The Anatomy of a Breakthrough: Seven Day Devotional

Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:

• Watch the replay of "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr

• Use this small group discussion guide with family, friends and co-workers.

• Join us for our 6 AM Prayer Call, Monday through Friday (EST)

Day 1: Every Season Has Purpose

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."- Psalm 23:4

Devotional: Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a season that just won't end? Maybe you're facing financial struggles, relationship challenges, or health issues that seem to drag on forever. It's natural to want to rush through these difficult times, but what if God has a different perspective on your current circumstances?

Just like winter serves a vital purpose in nature's cycle, your challenging seasons aren't accidents or punishments - they're strategic. Trees use winter to strengthen their root systems and prepare for spring growth. Similarly, God uses our difficult seasons to develop character, deepen our faith, and prepare us for what's ahead.

When we're in the middle of hardship, it's easy to focus only on getting out. But rushing through without learning the lessons God wants to teach us might mean we'll face similar challenges again later. Instead of just enduring, we can choose to embrace the growth that comes through adversity.

Think about the strongest people you know. Chances are, they've walked through some difficult seasons and emerged with wisdom, resilience, and a deeper understanding of God's faithfulness.

Your current winter season isn't wasted time - it's preparation time.

God is working in ways you can't see, strengthening you for the breakthrough that's coming. Trust that even in the cold, dark moments, God has a plan. He's not absent from your struggle; He's actively using it to shape you into who you need to become for your next season.

Quote: " Every season is strategic; even your winter season. What if winter is working for you?" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What character qualities or life lessons might God be developing in you through your current challenging circumstances?

Prayer: Lord, help me trust that You have a purpose for this season I'm walking through. Give me patience to learn what You want to teach me and faith to believe that You're preparing me for something greater. Thank You for being with me in every valley. Amen.

Day 2: Setbacks as Setups

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." - Isaiah 43:18

Devotional: What if the very thing that feels like it's holding you back is actually setting you up for something incredible? It's a radical shift in thinking, but one that can transform how you view your current struggles. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, it looked like the end of his dreams. When he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, it seemed like his life was over. But years later, he could see how every setback had positioned him perfectly to save his family and an entire nation during a famine.

What looked like destruction was actually divine preparation. Your current tribulation might feel overwhelming, but what if it's actually preparation for your purpose? That job loss might be redirecting you toward your true calling. That health scare might be teaching you to prioritize what really matters. That broken relationship might be protecting you from something that wasn't meant for your future.

The key is shifting from a victim mentality to a student mentality. Instead of asking "Why is this happening to me?" try asking "What is this preparing me for?" When we approach our challenges as classrooms rather than punishments, we position ourselves to extract value from every experience.

God specializes in turning messes into messages and tests into testimonies. He can take the very thing that was meant to destroy you and use it as the foundation for your breakthrough. Your setback isn't the end of your story - it's the setup for your comeback.

Quote: " What if your setback is just a setup? What if your tribulation is actually preparation? What if your breakdown is actually for your breakthrough?" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How might your current setback be positioning you for a future opportunity or blessing that you can't yet see?

Prayer: Father, help me see my challenges through Your eyes. Give me wisdom to understand how You might be using this difficult season to prepare me for my purpose. Help me trust Your plan even when I can't see the bigger picture. Amen.

Day 3: Leaving with Something

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1:2-4

Devotional: James reminds us that trials are not meaningless interruptions to our faith—they are instruments God uses to grow us. When we embrace this truth, a powerful shift takes place. Instead of merely enduring a hard season, we begin to see it as a process God is using to produce something valuable within us. The testing of our faith develops perseverance, and perseverance shapes us into who God is calling us to be.

Think of a student facing a difficult course. They can aim to simply get through it, or they can commit to learning, growing, and mastering what’s being taught. In the same way, trials invite us to lean in rather than check out. As we remain steadfast, God builds our character, deepens our compassion, sharpens our discernment, and anchors our faith more firmly in Him.

Perseverance doesn’t leave us lacking; it completes us. Like a soldier seasoned by battle, we come out stronger, more confident, and better prepared for what lies ahead. The difference between being broken by hardship and being built through it is trusting that God is actively at work.

Don’t allow this season to pass without purpose. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature, complete, and lacking nothing. Whatever you’re facing today, decide not to leave empty-handed. God is using this moment to strengthen your faith, shape your character, and draw you deeper into Him.

Quote: "If I've got to go through this, I'm leaving with something." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What might God be developing in you through this season that will strengthen you for what’s ahead?

Prayer: God, help me trust You in the testing. Give me perseverance to remain faithful and wisdom to learn everything You are teaching me. Let this season shape me into who You’ve called me to be. Amen.

Day 4:  Dormant but Not Dead

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters" - Isaiah 43:16

Devotional:  Have you ever planted seeds and wondered if they were ever going to grow? Sometimes weeks pass with no visible sign of life, and you might be tempted to think nothing is happening. But beneath the surface, incredible processes are taking place. The seed is absorbing water, breaking down stored nutrients, and preparing to burst through the soil at just the right moment.

Your life might feel dormant right now. Maybe you've been praying for breakthrough, working toward goals, or waiting for doors to open, but nothing seems to be happening. You might feel forgotten, overlooked, or stuck in place. But dormancy isn't death - it's design.

Some seeds can remain dormant for hundreds of years, preserving their life force until conditions are perfect for growth. During this time, they're not deteriorating; they're maintaining their potential, waiting for their moment. Similarly, your dormant season isn't wasted time - it's preparation time.

