Balancing Life While Obeying God’s Will
By Deborah Ball
GOD has a plan and a purpose for every one of us. Not just Pastor’s, Apostles or those holding a Title, “ALL” of us do. I understand too well, how we all have to make a living. I am a single women and I am out in the work force as well. Like you I have a family, church, pets, many responsibilities and I have a full time Ministry. Not just in church, but out of the four walls of the church building.
I would like to share one of my favorite scripture’s and by the way, I LOVE the Amplified. The Amplified breaks it down its extreme, to the point and so am I! With that being said, “Jeremiah 29:11(AMP) For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Don’t you love it a, “HOPE for the future”
Everyone of us was created to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Your Pastor can’t be everywhere, so we are to share the Good News everywhere we plant our feet. Just like it says in Matthew 24:14 (AMP,) “And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end”.
Maybe you’re called to your community, or maybe like me you’re called to the Nations. Or, maybe you are to financially provide for those of us who have Ministries. Without finances, we are unable to do the Vision GOD stamped within our heart. Those of you who financially help are just as much a part of what we do and you will also reap a harvest from your financial gift.
GOD always starts you out in baby steps. I started out with something small. I started out in Choir at church. As GOD saw my faithfulness, He entrusted me with more. Luke 16:10 (AMP) He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. Remember: As it is in the physical so it is in the spiritual.
Many years and many Ministries later. I now have a Ministry in Lahore, Pakistan. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would have a Ministry in Pakistan.
I remember when GOD spoke to me about going to Pakistan. Let me say, GOD asks, but HE gives us the option to not only says, “NO”, but we also have the option to deny HIM. Salvation and making JESUS CHRIST, LORD is a, “CHOICE”
GOD is a gentleman not the tyrant that some make HIM out to be and regardless of whether you accept HIM or deny HIM HE loves us, “UNCONDITIONALLY”. That’s something most people can’t fathom. They don’t have a revelation of the depths and magnitude of HIS unwavering love. HE died for us, what more does HE need to do to prove HIS love?
It’s said so well in, “John 3:16 (AMP)
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life”.
Truthfully when GOD shared HIS perfect plan for my life, “Pakistan”, I cried, ferocious crocodile tears. No really I did. For two weeks and they were NOT tears of joy! Not because GOD was demanding it, like I said it’s, “OUR CHOICE” to make. I am just one of those people who feel like disobeying GOD, let alone, not walking out “HIS WILL” for me is NOT AN OPTION….PERIOD!
How was I to juggle all the responsibilities I already have and balance it with a Ministry? I already felt like I had a platter full. I am always a very involved person, how could I possible take on more? How would I start a Ministry on the other side of the world? I literally ask GOD, “are you crazy or what GOD”? I didn’t even know where to begin? The answer to everything? Wait, that’s it, in prayer of course and fasting was necessary for this one!
It was interesting how all of a sudden, so many from Pakistan were contacting me, asking me to help them or be part of their Ministry. It was a bit overwhelming at first. The devil will ALWAYS send his counterfeits, so SEEK GOD in ALL things and be prayerful for HIS direction. Even when GOD sent HIS choice I was put off, not trusting at first. My spirit was telling me this is the one. I even got Prophesies naming this person, but I was cautious. Listen to your spirit, it has great discernment!
After a few months of getting to know each other GOD revealed HIS PLAN using the two of us. We started fasting and praying together every week for GODS direction, wisdom and purpose.
What about my job, church, and the rest of the responsibilities in my life? They are still there. I had to prioritize things, weed out those things that did not connect with, “GODS PURPOSE”. Those things I call, “time killers”, like face book, TV, things that really have no purpose. You can do them just limit your time, have a plan and stick to it. If you mess up, repent and start over.
There are times when all this seems undaunting and overwhelming, so step back, take a deep breath and go to GOD….SERIOUSLY!!! GOD screws my head back on every time! HE re-directs me, gives me a right perspective of things. HE sees what I can’t see and HE makes things simple and plain.
Many people feel like in order to serve GOD you have to give up, “EVERYTHING” and it’s not true. I do feel like once you are plugged in to, “HIS PERFECT PLAN” for your life, your priorities will change. Things you once thought were important are no longer a priority.
My #1priority is to complete the Plan GOD has for my life. My life is not my own and my life is connected to a lot of lives, as is yours. Our lives are MUCH BIGGER than we are. If we don’t walk out GODS WILL all those people whose lives we are to touch, might go to hell, lives never changed. Maybe my influence will cause a child to become a world changer, the next Billy Graham? I am not willing to take that chance, are you?
You can balance it all. But NOT in your humanity, that I can promise you. You, “CAN NOT” do it in your own strength, or your knowledge, or your way or your will. Nor by your power as it says in, “Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
When you are walking out God’s will you have to give GOD the steering wheel, the control to walk out HIS MASTER PLAN, HE is the Author of your future, so how do YOU expect to know what HE has for you, if you don’t allow him full control? When you do it your way, you are telling GOD your know better and you are smarter than HIM. That is what HE told me when I was trying to do things my way. Talk about putting you in your place and bring you to humility. It was my pride and I was ashamed. I repented right there.
Do I try to go solo at times? Sure I do. That flesh tries to rear its ugly head at times, but God pulls in my reins. HE gets me back on track and I’m good to go again. I truly believe in the scripture, Philippians 4:13, “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. That is why I can do anything, because I can do ALL things through Christ!!! In JESUS I am limitless! Through HIM I can do what seems impossible. HE is the GOD of IMPOSSIBILITIES!!
What is my Ministry you ask? I have four schools that offer a free education, because an education is very costly in Pakistan. The poor and Christians are denied an education and without it, there is no hope for a future. We also have programs for orphans, widows, poor families, children where we feed, clothe, we provide school supplies, GODS WORD and lots of LOVE. We also bring the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, food, clothes and love to Villages in the outer extreme and desolate areas of Pakistan that have literally never heard of JESUS or the Bible.
GOD commands us in, “Matthew (NIV) the Great Commission 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Despite my everyday life GOD uses me to transform lives, disciple and especially to reach out to the children. Pakistan is the second largest Islamic Nation, yet the most extreme Islamic Nation in the world. It is home and the breeding ground for the majority of all terrorists groups. It is 95% Muslim, 3% Christian. JESUS is despised and making JESUS your LORD can cost you your life, literally. HE gave HIS life for us, so I figure I can give my life to and live it for HIM. HE is worth the cost and so are the lives HE uses me to impact.
My heart is HIS heart and my prayer is to touch the children to turn their hearts to JESUS and to raise up a MIGHTY Army for the LORD in a Nation who hates HIM. Through my schools these children have a, “HOPE FOR A FUTURE FOR HIS PURPOSE” generational curses and the spirit of poverty broken in JESUS NAME and through the work GOD has entrusted me with my heart is to make a significant impact in Pakistan for HIS NAME SAKE and to bring GLORY to HIS NAME!!
Now my question with all that being said, how can you deny HIM? How can you say GOD I am too busy? Don’t think, “I don’t have a title, who am I, and what could I possibly do”? Let me tell you as an ordinary, servant of the LORD. You can be a WORLD CHANGER if you just submit to HIS WILL and let GOD work out all the details. It’s as simple as that. We make things so hard, but GOD is so simple and so is HIS WAY. Follow HIM and obey HIS WILL. Let me tell you its GLORIOUS!!! No it’s not perfect, do you face opposition, is it difficult at times, do you feel like giving up at times, of course, but the rewards are GREATER and HE IS WORTH IT ALL!!!!