103 | Seeking God for a Breakthrough? Discover the Spiritual Key to Finding Clarity

Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog

Have you ever felt like you were standing at a wall that just wouldn’t move? That prayer you've whispered countless times, the healing that feels just out of reach, the breakthrough that never quite arrives – these spiritual stalemates can leave us wondering if God even hears us anymore.

Drawing from powerful biblical examples, we explore how you can take a unique spiritual posture that invites divine intervention. From Queen Esther's life-risking fast that saved an entire nation to Jehoshaphat's remarkable victory without lifting a sword, scripture reveals that our greatest breakthroughs often come when we empty ourselves to be filled with God's presence. Jesus himself modeled this practice, beginning his ministry with forty days of fasting and teaching his followers to make it part of their spiritual rhythm.

The beauty of this spiritual posture isn't in manipulating God to do our bidding but in surrendering everything that distracts us from his voice. Whether you choose to abstain from food, social media, or other comforts, each hunger pang becomes a sacred reminder to turn your heart toward heaven. Your breakthrough might arrive as the circumstance you've been praying for – or it might come as something even more profound: fear transforming into trust, anxiety melting into peace, and self-reliance yielding to deeper dependence on the One who holds all things. If you're standing at what feels like an unmovable wall today, perhaps it's time to not just pray, but to fast and pray. What might change if you hunger for God above everything else? Join me in discovering how emptying ourselves creates space for God to fill us with exactly what we need.

Send us a text

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/faithcollective

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Printable Bible Study for Women >>> PaulaBehrens.com/members

Christian Resources >>> FaithBuildingClub.com

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Episode Transcript

Paula (00:00):
Friend, have you ever felt like you were standing at a
wall that just wouldn't move?
Maybe you've prayed the sameprayer for months, even years,
and the answer seems delayed ordistant.
Have you wondered if God evenhears you?
Maybe it's a healing you'redesperate for, or the salvation
of a loved one, or financialprovision when the bills are
stacked higher than thepaycheck.

(00:21):
Maybe it's peace of mind in themiddle of sleepless nights or
clarity for a decision thatweighs heavy on your heart.
Whatever your situation, youknow the ache of waiting for a
breakthrough.
That's today's discussionpoint.
But first, funny story.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church

(00:41):
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized.
But truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep
reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I
realized that even in my chaos,there was a lesson.

(01:02):
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?
I'm Paula, and I've been theretoo.

(01:23):
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
this podcast is for you.
Please take a moment to followthe show, leave a review, and
share with your friends who needa little biblical encouragement

(01:45):
today.
Hey friend, I know what it’s like to feel far from God—even when you’re doing all the “right” things. You’re showing up. You’re praying. You’re reading the Bible.Butinside, something feels
disconnected.
You wonder if you're doingenough, if God is even
listening.
You feel a little ashamed thatyour quiet time isn't what it

(02:06):
used to be or what you hoped itwould be.
Well, I want you to know,you're not alone and you're not
failing.
God isn't asking you forperfection, He's just asking for
your presence.
That's what the Aroma of ChristCoaching Hour is all about.
No pressure, no performance,just presence.
Let me walk with you into aslower, spirit-led devotional

(02:30):
routine that will help youreconnect with the One who's
been waiting to refresh yoursoul all along.
Now's the time to say yes topeace, to say yes to presence.
Book your Aroma of ChristCoaching Hour at
PaulaBehrens.com /coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .com /coaching (no

(02:53):
spaces).
All right, it's time to getstarted.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal, and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
Are you facing what feels likean unmovable wall, yearning for
a breakthrough, but unsure if itwill ever come?
In moments of deep longing,praying can sometimes feel like

(03:15):
you're pressing against a lockeddoor, but God, in his wisdom,
has given us a spiritual key inscripture, a way to align our
hearts more closely with his, toremove distractions, and to
open ourselves to his power.
And that key is fasting.
When paired with prayer, fastinghas always been a way for God's

