How to Overcome Life's Challenges with Spiritual Power

We are in a season where God wants us to rise above. Last week, He told us to "aim high," and now He's saying, "rise above." There's an important reason for this progression in our spiritual journey.

When Life Winds You Up

Recently, I woke up to WhatsApp messages that upset me. It was a secular engagement, nothing to do with ministry, but reading those messages put me in a negative state of mind. I responded robustly (as politicians might say), and when I got to my desk to work, I realised I had lost my spark.

That morning was critical for me business-wise, but my composure was gone. Right there at my desk, I prayed: "Lord Jesus, I'm so sorry for allowing somebody's text messages to upset me so bad that I've lost my composure. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I ask for the peace of God to be restored to my heart."

In seconds, I could sense a change in my mood and mindset. I was back to what I was supposed to do and carried on with my work.

Why Do People Get Under Our Skin?

Human beings will wind you up. Even Jesus got wound up at times! Remember when He called Herod a "fox"? For Jesus to speak like that, He must have been deeply provoked. Or consider Apostle Paul, who called certain church leaders "brute beasts" when they insisted on circumcision for salvation.

This shows that everyone faces provocations. But while God is taking you higher and asking you to aim high, you need to learn to rise above certain things. And even if you falter, you should know how to regulate yourself.

The Space Between Stimulus and Response

Someone once said, "Between stimulus and response, there is space." That space is your thinking time. How do you want to respond to this stimulus? What is the response you want to give? You can make up your mind to give the right response.

Here's a crucial truth: you are not your feelings. Some people say, "I am mad" or "I am angry." But are you actually mad, or do you feel upset? You need to learn to separate your feelings from your personality. I'm not saying you should deny your humanity, but you need to understand that you are not your feelings. You can rise above them and control them so you don't let someone else determine the outcome of your day.

Don't Be Conformed to This World

Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

There will always be things that want to make us conform to the world. When you say, "I'm afraid," are you afraid, or are you feeling fear? The more you say you are afraid, the more afraid you become. The more you say you are weak, the weaker you become.

This is why the Bible says, "Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'" You don't counter a thought with a thought; you counter a thought with words. When Jesus found no fruit on the fig tree, He didn't answer with His thoughts but with His words: "No one eat from you ever again." By the next morning, that tree was dry.

Understanding Your Spiritual Identity

John 3:6 says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." Which one are you? When you accepted Jesus into your life, you became born of the spirit.

You operate in two worlds—the spiritual world and the physical world—but you belong to only one. When you go to sleep and have a vision where the Lord teaches you things, that's the spiritual realm. You wake up and carry on in the physical realm. You operate in both worlds, but you belong to the spiritual one.

You Are Not of This World

In John 17:14, Jesus prayed, "I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

Every day of your life, remind yourself that you are not of this world, that you are from heaven and you live by the Word of God. If you do that, life will be easier and better for you.

Psalm 82:6 says, "I have said, ye are gods and all of you are children of the Most High." When you don't know this truth, you walk in darkness and react to things like ordinary people would. You forget your roots and the abilities of God inside you.

Rising Above Fear

We don't live like ordinary people. We should not be scared by the things that scare ordinary people. If you are afraid of what your colleagues are afraid of, who will save the other? The Bible says, "Fear not their fear." It is not our fear; it is their fear.

When your neighbour has cancer, do you begin to wonder, "When will it be our turn?" Since when did it become "our" problem? He that is born of the flesh is flesh—let them worry their worry. But he that is born of the Spirit is spirit. You are a life-giver, for the Bible says, "As He is, so are you in this world."

The Power of the Word in Your Life

Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone." Man was made to live by the Word. The Bible says a man's tongue is a tree of life. You're supposed to live by your tongue!

If a believer has no money in their account and is down to their last penny, but they have the Word of God on their lips, they will bounce back. The believer is the only being on earth that, if stripped of everything, as long as they have the Word of God on their lips, there is an irrevocable magnet in their spirit that will pull the right things in their direction.

Remember when Jesus sent disciples to preach? He told them to take no money. How can you go to another city to preach without resources? Jesus said, "Don't take anything," and added, "The labourer is worthy of his hire." They took nothing but had everything because if you have the Word of God, you have everything.

Gateways to the Supernatural

There are protocols in the realm of the spirit. When we tell you to speak in tongues, some don't seem to understand why. These are gateways into the realm of the spirit. Paul said, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels..." When you speak in tongues, you are stirring up spiritual power.

I make it a lifestyle to pray in the Holy Ghost regularly—not because I'm a pastor or because I'm coming to preach, but because this world is challenging. If you walk in the light as He is in the light, you have fellowship with Him. Talk less with human beings and more with the Holy Ghost. He is dependable. The Holy Ghost will not swindle you or dupe you.

Jesus said, "When the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all realities." See how the Holy Ghost has been guiding us this year—three days of fasting, then prayer week, then seven hours of prayer stretch. Those who have been participating, have you seen something different about your life? And it's only been three months!

Prayer isn't just about making requests; it's about building your spirit. Jude 1:20 says, "You, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit."

Life Application

This week, I challenge you to rise above the things that try to pull you down. When someone or something provokes you, remember that you are not your feelings. Take that space between stimulus and response to choose your reaction wisely.

Practice speaking the Word of God over your life daily. When fear, doubt, or negative emotions arise, counter them with Scripture. Remember that you belong to the spiritual realm and operate by different rules than the world.

Ask yourself:

What situations or people tend to "wind me up" the most?

How can I create more space between stimulus and response in my daily interactions?

Am I living as someone who is "not of this world," or am I conforming to worldly patterns of thinking and reacting?

How can I incorporate more prayer in the Spirit and meditation on God's Word into my daily routine?

Remember, "Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world." You are not called to fear what the world fears but to rise above and demonstrate the power of God in your life.