Micah 2:13 is one of my favorite verses. It describes how God rises up to break his people out of their prisons, and leads them home. As I was thinking about it, a line from “The Shawshank Redemption” popped in my head. Morgan Freeman was describing how your view of prison changes the longer you’re there: “These walls are funny. First you hate ’em, then you get used to ’em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized.”
The enemy wants to constrain you in fear, rejection, pain, bitterness, and self-pity, long enough for your heart and mind to become dependent on them. They become the filters for processing your life, especially in your relationships with God and the people around you. After enough time, even though you’re miserable, you’d rather stay that way because it’s become so familiar. The worst thing you can imagine is to go into the unknown.
But there’s just no other way. You try to convince yourself you can manage this darkness, but you can’t. In fact, you’re sick of darkness. It has to go. No, you have to go. “Get busy living, or get busy dying.” You need breakthrough. You need the Lord of the Breakthrough.
I’m praying for breakthrough for you today. I’m praying as you leave your old self behind, you’ll see who God wants to be for you right now, and who you’re becoming in him on the way. I’m praying you have such wonderful encounters with his faithfulness, hope, and love, they make the unknown your favorite place to go.
Equip Your Spirit 