"Breakthrough In Prayer"

What if the key to breakthrough isn't found in trying harder, but in praying differently? In his powerful opening message of 2026, Pastor Gary unpacks the transformative story of Nehemiah to reveal that true breakthrough begins with prayer that moves us to action. Through an exploration of Nehemiah's journey from cupbearer to rebuilder, Pastor Gary illuminates how authentic prayer positions us for God's intervention. He emphasizes that breakthrough requires complete honesty with God about our struggles, taking ownership of our part in problems, and anchoring ourselves in God's promises rather than our circumstances. The message weaves together Nehemiah's bold request before the Persian king with practical applications for today's challenges - from troubled marriages to financial crises to health battles. Pastor Gary introduces City United's new five-week series "Going Beyond Our Capacity," challenging the congregation to participate in a 21-day prayer initiative that combines daily devotional time with intentional steps of faith. His urgent call to action reminds us that breakthrough isn't about our capacity but God's, and it begins when we stop looking sideways at others or backward at failures and fix our gaze firmly on what God is calling us toward.