(03:37):
people to humble themselvesbefore him.
Now it isn't about twisting hisarm or forcing his hand because
God cannot be manipulated.
Instead, fasting is aboutsurrender.
It's about saying, Lord, I needyou more than I need food, more
than I need comfort, more thanI need control.
Jesus Himself told hisdisciples in Matthew 6 that

(04:01):
fasting should be a normal partof their devotion.
"When you fast," he said, "donot look somber as the
hypocrites do, but when youfast, anoint your head with oil
and wash your face, so that yourfasting may not be seen by
others, but by your Father, whois in secret, and your Father

(04:22):
who sees in secret will rewardyou."
Now notice that he didn't say"if" you fast, he said "when"
you fast.
Think about Jesus' own life.
Before he began his publicministry, Matthew 4 tells us
that "He was led by the Spiritinto the wilderness, and there
he fasted for forty days andforty nights." It was in that

(04:45):
wilderness that he was tested bythe enemy, and it was through
fasting and reliance on God'sWord that he overcame.
When the devil tempted him toturn stones into bread, Jesus
responded with scripture fromDeuteronomy saying, "Man shall
not live by bread alone, but byevery word that comes from the
mouth of God." What a powerfulreminder! Our greatest

(05:09):
nourishment comes not from whatfills our stomach, but from what
fills our souls.
And Jesus wasn't the only onewho turned to fasting for
strength and breakthrough.
The pages of Scripture arefilled with examples of God's
people seeking him in this way.
When Esther learned of the planto destroy her people, she

(05:32):
called for a three-day fast.
She told her attendants, "donot eat or drink for three days.
I and my attendants will fastas you do.
Then I will go to the king,even though it is against the
law, and if I perish, I perish."Now that collective of fasting
was the turning point that savedan entire nation.

(05:54):
Daniel too fasted when he longedto understand God's vision for
the future.
For three weeks he deniedhimself choice foods, meat, and
wine while he prayed earnestly.
And what happened?
Well, God sent an angel withrevelation and strength.
His fasting didn't just changehis own heart, it opened the
door for heavenly help.

(06:15):
Jehosaphat's story in 2Chronicles chapter 20 is another
powerful picture.
When he heard that a vast armywas marching toward Judah, he
didn't call the generals into awar room.
He proclaimed a fast.
The people gathered, not tosharpen their weapons, but to
humble themselves before theLord.
And God's answer came clearly,"do not be afraid or discouraged

(06:38):
because of this vast army, forthe battle is not yours, but
God's." The very next day, asthe people marched out, they
began singing praises.
By the time they arrived, theyfound that God had already
defeated their enemies.
Their fasting and prayingbecame the posture that released
God's deliverance.
These stories remind us thatfasting is not just about going

(07:00):
without food.
It's about emptying ourselvesso that God can fill us.
It's about focusing ourattention on Him with greater
intensity, saying no to thenoise of the world so that we
can say yes to the whisper ofHis Spirit.
In our modern day world ofinstant gratification and
constant distraction, fastingfeels countercultural.

(07:24):
Yet it may be exactly what oursouls need when our prayers feel
stuck.
Now let's get practical.
Fasting can look different foreach believer.
Some may go without food for aday or more, drinking only
water.
Others may do a partial fastlike Daniel, abstaining from
sweets, meats for rich foods.

(07:44):
For some, fasting might meanstepping away from social media,
television, or habits thatclutter the mind and heart.
The form is less important thanthe heart behind it.
God honors the sincere hungerof his people more than the
exact method.
What matters is that fastingclears space for prayer,
worship, and God's Word.

(08:06):
Each time your stomach growlsor you feel the urge to reach
for what you've set aside, letit be a reminder to pray.
Let it remind you of Jesus'words when he said, "Blessed are
those who hunger and thirst forrighteousness, for they shall
be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
Hunger is not your enemy inthose moments.

(08:29):
It becomes a signal that yourtrue satisfaction is found in
God alone.
Breakthroughs do not always comequickly, though, and they don't
always arrive in the way thatwe imagine.
Sometimes God shifts ourcircumstances through fasting
and prayer.
Other times He shiftsus. He gives us new perspective, new faith, new strength to endure. He teaches us that the real breakthrough is not only in the answer, but in the transformation of our hearts while we wait.

