Since committing our lives to Christ, we have not had to deal with the temptation of drinking, smoking, cussing (maybe a few times – only kidding), lying, or many other weakness of the flesh. It’s not that we have been without struggles. Being born again, they are just not a temptation for us and we have recognized there are just some things better left untouched.

Living in this world, there are many things we have to deal with in which we have no control – i.e. advertisements. While we may have no say in where they are placed, once we visually see their message – if bad – we do have the ability to make a conscious decision not to meditate or stare at them. We are continuously bombarded with faith-challenging TV commercials and sitcoms pressing the boundaries of what is at the core of our faith. While we may have been drawn in with great episodes, once they cross the line, we have made the choice to quit watching and change the channel at the first hint of impropriety. We have walked out on movies at the theater – even though we had taken the time and paid quite a bit of money for the opportunity – it’s just not worth it.

When it comes to our eating habits and controlling our weight, we have determined that there are just some things we do not need to buy at the store. We cannot buy “Cadbury mini eggs” (at Easter) 🙂 – they are better left on the shelf for someone else – we have no self-control in that department. In the battle of the bulge – we just can’t do it. Keeping a few lower calorie snacks helps us to appease that sweet craving without being out of control. We really try to watch what we keep in the house to eat. If we don’t have it, there is no temptation to eat it.

While we rely on Holy Spirit to be our compass on those things that are detrimental to us, we recognize there are just common sense decisions we can make so He won’t have to intervene. We try not to put ourselves in compromising or questionable positions. We know that one of the fruits of the Spirit is “self control” -we have come to realize that in a world where there is almost no control – we need to demonstrate it  – sometimes that entails avoiding or walking away from tempting situations.

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

Apostle Ball taught many messages on “a Spirit-filled life will cause you to be like the wind.” Our lives should not be stagnant, routine, or predictable. We should keep the enemy on his toes, always wondering what we are doing. We should keep him on edge and unable to keep his “fiery darts” steady – hindering them from hitting their mark – us. We are not talking about being reckless and irresponsible – in fact – we ought to be the ones who are most responsible and dependable. You can absolutely be unpredictable, yet steadfast and unshakable.

There have been many studies about the benefits of changing your routine regularly on just the natural level. It’s like an adrenalin rush to your brain to try to do everyday activities differently – i.e. brush your teeth with your opposite hand; drive to work a different way; try new cuisine. If it causes our brains to have to scramble and keep up, imagine the turmoil we cause the enemy when we switch things up naturally and spiritually.

Holy Spirit has inspired us to give away some things unexpectedly. He has spoken to us to change our vacation plans and sow that time as seed into others.  He has challenged us to do some things differently – because they have become routine. We have learned to have open minds and open hearts – to be willing to change and be changed.

If you find yourself in a rut; if you find that your days follow the exact same routine; if you have become stagnant and bored, start small and change a few things. If you listen to music all the time, switch up and read a book. A good start would be to spend time sowing to the Spirit. Holy Spirit is ready, willing and able to inspire, incite and challenge us to become “like the wind.”

Something we have realized throughout our Kingdom walk is that, as much as we have experienced so far, Yahweh is so much more. Most people see Yahweh as a far off; limited in His ability; waiting for someone to mess up so He can punish them; elusive; or detached. To us, He has been a faithful father – generous, interested, funny, kind, and insightful. We believe that Yahweh is for us and, if allowed, wants to infuse, infiltrate and saturate us to equip us to rule and reign on this earth. He so wants us to join Him and walk out a life full of purpose. When we begin to see the magnanimous response from Yahweh to our yielding of the most basic principles, we will begin to see that His vision of redeeming the earth is not only plausible, but also overwhelmingly inevitable with committed and faithful sons.

When you think about the process of salvation – we give up just our natural life – in return – Christ comes to abide in us and all the resources of heaven by Holy Spirit are made available to us. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory…” Ephesians 3:20

When you think about the tithe and offering – we give our 10% (tithe) and sow our offerings. Yahweh’s measure back: “Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over…” Luke 6:38 “And try Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10

In every area of life, as we have yielded ourselves to Yahweh, He has so overtaken us with blessing, favor and life. We so want each reader’s faith to be increased as well as their view and estimation of who Yahweh wants to be in their life. When we begin to understand that our obedience – even in the smallest measure – is met with a more generous heavenly response, we will begin to demonstrate to this world a life abundant.

After weathering storms and tribulations in life, we are sometimes tempted to temper our hopes, dreams and visions. After all – the way we thought it would happen only brought disappointment when things didn’t work out. Sometimes we question our ability to hear and our interpretation of confirming signs. Did we believe for too much? Does this world’s system really have the ability to deny the provision and blessing of Yahweh? OR Could our dreams have been too small and Yahweh’s purpose and plan for us bigger than we can fathom right now?

