Pushing through to breakthrough!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 15, 16, 17
2 Kings 17:40-41 (NIV)
40 They [the Israelites] would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
Good morning!
We are such creatures of habit, its ridiculous! Do you ever take the same road to work every day? With the construction woes in and around St. Louis, I find commuting to and from work to be a real challenge. I never know when the roadways are going to come to a dead standstill, due to an unfortunate accident, or changes in the highway from the road work that is being performed. Every major artery is clogged, and there are times when I simply take the same path everyday, knowing I’m not going to get around this, so I might as well resign myself to pushing through it. Do you ever feel that way about life in general?
There are just some things that we cannot avoid, no matter how much we try. Pushing through to breakthrough is essential in persevering faith. We can learn from the mistakes of our Israelite brothers and sisters, if we just have the eyes and ears to hear what the Lord is teaching us through His Word. Old habits can be hard to break, even with the best intentions. Here we see the Israelites worshipping God without recognizing that they are continuing in their pagan practices. Do you find yourself serving other idols instead of the Lord God Almighty? What things separate you from the abundant life that Jesus promises? Do you struggle with an addiction, a spirit of depression, or extreme fatigue? Do you find it hard to muster an hour to read and study God’s Word, or to sit in His presence in prayer and praise? What things do you not want to give up for service to the Lord? Would you rather stay at home and watch the baseball game on television, or serve food at a local shelter for the homeless and hungry?
Take a closer look at your life today. What path do you need to stay on until you break through to freedom in Christ? What habits in your life need to change so that you can become less self-centered, and more Christ like? May you find patience and perseverance in your journey home to the Lord. Together, we can find ways to break our former practices and find true break through and freedom as we seek the heart of Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: perseverance to reach breakthrough in your life. Old habits may die hard, but with Christ, all things are possible. Do not give up and do not give in. Stay on the highway today, and look to the Lord for your every need. If you seek Him, He will find you right where you are at. He has the power to transform your life into a new creation - He can use for Kingdom work. Are you ready to break through?
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