(09:02):
I can testify to this in my ownjourney.
There have been seasons inministry when I felt empty,
unsure of the next step, ordeeply burdened for someone I
loved.
Setting aside time to fast wasnever easy.
But in those quiet, surrenderedmoments, God's Peace always
came.
Sometimes the breakthrough Ilonged for arrived in unexpected

(09:26):
ways, but more often thebreakthrough came inside of me,
my fear giving way to trust, myanxiety softening into peace, my
self-reliance dissolving intodeeper dependence on the Lord.
If you've been praying and youfeel weary, don't give up.

(09:46):
God has not turned away fromyou.
He may be inviting you to pressin more deeply, to set aside
the ordinary so you canexperience the extraordinary.
Joel chapter 2 tells us,"Return to me with all your
heart, with fasting and weepingand mourning.
Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and

(10:10):
compassionate, slow to anger andabounding in love."
What a promise that is! When wereturn wholeheartedly, Scripture
tells us that we encounter thegoodness of his love.
And fasting is not just an OldTestament practice.

(10:30):
In the book of Acts, we see theearly church praying and
fasting as they made majordecisions.
Before sending Paul andBarnabas out on their missionary
journey in Acts 13, we hearthat they fasted and prayed,
laying hands on them beforesending them out.
The early church knew that theycouldn't move forward without
God's clear direction, andfasting was how they turned

(10:52):
their hearts to his leading.
This is the same invitation tous today.
If you are seeking God for abreakthrough, don't just pray.
Fast and pray.
Seek Him with your whole heart,lay down the distractions, open
his Word, pour out your heart,and then wait in expectation,

(11:16):
because your Father sees what isdone in secret, and he promises
to reward you.
That reward may be provision,healing, wisdom, reconciliation,
or peace.
But above all, the greatestreward is always His presence.
Your breakthrough may not looklike what you imagined, but it

(11:38):
will always be what you need.
And as you lean into prayer andfasting, you'll discover that
the true victory isn't just inthe answer, it's in knowing him
more deeply.
It's in trusting him more fullyand living more completely
aligned with his purposes.
If you're listening today andyou know that you need this kind

(11:59):
of peace-filled reset in yourown life, I'd like to invite you
to book an Aroma of ChristCoaching Hour with me.
In this one-hour session, I'llwalk with you as we pray, reset
with peace, and craft adevotional rhythm that truly
fits your current season oflife.
Whether you're desperate forclarity, longing for a

(12:19):
breakthrough, or simply desiringto rest in God's presence
again, this sacred space isdesigned to help you breathe
deeply, reconnect with the Lord,and walk forward with renewed
faith.

So let me ask you this (12:32):
what breakthrough are you seeking God
for right now?
And are you willing to hungerfor Him above all else, even if
it means setting aside thethings that normally satisfy
you?
Because when you do, you're notjust waiting for an answer.
You're stepping into thepresence of God who holds your

(12:53):
breakthrough in his hands.
All right, sister.
If that sounds like you, bookyour Aroma of Christ Coaching
Hour at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .com /coaching (no
spaces).

(13:14):
I am so honored to be yourguide on this transformative
journey of faith and wellness.
As an ordained pastor andChristian coach, I am
passionately committed tohelping women like you encounter
God in a personal and healingway.
With over 30 years ofexperience as a spiritual
mentor, I will walk beside youin the sacred space between

(13:35):
struggle and breakthrough.
Through coaching, prayer,scripture, and the gentle power
of essential oils, I will helpyou release old patterns and
rise into your God-givenpurpose.
Together, we'll weave biblicalwisdom with spirit-led
strategies to nurture yourspirituality and create
sustainable rhythms for yourday.
Join me now in this sacredspace where clarity, confidence,

(13:58):
and the presence of Christawaits you.
Book your session now while thePeace RESET is still on the
table.
Thank you for tuning in today.
And remember, just like settingbiblical boundaries, it's okay
to say no to things that don'tserve you well, like that third
piece of cake at the churchpotluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it

(14:20):
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
women like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.
Join us next time as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intohim and walking in his wisdom.
See you next time.