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

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

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.

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

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

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

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