This article is a guest-post by my new friend Kim D’Souza from Mumbai, India. She usually shares her wisdom on her Blog “Olivedose” (check it out!). You can find out more about her in the Author Bio below this post. If you’re interested in becoming a guest author on the Revival Lifestyle Blog, you can find out more here. Make sure to leave a comment below and Kim will get back to you!
Update: Nik obviously read the article himself and liked it, so keep reading:
Until June 15, Nik Wallenda was an unknown name to many. Not anymore. Nik, an American high wire artist, has become the first person to walk on a two-inch tightrope through the mist over the dangerous Niagara Falls Gorge, 150 feet above the falls, a feat never before attempted! About a dozen other tightrope artists have crossed the Niagara Gorge downstream, but no one had walked directly over the falls, and authorities hadn’t allowed any tightrope acts in the area since 1896.
Here is a video excerpt of Nik’s historic walk:
Nik, a born-again believer, confessed that it never would have happened if not for his faith in Jesus. “I believe in a thing called unmerited favour. I believe doors were opened for me that weren’t opened for others and doors that were slammed were reopened.”
“I pray and I talk to God a lot and I find peace in that. That’s how I can remain calm when people would think I could go nuts during this whole process,” he adds.
Here are 10 lessons that believers can learn from Nik, when walking their faith walk and fighting the good fight:
1. Keep on walking
In Nik’s words: People say I’m insane all the time, but I love what I do. Many times when you are walking on the path of Jesus, people may not understand you. They may call you names or even think you are crazy–crazy to believe, crazy to act different, crazy to hold on. That’s when you do what Nik did—love what you do and keep on keeping on.
2. Pray more; Pray together
The Wallenda family prayed together moments before Nik got on the wire. Prayer is, and will always remain, the most important key to your success. And praying with those who are one in mind with you and believe in you is even more powerful! I loved what the Wallenda family did as soon as they prayed—they hustled to the Canadian side of the Falls so they could be there at the end of his walk. They believed in his success even before he started his walk!
3. Walk by faith, when you can’t see
Post his stunt, Nik confessed: While walking, the hardest thing was the thick mist, swirling wind and not being able to see. Often there will be challenging times in your journey with Jesus, when your eyes may not be able to see the way ahead of you. The wind will hit you hard, the mist may block your way, but then that’s these are the times you got to walk by faith and not by sight, and isn’t God pleased with faith?
4. It’s not just mental
Nik reminded everyone that it’s not just mental, it’s physical. The battle that you fight is spiritual, but that doesn’t mean you neglect your body, which is the temple of the living God. If Nik would not have trained his body for this feat, he would have drained himself physically before reaching the closing point. Unless you are strong physically, you will be at a disadvantage. So take care of your body by disciplining and training it.
5. Praise God beforehand
Nik was praising God the Father and Jesus as he walked over Niagara Falls. There is power in praise. It showcases your faith. Praise God even before you see yourself winning the challenge, knowing that God has already won it for you.
6. Lean on your father’s voice alone
Nik’s dad Terry Troffer was the only contact with him while he was on the wire. Similarly, walking the faith walk, let your heavenly father alone become your point in contact. All other voices need to get subdued. When you rely only on Your Father’s voice, He will not lead you astray. A Father’s voice is a voice of truth, guidance, encouragement and victory. When Nik told his dad he was worried about one of the pendulums hanging from the wire, Troffer reassured him “You’re going to be fine. At another point he encouraged Nik saying, “You’re looking good. You need to relax a little.”
7. Always set new goals
Nik has inspired millions, and while the world was running after him, he had already set his mind on his next goal: To walk across the Grand Canyon in Arizona, roughly three times longer than the walk over Niagara Falls. As believers, let’s not rest and hatch upon our past spiritual victories. Let’s set new goals and keep walking.
8. See yourself win, before you even start
Nik envisioned the walk in his mind decades before he actually did. He first set eyes on Niagara Falls at six years old and made crossing the cataracts on a tightrope his lifelong dream. “This is something I’ve played over and over in my mind for the past 20 years,” he says. There is power when you imagine and receive your victory beforehand. Dream yourself in that winning spot in your spiritual battle; see it over and over again, and as you think in your heart, so shall you will be.
9. If need be, keep the tether on
Hours before Nik’s walk, the spotlight was focused on whether he would keep his safety harness, that will connect him to the cable should he fall. Nik has never worn the tether ever before in his previous stunts and he was hesitant. But there were some obligations and he gave himself an out, provided he will unhook only if directed to do so by his father, who designed the harness. Get the point? Keep yourself open to God’s leading. Sometimes you got to act on the rules of the world. Though you may not like it, God may have a purpose in that too.
10. Never give up
The feat looked impossible. No one had ever done it before. Due to untoward incidents before, a ban had been in place on similar stunts over the famed Falls. It was easy for Nik to give up. But this is what he says: “I always tell people that what my great-grandfather passed on from generation to generation- don’t give up.”
And when you finish your race, like Nik’s dad said, this is what your heavenly father will say to you: I’m very proud of you. I’m thrilled you made it to the other side.
Question: Did you get inspired by what Nik achieved? What other points can you add?
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About Kim D'Souza
