Your breakthrough is not just for you

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose." - Acts 16:25-26

It is interesting to know that Paul and Silas were not praying at their point of crisis. They did not cry out to God to deliver them out of their situation. Most of us (that's a loud yes for me) would cry out to God to just get us out of problem when trouble knocks at our door. That's a perfectly legitimate request, but there is something better. Praise.

Bring to God a sacrifice of praise,

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name." - Heb 13:14-15

When is praise a sacrifice?

It is a sacrifice when you praise God for His character when the circumstances does not match His provision - and you choose to praise nevertheless, looking upwards rather than sidewards.

"The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!'

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'

They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'" - Acts 16:27-31

Then the breakthrough came for Paul and Silas. However, notice that Paul and Silas did not leave the prison although the door was opened and the chain was loosed. Most of us consider open doors as answers to prayer, don't we? On the contrary, Paul and Silas did not rush to leave the situation but sought to obey God. Eventually, they shared the gospel to the jailer and he and his household got saved! They didn't get out of their problem but they got through their problem. They didn't run away from adversity but faced it with faith.

Many time your breakthrough is not just for you! It is for your neighbour, your colleagues and your family. Your breakthrough is a beacon of hope for them, as your testimony becomes the spirit of prophecy to release the same breakthrough in them.

So when you through a challenge, think to yourself who will be blessed by your victory and hang in there until His purpose is achieved.