If there is one thing that we have learned over these 27 years – it is that Yahweh is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 A quote from Apostle Ball’s book “Quotes from a modern day Apostle” sums up what Holy Spirit is stirring in us at this time. “I think the great shame, the great reproach upon us, is that we do not ask abundantly. We do not ask in an exaggerated way. Yahweh is wanting to do more. He is wanting to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think. So if we can think it, it is not too much. If we can dream it, it is not too much. Not many of us are in danger of overstepping the bounds by asking for too much. Most of us are not pushing the limits.” (Page 9)

If we are to redeem all that has been lost, stolen, or given away – we need to think big. We need to set our face in the morning, employ our ministering angels, and petition our helper – the Holy Spirit – to give us good ideas, favor and provision for our day. We need to declare the awakening of the earth’s resources to come to our aid. We need to set ourselves to be Yahweh’s tools of redemption for a lost people, government for a chaotic earth, and strength for a mighty revolution for Yahweh’s Glory to be revealed in us!!!

Part 2 of previous post.  Something we blogged about earlier and that Apostle Ball repetitively emphasized was the importance of being thankful. When we are in the crux of the battle – rehearsing all the good things and being thankful for all the great people in our lives – brings us “out of the fog” and into a state of faith and hope. We find that our spirit becomes more aligned with His Spirit and once again our resolve is renewed and our confidence boosted. The situations may not immediately change, but our perspective does. We believe that the times we have truly looked deep and chose to be thankful – even in the midst of despair – we have accelerated “through” the circumstances. Remember – situations will come to pass – how long it takes maybe up to us.

We love how Yahweh will so confirm what He is speaking. We saw this interview of a gentlemen named John Kralik – here is an excerpt from his website for his book (http://365thankyounotes.com/book-simple-act-of-gratitude.php):

“A Simple Act of Gratitude is a book that tells the story of an inspiration, the writing of 365 Thank You Notes, and how my life was changed by the people who received them.

In December 2007, I had reached what I viewed as a nadir in my life. While my life seemed full of debts and disasters, I ached for the things and the security I felt I deserved. On January 1, 2008, as this dissatisfaction pervaded my thoughts, I took a walk in the mountains above Pasadena, where I was inspired to write one thank you note a day for the next year.

Although it took more than a year to complete the writing of 365 thank-you notes, I continued writing them until 365 were completed. And then kept on. I learned to be grateful for the life I had, recognizing that the love I had for my children made my life already richer than the many people I envied. I learned to be grateful for my law firm, my practice, and for the love of friends and family that surrounded me. I became thankful for the many people around me who dealt with challenges far greater than the ones facing me, with courage and style. I learned to recognize the many people in my life who had protected and cared for me.

A Simple Act of Gratitude tells the story of how all these things happened, and could be traced to the willingness to be grateful, in fact to the grace I received from writing 365 thank you notes.”

We have not read the book yet, but were so inspired by the lengths he went to find something to be thankful for. He talked of being thankful for the barista at Starbucks who knew his name and prepared his coffee. We know that we all can find something to be thankful for – let’s divert our thoughts and attention in that direction – we many soon find our battles won and no scars on us.

Over the last 27 years a pattern has emerged.  Inevitably, before we are overtaken with incredible blessing from Yahweh, the enemy sends a barrage of attacks to rob our peace, finances and hopes. He wants to try to disqualify us from being overtaken with the provision from the Father with bitterness, anger, and frustration – his only weapons. The blessing of Yahweh can only be stopped by our own unbelief and it is our choice to stand and remain that will enable us to persevere through and claim what is rightfully ours. So many believers give up and in just before their greatest gifts and rewards are received. When we begin to understand that the enemy cannot keep the blessing of Yahweh from us – he can only persuade us to disqualify ourselves – we will meet each challenge with the courage and resolve to maintain our course and be steady on.

It’s during these times that we have learned some of these attacks are not as bad as they appear to be at first. As the dust has settled, what seemed to be catastrophic has turned out to be somewhat manageable. At times, the first words we have received – we take “with a grain of salt” (skeptical) – as the scenario is played out – the picture has always changed. Whatever the battle has cost – when we come through – the expenditure has always been reimbursed and abundance added on. Yahweh is all about – “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over” Luke 6:38.

In order to redeem all that has been lost, stolen, or given away, we will have to be able to endure the bullying tactics of the enemy. As we position ourselves faithful over all he sets our hands to do, we can stand confident in Him. He has given us His Holy Spirit – so we are not alone. Let us have clean hands, pure hearts, resolve of spirit, confidence, passion, steadfastness, and endurance.