pain and suffering, Hebrews 12 tells us Jesus focused on the joy set before him (which was YOU by the way, your freedom, your healing, your salvation, your joy). You don’t know but the freedom of many others could depend upon YOU. When you breakthrough your ceiling, your limits, you make a way for your children, your family and many others to do the same. Your ceiling becomes the floor from which they begin.
As we trust in God, as we rely on and lean into him, growth will happen naturally. Inevitably where there is growth, there will be breakthrough!
“That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.”
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 MSG
My prayer for this year is that you would know breakthrough, great conquest, promises fulfilled and limitations broken this year like never before. Just as we know the sun will rise everyday, we know God’s word will come to pass!