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PRAY THROUGH TO
BreakthroughPraying women know that
the greatest breakthrough is in their own hearts.
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world
does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish
strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3–4 NIV
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I’m sure your plans for 2020 certainly didn’t include a
full-blown pandemic. In my social-distancing, lockdown stage of
life, I have had plenty of time to myself. I know friends who have
used this time to learn a new skill or finally master the perfect
chocolate chip cookie recipe. This time has given me an opportunity
to focus on my relationship with Jesus as well. I have so much
freedom to pray, read the Bible, and worship God with online
services from nearly every church in the country. But the struggles
I have in my everyday life didn’t disappear. This extra time can
seem to heighten distractions. Tempta-tions seem stronger without a
busy schedule. Negative emotions grow bolder without the connection
of friends and family around to help and support us.
As you may be all too familiar with, there are times in life
when everything goes wrong and we desper-ately need a big
breakthrough. You may be struggling right now to hold on to your
marriage with ev-erything you’ve got. Perhaps you have a child who
has wandered away from their faith or a child who’s addicted to
drugs. Or perhaps it’s your own health that concerns you. You’ve
been given a diagnosis that feels overwhelming. Whatever you are
facing, one thing is clear: you need a breakthrough from God.
What is a breakthrough?
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines breakthrough this way: “an
act or instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle.” It also
means “a sudden, dramatic, and important advance.” Have you ever
been in a place where that was exactly what you needed? You needed
a way through what was in front of you, for all you could see was a
wall.
So what are your obstructions? What distractions or obstacles
are interfering and taking away from your relationship with God?
For the next 31 days, I want you to join me as we face these
barriers head on and move boldly into a healthy and confident
prayer life.
When we are asking God for a breakthrough, we are praying for
heaven to invade earth. We are asking God to deliver us because we
can’t deliver ourselves. It’s clear to us in those situations that
only God can bring the breakthrough we need. If you’ve been praying
for a while, I want to encourage you to keep going, keep asking,
keep knocking, because God is listening.
Your fellow prayer warrior,
Sheila Walsh
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BEGINNING STEPS
1. Identify Your ObstaclesAs I mentioned previously, we all have
obstacles we face that distract or impede a healthy spiritual life.
Our first step is to acknowledge what those barriers may be.
Perhaps there is one that immediately comes to mind. Maybe you have
several that you struggle with. Maybe your barrier isn’t listed
below. That is okay. Identifying these obsta-cles is an important
step.
Fear
Worry
Anxiety
Loneliness
Unforgiveness
Anger
Frustration
Pain
Hurt
Despair
Grief
Doubt
Insecurity
Depression
Numbness
Addiction
Complacency
Gossip
Jealousy
Fear of missing out
Exhausted
Overwhelmed
Sorrow
Sadness
Low self-esteem
Selfishness
Inability to say no
2. Choose a Bible Verse to Stand OnScripture is so powerful
because it is the written voice of our Heavenly Father. God gave us
tools and weapons in His words. You can choose a verse from the
appendix in the back of this document or you can use one that you
are familiar with. Write this verse down in the provided space.
3. Meditate and JournalUse your chosen verse as a starting
place. Take your mind off of your barrier and focus on God’s Word
and what it has to say to you.
4. Breakthrough PrayerSpend time in conversation with God. You
can use the breakthrough prayer as a starting point and adapt as
needed.
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BREAKTHROUGH JOURNAL
Day _______
My current
barrier(s):___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Meditation:_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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BREAKTHROUGH PRAYERFather God,
Right now I come to You while it seems like everything around me
is being shaken and the world seems out of control. But I believe
that in the midst of everything that I see around me, You ARE in
control. And right now I ask You for a breakthrough in my life.
First I want to declare that although I sometimes feel afraid
and alone, I know that I am:
chosen
free
a new person
forgiven
not condemned
held
healed
and I know I am Yours! I am a daughter of the KING OF KINGS! I
want to declare who You are over my life.
You are my:
Alpha and Omega
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
Lord
Abba Father
You are:
My Strength
My Hiding Place
My Protector
My Sovereign
My Provider
My Shepherd
And my Healer
I am asking You right now in the Name above all Names, my Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ, that You will help me to break through the
struggles and barriers I am facing right now. I know You are
faithful and that You are listening to me.
I bring to my needs to You now:
my family
my friends
my finances
my health
(List any of your own specific needs here.)
Help me spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Help
me to break through where I can’t see a way. Above all I ask You
for the biggest breakthrough of all—a change in my heart. Show me
how to love You more.
