Remember every road that God led you on for those forty years in the wilderness, pushing you to your limits, testing you so that he would know what you were made of, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deut. 8:2 The Message Bible
Have you ever been in a place where you were pressing and pressing and pressing for the things of God and what you were believing God for and suddenly felt like you were making progress? Suddenly you could begin to feel faith arise and expand. Suddenly you could hear God’s voice more clear? Suddenly you could see the light at the end of the tunnel? But, you were still in the tunnel. It’s exciting when you begin to see and feel that you are actually going to make it. But this is the place where many, many make a mistake. What’s that mistake?
Well, often, when things begin to look like they are going to get better or perhaps a small amount of the breakthrough you have believed for comes through, here’s what happens: We let our guard down. Years ago a very wise woman said to me, ‘be careful when your breakthrough comes that you don’t let your guard down.’
I thought this was the oddest thing. My first instinct would be to celebrate. When breakthrough even begins my first instinct would be to lay down my sword, put my war manual away and take a vacation. Thinking well, it has begun. I can hear God telling me it’s over, time to take a break. This is such wrong thinking and something I have had to learn the hard way – even this week.
At the beginning of this week I was having wonderful times with God during my prayer and worship time. I could literally feel Him drawing close to me. I could feel breakthrough for all I had been praying for coming closer – I felt the end was near. What did I do? I relaxed my grip. I took a breath. Now, I am not saying that there is never a time to take a break – of course there is. I am saying that for me this wasn’t the time.
I was beginning to see prayers answered and things happen that I had specifically prayed for – so I relaxed. I relaxed my grip. What should I have done?
I would compare it to the thing many runners call the ‘second wind.’ That’s what I should have done; I should have gotten my second wind and ran a little faster, prayed a little more, pressed in a little harder.
What happens when you loosen your grip and lose your focus? The enemy can come in and cause all kinds of distractions and before you know it you are losing momentum. He is afraid of those times when you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He is afraid of that second wind. He is afraid because he knows how close you are to your promise, so he distracts you and whispers in your ear ‘see it’s coming, you can relax now.’ It’s not over until the see the FULL manifestation of all you have been praying for.
If you are beginning to see God answer prayers – don’t let up. If you are beginning to see change in your family – pray twice as much. If you are beginning to see small amounts of your breakthrough in finances trickle in – don’t let up – press in all the more. Allow the Lord to take you to your very limits to show you exactly what you are made of. I promise you that you are tougher than you think. You may be tired one minute but one small breath of God will have you up and running faster than before.
We all have times of testing – don’t give up until you reach the fullness of the Promised Land. Don’t let up until you have seen everything you prayed for. Never settle for less than you asked for. If you are praying for a 5 bedroom house, don’t dare settle for anything smaller. If you are praying for the salvation of all your family, don’t dare settle for just a few getting saved. If you are praying to get out of debt, don’t dare stop when you are half way there – press on to the promise. Let nothing stop you short of the promises of God – let nothing stop you short of the abundant life that Jesus died to give you. Press on, friend, press on.
My prayer today for you is that God will breathe upon you a fresh anointing to run faster than ever, pray more than before, refuse to settle for less and press on until you have everything He has promised you and more. God is faithful and He won’t quit short of His word – if you won’t.
