[Thursday's Devotional] - A Place of Breakthrough

On Monday I shared a picture of spring bulbs breaking through from beneath the dark soil, beginning a new season with the scripture:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  Isaiah 43: 18-19 [NIV]

Some of you will know that after 3 years ‘waiting’ (as instructed by God) at my previous job, I stepped out in faith last September from that ‘desert place’ of my work life.  I pushed several doors of opportunity towards a new job, hoping for a breakthrough – yet one almost lead to a breakdown rather than a breakthrough!  But, remembering those spiritual markers of Gods faithfulness in the past I waited for his timing and his plan to unfold.

On 31^st January I attended an interview for Office Manager for a faith-based children’s charity which, with their puppet ministry, took assemblies into schools, it seemed wonderful.  That morning I read:

“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-Perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-Perazim. (2 Samuel 5:17-21) ESV

Before the breakthrough, the scene in this scripture is called “Valley of Rephaim,” meaning, “House of the Giant.” After the breakthrough, it is called “Ba’al Perazim,” meaning, “Possessor of Breaches, Lord of the Breakthrough.”

I did not get that job, but I stood on that promised of breakthrough. As we ‘inquire of the Lord’ he rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  When we are active in prayer the ‘Lord of the Breakthrough’ will reward us with His strategy!

Dawn Milward