If you would like to extend this over a week, you can easily do one of the points each day of your devotion.  Here is a printable version.

MIRACLES OF JESUS
HOW TO PRAY A BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER
3-13-22

Read:

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat is resolved to seek God as a vast army approaches him. He knew he was powerless against his enemy, so he calls his people to fast and pray. He models the steps of praying privately, engaging others in prayer, and praying publicly. He set his face to seek God first, believing God for the answer, and thanking him in advance for victory, knowing God would bless him. Where do you need God to breakthrough for you?

2 Chronicles 20:1-6 - After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat. 2 People came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast multitude from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar" (that is, En-gedi). 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved to seek the Lord. So he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, 4 who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him. (Jehoshaphat's Prayer) 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord's temple before the new courtyard. 6 He said:… HCSB

Question: Share a time, when, like Jehoshaphat, they were scared and afraid and resolved to seek the Lord.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

HOW TO PRAY FOR A BREAKTHROUGH

• 1.  Start by focusing on God, not my problem.

2 Chronicles 20:3 - Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he resolved to seek the Lord.

• I remind myself of God’s greatness.

2 Chronicles 20:6 - "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

Question: How can focusing on God minimize concerns?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• I remind myself of His unlimited power.

2 Chronicles 20:7 - O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel

Question: Can you think of a time when God came through in your life?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• You remind God of His promises!

Chronicles 20:7b - … and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?  

Question: What reminders of God’s power would help dispel fear?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________


Question: How does remembering God’s promises encourage us during seasons of doubt or difficulty? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Ask God for a breakthrough!

2 Chronicles 20:10-11 - "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.

Question: Why do you think we should ask for a specific prayer request?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Tell God: I can’t do this. I need You to do this.

2 Chronicles 20:12-13 - O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.

Question: Why do you think it’s so hard to admit that we are powerless?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Listen to what God says.

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17-18 - He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. …17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'" 18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord.

Question: God assures us that the battles we face do not belong to us.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

 
Question: What areas in your life are you battling and need a breakthrough? Are you trying to fight this on your own or are you allowing God to fight it for you? Can you share a time when God won a battle for you that provided a breakthrough?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOUR BREAKTHROUGH:

• Don’t be afraid or discouraged!
• It’s my battle, and I’ll handle it.
• Wait and watch what I’ll do.

   
      2 Chronicles 20:20 - "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.
 

• Thank God in advance for the answer.

2 Chronicles 20:21-23 - After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever." 22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

Question: Is this the way that you would draw up a battle plan to win a war?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________


Question: What does that tell us about God?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Question: Why do you think it’s important to thank God before it happened?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Expect God to turn battles into blessings.

2 Chronicles 20:24-27 - When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value — more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.

Question: Think about a time God turned one of your battles into a blessing.
What promises of God did you claim during the battle?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Question: How did they help you remain hopeful and faithful?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Question: Now that the battle is won, what did you learn about God? About yourself?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________