God might be using this season to deepen your roots before He elevates you. He might be developing your character, expanding your capacity, or positioning you for opportunities you can't yet see. Sometimes He needs to break through our protective shells of pride, fear, or self-reliance before we can emerge into our destiny.

Don't mistake dormancy for abandonment. You're not forgotten, overlooked, or left behind. You're being prepared for breakthrough at the appointed time. Trust that God knows exactly when to bring you out of this season and into the next phase of His plan for your life.

Quote: "You might be dormant, but not dead. Dormancy is not simply delay; it's design." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What might God be developing in you during this dormant season that will be essential for your future breakthrough?

Prayer: Lord, help me trust Your timing even when I can't see progress. I believe that You're working beneath the surface, preparing me for breakthrough. Give me patience to wait for Your perfect timing and faith to believe that my dormant season has purpose. Amen.

Day 5: Your Appointed Time

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.." - Habakkuk 2:3

Devotional: There's something incredibly powerful about understanding that your breakthrough isn't dependent on your timeline - it's dependent on God's perfect timing. When you stop watching the clock and start watching the heavens, you shift from anxiety to anticipation, from frustration to faith.

Trees that grow at higher elevations face harsher conditions - stronger winds, colder temperatures, and thinner air. But these challenges force them to develop deeper root systems to survive. The higher the elevation, the deeper the roots must go. Similarly, the greater the calling on your life, the deeper God may need to develop your spiritual roots before your breakthrough.

Your appointed time isn't about chronology - it's about kairos, God's perfect timing when everything aligns for your success. It's when your character matches your calling, when your preparation meets your opportunity, and when your roots are deep enough to sustain your elevation.

Don't grow weary in this season of preparation. After every winter must come spring. The season has to change - it's a law of nature and a promise of God. Your job isn't to force the timing but to stay in position, keep growing, and maintain your praise even in the dormant season.

When God says it's time, nothing can stop what He has planned for you. No door can remain closed, no opportunity can be withheld, and no breakthrough can be delayed. Your appointed time is coming, and when it arrives, you'll be grateful for every lesson learned and every root deepened during your winter season.

Quote: "You will break through at the appointed time. When God says it's time, it's time." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How can you shift your focus from your timeline to God's perfect timing, and what would change in your attitude if you truly believed your breakthrough is coming at the appointed time?

Prayer: Father, I surrender my timeline to You. Help me trust that You know the perfect moment for my breakthrough. Give me patience to wait, wisdom to grow, and faith to believe that my appointed time is coming. Until then, help me stay faithful and keep my praise alive. Amen.

Day 6: Breaking Through the Soil

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

Devotional: Every seed destined to grow must first be buried. Before it ever breaks the surface, it spends time in darkness, surrounded by pressure, unseen and unnoticed. What looks like burial is actually preparation. The soil that feels heavy is the very thing God uses to strengthen the seed beneath it.

In seasons of perseverance, it’s easy to feel like your efforts aren’t producing visible results. You’re praying, obeying, showing up, forgiving, serving—and yet nothing seems to be changing. But Galatians reminds us that the harvest is not denied; it is delayed until the proper season. Growth is happening even when you cannot see it.

The soil teaches the seed endurance. Resistance builds strength. Pressure forces roots to grow deeper so the plant can stand when it finally emerges. Likewise, God uses seasons of pressing to anchor you firmly in faith, humility, and trust. What you are becoming underground will determine how you flourish above ground.

Do not mistake silence for stagnation. Heaven is at work beneath the surface. Your breakthrough is not about speed; it’s about sustainability. If you stay planted, stay faithful, and refuse to give up, the same soil that once felt like a grave will become the ground of your growth.

Quote: "Just because you don’t see growth doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Roots grow before fruit shows." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: Where in your life do you feel tempted to give up, and how might God be strengthening your roots in that very place?

Prayer: God, help me not to grow weary while I wait for what You’ve promised. When the pressure feels heavy and progress feels slow, remind me that You are working beneath the surface. Strengthen my faith, deepen my roots, and give me the perseverance to remain planted until my due season comes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 7: Embracing the New Creation

Based on the Message: "The Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Devotional: Breakthrough does not simply change your circumstances—it transforms your identity. In Christ, you are not an improved version of your old self; you are a brand-new creation. What once defined you no longer has authority over you. Your past may explain where you’ve been, but it does not determine who you are becoming.

Just as winter gives way to spring, spiritual transformation often happens quietly before it becomes visible. God is not only removing what was old; He is forming something entirely new within you. New desires. New responses. New faith. New purpose. This process requires patience and trust, because transformation is rarely instant—but it is always intentional.

Embracing your new identity means learning to live from what God says about you, not from what you’ve experienced or what others have spoken over you. You may still be shedding old habits, mindsets, or fears, but that doesn’t negate the truth of who you are in Christ. Growth is not the absence of struggle; it’s the presence of surrender.

Your journey from winter to new life is not just for you. God’s work in you becomes a testimony for others who feel stuck in cold, dormant seasons. As you embrace the new creation God is forming, your life becomes evidence that restoration is real and transformation is possible.

Quote: "Seeds remain dormant until the conditions and the environment are right. You will break through at the appointed time" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What old identity, mindset, or habit is God asking you to release so you can fully embrace who you are as a new creation in Christ?

Prayer: Father, thank You for making me new in Christ. Help me let go of what no longer belongs in my life and fully embrace the identity You have given me. Renew my mind, shape my heart, and use my transformation as a testimony of Your grace. I trust You with the process of becoming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.