Something awesome happens when we accept God’s love fully and invite Him to be part of our lives: God’s Holy Spirit moves in, as confirmed by numerous Bible verses such as:

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Rom 8:16-17, NIV2)

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (Rom 8:11, NIV2)

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2Cor 1:21-22, NIV2)

We become so intimately acquainted with Him that something strangely wonderful happens: we can face any calamities as God’s Spirit is constantly with us, assuring us that we are sons and daughters of our loving Heavenly Father.

He lives in us, and by faith we draw upon Him. Whatever we face, His life within us is more than enough.

Most people cave when tragedy occurs in their lives, and they withdraw within themselves, often putting our loving Father in the back burner. Those who rely on God’s Holy Spirit, however, never give up. They have truly become overcomers, thanks to relying on the presence within them. Here are two testimonies of people who faced unimaginable odds, but their reliance on God was so vivid that they kept on encouraging others. Why? Because God was real to them! They were truly experiencing real life through the presence within them.

Eromosole Emiole, one of the many prayer warriors at Answers2Prayer, wrote the following:

“God has been exceedingly faithful and good to me. Every day I just want to give Him more and more praise. I have experienced His exceeding grace and I am so thankful. I thought to share this so that everyone will be encouraged. God is good.

When I joined this group two years ago I was jobless, broke, in debt, frustrated on many points.I joined this group, and the whole concept of someone in this circumstances praying for people and encouraging people was very new, and I must admit, weird. I mean, here I was praying for people and telling them that God will solve their financial issues, that they will get jobs, when I was in the rain, facing these challenges.

Praying for people, encouraging people has really helped my life tremendously. The encouragement I get from this group…has really been one of the most touching and defining moments of my life. Knowing that there is a community of believers that are praying for you is just too heart lifting.

I finally got a job last year, it wasn’t the best of jobs, but I was grateful. I even had to relocate to a city I didn’t like, and well, I just managed it. I was grateful because even that job came in the most miraculous of circumstances. I didn’t apply for it, it wasn’t advertised, and the position was created in the organization for me. I thanked God every day, and even though I didn’t like the organization I was in a far better place than I was earlier.

In that time I have had the chance to grow my personal business. And that’s picking up too. It was in this town that I had to relocate to that I didn’t like that I met a lady who has been such an immense blessing to my life. Bible says “A good wife is from God”. We are planning to get married on the 27 and 28 of June, 2014.

When I met her business, wasn’t so good for her, but within two months she got a job and she relocated back to the capital. Early this year, I got a call from a friend that stays in Aberdeen. He told me about an opportunity with an oil servicing company in the capital. I went for the interview, and in a matter of days, I got the job. I wasn’t outstanding, the interview was a classic example of God’s favor. They just liked me and offered me the job. The salary is 3 times what I used to earn. With all the benefits, health care, pension, official car, allowances, bonuses etc.

I am preparing for my wedding and one of the issues that’s kept bothering me is the finances. When I pray about it, all I hear is that I should just commit to the process, that God will do the rest. My new salary is a huge financial boost for my wedding plans. On resumption was told that I had to be in Port Harcourt for a while for training and proper integration into the operations. The company paid me a huge amount for temporary relocation.

Meanwhile the job is taking me back to the capital city (My preferred location) the new company is a lot nicer, better structured, people are nicer. For years I had been trying to get a supply contract with one of the international oil companies in Nigeria but to no avail. Last month we were invited to put in a bid. Last week we were asked to come for negotiations.

Just like that. Gods been awesome. People have called me to say they will pay for one thing or the other in my wedding.

My personal engineering company also has signed a contract with a major oil producing company and is in the process of signing another one with the biggest oil producing company in Nigeria.

Things that just never happened to me are just happening so quickly now. I bless the name of God…And this is why I say everyday: Praise be to God the Father of Light from whom all good things come. I am so excited.

I am sharing this so someone will be encouraged, whatever challenge you may be going through, our God is an awesome God, He is with you, He never leaves nor forsakes, He will see you through and He WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU. He will cause all things to work out for you. Just keep praising and holding on to Him.”

Another one of our volunteers, my wife Lyn, looked cancer right in the eye two years ago. She never flinched, but kept on encouraging others, as God’s Spirit was assuring her: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10, NIV)

Just after her recovery from a painful surgery, she was inspired to write a book entitled “Aboard God’s Train: A Journey with God Through the Valley of Cancer.” In the book, she shares her testimonial about how God helped her through this cancer walk. She was amazed when a publisher in Great Britain offered to publish her book (https://www.facebook.com/aboardGodsTrain?ref=hl), and soon testimonies like this one came forth:

“The most recent feedback was from a non-Christian man whose unwell wife had read the book; revised her commitment, thereby becoming obedient to God and consequently forgiving her husband since his matrimonial transgressions involving another woman. By virtue of her forgiving him, he read the book and has decided to commit himself to the Lord. So……. nothing to do with cancer, just a lady in hospital (in SA) reads the book, resulting in converting her husband and restoration of a broken marriage. Thank you, Lyn. Thank you Jesus.” Tony, Sable Publishing House.

Nothing can faze us when we realize that God’s Spirit is within us. We have become overcomers, with just one goal in life: To love like Jesus does. This is why we are here! After all, we are the salt of the earth (See Matthew 5:13)!

Are you an overcomer as well?

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Alive” devotional series, please click here.)