Breakthrough!

You are not under attack because you are weak, you are under attack because you are advancing.

If you are a Christian man waiting around for a breakthrough, listen up. God already gave you the power to stand, fight, and lead. God called you to reject passivity, pick up the sword, and walk boldly in the Spirit as the man of God your family needs.

God’s Word for Today 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV), “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

It hit me like a punch I did not see coming.

A couple of men I respected came at me, full of emotion, full of pride, and empty of understanding. They asked questions but they did not hear the truth. They assumed, judged, and attacked. For almost an hour, they lit into me with anger. I sat there and took it, praying silently the entire time. Not praying for escape, but asking God to keep me from becoming like them, reactionary, defensive, and prideful.

That moment was my battlefield.

And for weeks after, it lingered. My thoughts raced. Sleep disappeared. I looked for someone to vent to, someone to justify me. But everyone I reached out to was unavailable. Not just for a few hours, but for days.

And you know what? Praise God. Because God used their silence to do something deeper in me.

He did not give me comfort. He gave me clarity.

Men, you need to hear this, especially if you are in the middle of a fight you did not choose. If you have been wrongly accused, misunderstood, or blindsided by someone you trusted, do not waste that moment with pity or passive prayer. That moment is a proving ground. It is a test of your maturity. It is a chance to respond, not react.

I have read Oswald Chambers for years. But today, it confronted me in a way I could not ignore. It reminded me. If God has called you to a work, He has already armed you with what you need to do it. If you are still waiting on something more, more strength, more clarity, more support, you are missing the point. He gave you Himself. He gave you His promises. He gave you His Spirit.

That is not theory. That is truth.

But here is where I went wrong. I started to question. I let anxiety creep in. I let pride whisper, you should not have to go through this. And right there, I limited the Holy Spirit. I tried to do God’s work with my own righteousness. And when I failed, I started blaming God through my worry and stress. That is not leadership. That is spiritual immaturity.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (ESV)

Not my righteousness. His.

If you have ever been there, leading your family, serving faithfully, doing what you believe is right, only to get hammered by others or by life itself, remember this. God does not promise the easy path. He promises the equipped one. And if you have received the Holy Spirit, then brother, you are more than equipped. You are dangerous, to the enemy, to passivity, and to the lie that says you are not enough.

You are not called to shrink back. You are not called to play it safe.

Men of the Shepherd, you have been given a noble task. To serve. To shepherd. To steward your home. You do not need another motivational quote or a ten step plan. You need to pick up your sword, God’s Word, and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Stop waiting for perfect circumstances. Start leading with what God has already placed in your hand.

Today.

Stop slandering God with your doubt.

Stop burdening the Holy Spirit with your passivity.

Stop excusing your silence as wisdom.

You know what your family needs. They need a man on his knees in prayer and on his feet in boldness. They need a man who does not need recognition to keep going. A man who is not ruled by pride or fear, but by the Spirit of God.

This is not a pep talk. This is your wake up call.

You have been given the Holy Spirit. Let Him work in you. Let Him speak through you. Let Him lead your home.

And when the attack comes, and it will, do not collapse.

Stand.

Do not retreat.

Pray.

Do not respond with emotion.

Respond with conviction.

Let them see the power of Christ in you when you are under fire. That is the mark of a shepherd. That is the strength of a man who knows his God.

Because at the end of the day, your breakthrough is not a feeling. It is not a moment.

It is a man who chooses to trust God in the fire, obey His Word in the storm, and lead his home with sword in hand and heart anchored in grace.

In this week’s theme of “Anchored in His Sovereign Grace,”
Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value is…
Trusting God’s Provision as you lead, even when you feel attacked, alone, or unqualified.

This builds spiritual grit, keeping you grounded in His promises and firm in your calling as a husband and father.

Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – Where have I allowed pride or emotion to lead instead of the Holy Spirit, especially when I have felt attacked or misunderstood?
2. Apply – What is one way I can actively lead my family this week with boldness and clarity, even if things around me feel uncertain?
3. Share – Who needs to hear this reminder about God’s provision and strength? How can I encourage another man to pick up his sword and stand firm?

Bible References (ESV)

• 2 Corinthians 9:8. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
• Romans 8:28. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
• Matthew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Personal Prayer Lord, forgive me for letting worry speak louder than Your promises. Remind me today that You have already equipped me, and help me lead with boldness and humility in the power of Your Spirit.

My Personal Journey & Engagement Call These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes, leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus. If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling. To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

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