“Breakthrough” by Katie Taylor

Have you ever experienced a breakthrough in your life?  Or are you praying for one right now?

I was running this morning for the first time in a long time, and was reminded of a big breakthrough that got me fired up. Truths discovered in running often remind me of spiritual truths, and I think that’s why there are many references to running in the Bible.  

Several years ago, I was a “three-mile runner.” I had a handful of three-mile routes and ran in a few 5k’s. As a 28-year-old who had passed her athletic “prime,” I did not think I was capable of running any further.

But, my encouraging husband challenged me on this.  He told me I was capable of so much more if I could just break through the “three-mile wall” in my mind. He said it was a lie I was believing, not a present reality. It’s a wall he had broken through, and he kindly offered to help me.  

Rather than running one of my normal routes and adding to it, he drove me somewhere far away from our neighborhood. New territory often requires new perspective! When we got there, he did something very wise.  He told me I had to leave my watch in the car.  I wanted to know how fast we were going, but he said that wasn’t necessary.  

He said, “Pace doesn’t matter when you’re going a new distance.”

To experience BREAKTHROUGH with God, we must BE THROUGH WITH performance measures. Click To Tweet

It was a great reminder that in order to experience breakthrough with God, we have to throw off our performance measures. Not seeing my mile time was so freeing. I didn’t have to keep up with my expectations; I just had to run.

Will and I ran that afternoon, side by side, step by step, for what seemed like an eternity. I set the pace and he was just there to keep me from stopping. It’s as if there was an imaginary thread between us and he was pulling me along one step and one breath at a time for four long miles.

When the parking lot of our finish line was in close distance, I was so happy to see it that I sprinted the rest of the way toward it. I ran my heart out, freedom of breakthrough in every step.  Will let me go ahead as he cheered me on. I did it! I broke through the three-mile wall. Three weeks later, I ran my first 10k.  A month later, I finished my first half marathon.  Once I realized that wall was indeed a lie, I was ready to embrace the once impossible with everything I had.

Remembering this today made me reflect on spiritual breakthroughs and how they’ve looked a lot like that day with Will. Breaking through the walls built by fears, hurts, and lies has looked like:

Running together –  When we let a trusted person into the hurting and often secret places of our lives, breakthrough happens.  Sometimes they run beside us, sometimes they carry us through. Sharing my dark places and weakness with others is one of the scariest things I’ve done. But, bringing others into my journey has led to true healing, freedom and amazing breakthrough.  It’s in these moments I’ve seen light overcome darkness and Truth overcome the lies that held me back.  

Taking off the watch – As someone who loves to perform well, this is challenging for me.  But breakthroughs are never about what I can do! They are only what He can do through me when I take my eyes off my abilities and put them on His promises. Also, breakthroughs often don’t happen as fast as we’d like.  They are not on our time; they are on His time. Taking off the watch helps us release that and not give up too soon.

Explosive Growth – Each time I have discovered a wall was not a present reality in light of God’s word and who I am in Christ, there has been explosive growth beyond what I could have asked or imagine.  

Breakthroughs don’t just get us out; they send us soaring. Click To Tweet

His divine power demolishes strongholds and sets us free indeed!

Seeing and being someone new – Today, after a long break, I am starting to run again. I can only go 2 miles and boy, does it hurt.  However, I don’t see myself as a 2-mile runner. I see myself as a half marathon (potentially more) runner who is a little out of shape. This is a huge difference!

Once we see who we are in Christ, we can operate out of the strength of our new identity. Click To Tweet

Our God is a God who breaks through for us. He breaks through our fears, unbelief and the places we feel stuck, hurt and defeated. He breaks through the lies that tell us change is impossible for us. He overcomes and delivers.

“The LORD did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”).  2 Sam 5:20

The same God who breaks through for David is for us and can break through for you and me today. 

What is the place that at the end of 2017 you would like to name Baal-perazim and see Him break through like a raging flood? The relationship that’s still broken, the fear that paralyzes, the sin that lingers, the pattern that continues, the dream that has lost its spark of hope, the unbelief that only the Holy Spirit can overcome. What are the New Year’s hopes that can only be accomplished with the help of a powerful God? I dare you to write them down and watch Him move!

Each run begins with one new step. Each breakthrough begins with one new prayer. Each year begins with one new day. Let’s run our hearts out! It’s time for walls to fall.

Let’s run our hearts out! It's time for walls to fall. Click To Tweet

“Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way…” Hebrews 12:1-2 MSG

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Tags: breakthrough, Huntsville, new year's resolutions, Our City On A Hill, overcoming, prayers, running, Soul Food