I praise you and thank You right now for touching every area of
my life and the lives of my family and friends. I trust You. I love
You. And I won’t give up. I am ready to break through with You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
A NXIET Y/FE AR/WOR RY
1 Peter 5:7
Philippians 4:19
Psalms 56:8
1 John 4
1 Peter 3:14
2 Timothy 1:7
Isaiah 35:4
Matthew 6: 25-27
Luke 12:7
John 14:27
Isaiah 41:10
Deuteronomy 31:8
Joshua 1:9
Psalm 94:19
John 8: 32
SELF-WORTH/INSECUR IT Y/D O UBT
1 John 3:1
1 Thessalonians 1:4
2 Corinthians 3:4
2 John 1:8
Leviticus 27:23
Romans 12:16
Mark 12:33
Matthew 6:26
Acts 20:24
Hebrews 10:35
Philippians 3:8–9
Genesis 1:26–27
Psalm 139:17–18
1 John 4:10
Ephesians 2:10
John 15:16
2 Corinthians 5:17
Micah 6:8
SUFFER IN G/PAIN
1 Peter 2:24
John 16:33
Isaiah 43:1–2
Psalm 56:8
1 Peter 1:6–7
James 1:2–5
Proverbs 3:11–12
Hebrews 12:5–7, 10–11
2 Corinthians 1:3–5
1 Peter 4:12–13
TRUST
Psalm 91:1–2
John 14:1
Psalm 49:12–13
Psalm 118:8-9
Isaiah 26:4
Psalm 33: 4-5
Proverbs 3:5–6
Psalm 37: 3-6
Jeremiah 17:5, 7–8
Psalm 56:3–4, 11
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UNFORGIVENE SS/BIT TER NE SS
Colossians 3:13
Matthew 6:14-15
Luke 17: 3-4
Ephesians 4:31-32
1 John 1:9
Isaiah 43:25-26
Acts 3:19
Isaiah 1:18
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 1:7
Numbers 14: 19-21
Hebrews 12:15
James 3:14-16
James 3:10-12
Acts 8:23
PR IDE
Proverbs 16:5
Proverbs 6:19
Psalm 18:27
Proverbs 13:10
Proverbs 16:18 Isaiah 2:11
R EPLACE PR IDE WITH HUMILIT Y
Philippians 2: 3-4
Romans 12:3
Proverbs 26:12
Proverbs 21:4
James 4:6
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Galatians 6:14
LONELINE SS/E MP T Y/A BA ND ONED
Romans 8: 38-39
Psalm 38:9-11
Job 19: 13-14
Psalm 142:1-4
Job 23: 8-9
Psalm 13: 1
Psalm 25: 15-17
Psalm 62: 5-8
Deuteronomy 31: 6
Joshua 1:9
2 Corinthians 4:17
Isaiah 41:10
Genesis 2:18
Matthew 27:46
1 Samuel 12:22
Zechariah 3:17
Psalm 68: 5-6
Psalm 73: 25-26
ADDIC TION
1 Corinthians 10:13-14
1 John 1:9
1 John 2:16
Ephesians 5:21
Romans 8:1
Galatians 5:1
James 4:7
1 Corinthians 15:33
1 Peter 5:10
Psalm 50:15
Romans 5:3-4
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
John 3: 16-17
Philippians 4:13
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GR IEF/SA DNE SS/LOSS
Revelation 21:4
Psalm 34:18
Psalm 147:3
Matthew 5:1-3
Isaiah 41:10
John 16:33
Isaiah 40:29
Joshua 1:9
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 100:5
Psalm 16:7-11
Matthew 5:4
Philippians 4:7
Philippians 4:19
Hebrews 11:1
Colossians 1:5
Psalm 46:10
Proverbs 3:5-6
NEGATIVE TALK , PU T TIN G OTHER S D OWN, GOSSIP
2 Corinthians 12:20
Ephesians 23:1
Exodus 23:1
James 1:26
James 4:11
Leviticus 19:16
Proverbs 10:18
Proverbs 11: 9-13
Proverbs 16:28
Psalm 141:3
Proverbs 18: 6-7
JE ALO USY/ENVY/DISCON TEN T
1 Corinthians 3:3
1 Corinthians 10:13
Ecclesiastes 4:4
James 4:11
Proverbs 14: 30
Proverbs 27:4
Psalm 143:8-9
Romans 12:21
James 4:2-3
Galatians 5:22-23
Psalm 37: 1-3
Psalm 139: 14