For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed… - Phillipians 1:19-20 (NKJV)

Have you ever had to deal with a situation for a long time? When you were standing on the Word, but it seemed liked nothing was moving? Well, I’ve come to today to tell you, don’t give up; your breakthrough is closer than you think. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given us is our faith. Faith gives us the ability to walk through situations in our lives while simultaneously carrying the hope of a completely different situation.

The challenge is how to maintain our hope while walking through things that are trying to chip away at that hope. First, you have to settle something: make a decision that once you get a glimpse of what God has for your future, you will not stop until you get it! You have to be committed to the heavenly vision. Look at what Paul told his son Timothy concerning prophecies about his future in 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (TPT): So Timothy, my son, I am entrusting you with this responsibility, in keeping with the very first prophecies that were spoken over your life, and are now in the process of fulfillment in this great work of ministry, in keeping with the prophecies spoken over you. With this encouragement use your prophecies as weapons as you wage spiritual warfare by faith and with a clean conscience... This is powerful! It shows us that even though we have a heavenly destiny, we still have a part to play in the fulfillment of that prophecy. The day the prophecy was spoken or revealed, it entered into the process of fulfillment.

We must understand that every prophecy is surrounded by warfare, because the enemy does not want to see the Word come to pass. Paul was telling Timothy, “You, Timothy, have a responsibility to wage warfare with the prophecy, to see it come to pass; you have to be committed!” I am amazed by the way people so easily give up on what the Lord has for their lives. They abandon the heavenly purpose and just settle back down to earthly responsibilities and activities; they are ok to let life play out on this course.

The Apostle Paul had many earthly accomplishments, but after his encounter with Jesus, his priorities changed. Philippians 3:12-14 (TPT) says, I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me his own. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. Paul ’s encounter with Jesus not only changed him, it changed his priorities; it changed his purpose; it changed his direction.

Have you forgotten about the purpose of God for your life? Have you allowed life to dictate your focus and direction? If you want to see a shift, get back to Him, and then get back to His divine purpose for your life. Romans 8:28 (AMP) says, And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. You see, when you are in His plan and purpose, the shift has to come, because you are a carrier of the divine purpose.

An amazing account in the Bible is the story of Gideon. When the Lord appeared to him, the first thing Gideon brought up was the problems that he was going through. Let’s look at the conversation and learn in Judges 6:11-14 (KJV): And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Amazing! The Lord calls him a mighty man of valor while he is hiding in a winepress. But Gideon didn’t hear that; instead, he complained to God about his situation. What Gideon didn’t know was that the turnaround was connected to him. The Lord needed him to change his position, take charge, and walk in his purpose. The very turnaround that he desired was going to come when he accepted his divine call and destiny. Basically, the Lord was telling him, “When you turn, things will turn around for you and the nation.” So are you ready for the turnaround? Then let’s get back to His purpose!