How to Pray for Breakthroughs

Mobilizing and multiplying prayer for Disciple Making Movements

As you begin a new year, consider where you need to see the Lord bring Breakthroughs. This study by Harry Brown (President of New Generations) will build your faith and provide insights that can lead to answered prayers in your personal life and ministry.

The idea of “Breakthrough” indicates that the issue is important and that prior attempts to resolve it have failed.  It also carries the idea of faith and hope that the past does not predict the future and that the eventual turnaround will have a major positive impact.

A story from Mark 9:17-29 provides a great illustration:

17 …“Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. [big spiritual problem with significant practical consequences] I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”[spiritual leaders attempting resolution but no breakthrough] 19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, [there is a faith problem rooted deeply within the current culture] how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” [prayer is how we bring things to Jesus] 20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. [it may get worse before it gets better] 21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. [the problem is long term and now seems hopeless] 22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. [the stakes are high!] But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”[the damage affects many as will the resolution] 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ [long-term failure makes us forget who we are talking to!] All things are possible to him who believes.”24 [breakthrough is possible no matter what the issue or how long it has lasted] Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”25 [this is the “staircase of faith”.  We believe God for the lower/lesser but not for the higher/greater much like Mary/Martha believed Jesus could heal Lazarus but not raise him from the dead.] When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” [Jesus is Lord!] 26 After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. [not sure if he appeared dead or was dead but the point is, it doesn’t matter – all things are possible!] 28 When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” [the power of darkness is strong and doesn’t yield quickly or easily] 29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” [Jesus is still the fundamental answer and prayer is still the process] 


As we head into a new year, I encourage you all to pray, “Lord, I want to see Breakthrough in 2022 in _____________.”  It might be personal or organizational or both.  If you are like me, the list will be long but when everything is a priority, nothing is a priority.  So, I suggest you pick the top X and make those the things that you tell the Lord, “By this time next year, I am believing You for Breakthrough!”