Thrusting Against Negative Forces

By Dr. Belinda Ball

Thrusting Against Negative Forces is a well-written journal that encourages everyone that we all can live peacefully and wrapped in love if we build our spiritual character. To take a step back and evaluate your thoughts and write them down, demonstrates a level of accountability and grants the ability to correct your inner flaws. I feel inspired to live a better life than the one I’m currently living simply because I know I am deserving of the great life God has planned for me. I highly recommend this to anyone, as you’ll gain a new perspective to your surroundings and then begin to work on your spiritual fitness.
Reading through each page has been like a discovery because I was able to be more aware of certain situations which were mentioned that exist in my own life. This book is extremely relatable and will immediately capture you from the first couple of pages. Even though this has been formatted as a daily spiritual journal, I learned that each day, whether when you first wake up or before going to sleep to give God what troubles us. By doing this exercise, we clear our hearts, soul, and mind from all negative forces and carry on in our lives feeling lightweight. It allows you to acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, giving them a level of validation - and that it is important will bring you closer to God. There’s so much that I have taken away from this book and will begin applying this into my life.
—Rae C. Bernard, Pacific Book Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781532056475

Dr. Belinda Ball

Dr. Belinda Ball earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s degree in gerontology, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, and a PhD in clinical Christian counseling. She is a trainer for the state and trains for the National Organization for Youth Services. Ball is also the author of A Look at Life Experience from the Brown Paper Sack.

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Copyright © 2019 Dr. Belinda Ball.

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-5646-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-5647-5 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 10/09/2019

Also by Dr. Belinda Ball

A Look at Life Experience from the Brown Paper Sack

This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of mental health professionals. Readers should regularly consult a mental health therapist and/ or mental health physician

in matters relating to their health and particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

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T itle: Thrusting Against Negative Forces

A uthor: Dr. Belinda Ball

P ublisher : iUniverse

I SBN: 9781532056475

G enre: Self-Help & Spirituality

R eviewed: Rae C. Bernard

P acific Book Re view

W e are, unfortunately, living in a world that feeds on negativity to strive and that is not a good way for anyone to live. As we’re all sinners, the majority of us are trying our best to become the good child God created us to be, one day at a time. For the rest of us who are possibly seeking a spiritual guide or a clear understanding of their life’s purpose, this book will be an eye-opener. As each day goes by, some people suffer more and more from the negative things that are happening to them. This would usually be the time where individuals tend to stray off the path to righteousness, which is completely understandable from a human’s point of view. What then happens is the decisions and actions performed out of desperation and anger only makes their circumstances worse. Both positive and negative energy must co-exist to maintain a universal balance, but it shouldn’t stop anyone from seeking just positivity to feed on? If there was a drastic shift of people embracing more positive forces, would the world finally be at a peaceful state? As a community of humankind, we have so much repenting, relearning, and growing to do in order to experience a world worth living during our temporary stay.

I n Thrusting Against Negative Forces , author Dr. Belinda Ball breaks down everything one could consider to be negative and how to overcome them. The strength within us was given by God, as our internal spirit, which allows us instant communication directly with our Father. Although we are all sinners, Dr. Ball doesn’t dwell on just negative behaviors, she goes into depth on spiritual methods we can use. Prayer has been the most popularly discussed topic and by reciting and including Bible verses for reference, which makes the reading experience more authentic. Not only is this a short read, but it’s also created in such a way that can be purposefully used as a daily spiritual journal. It is like a resourceful guide that would ensure you’re heading in the right direction and strengthening what Dr. Ball classified as our spiritual character. As Christians and those that believe in Jesus Christ, our main focus is to repair the damages of our sins by repenting, asking God for forgiveness; then work on changing our life around. It was great to read several pieces of advice with one being to give it to God and keep it movin’ because that’s something many of us forget to do. We’re carrying a weight that does not belong to us and it drags us down, greatly. Out of all negative forces described and discussed within this book, one interesting part stood out, which was when Satan tried tempting Jesus by telling him to throw himself from the highest point of the holy city temple. What Jesus said clearly points back to everyone who thinks playing with their own life is a joking matter. He said It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’, meaning don’t cry wolf or try to cheat with life because you never know when or how God will punish you. Understanding that mental illness is on the rise, the author not only encourages spiritual health but to also speaks with professionals to get your mental health treated. Our overall health is very important and this book clearly states that along with verses to aid your spiritual journey.

T hrusting Against Negative Fo rces

b y Dr. Belinda Ball

i Universe

b ook review by Barbara Bamberger Scott

We live in a society that is unpredictable and spiritually detrimental because of opposition to God’s laws.

T his guidebook contains journaling techniques for personal examination in times of struggle with temptation and wrongdoing. Author Ball has organized her message in three parts: exploring God’s spirit and its power, detailing the character of Satan, and offering suggestions for serving God in all aspects of life. She has created daily exercises that allow the reader to study a moral message or passage of biblical scripture and, for each, to record their conclusions in the sections titled My Situation, Pray about Thoughts and Feelings, and Action Plan. She vividly depicts Satan and his devious plans, while recommending practical means—a spiritual toolbox, a ninety-day plan for renunciation of specific sins—to defeat evil and find true joy rather than earthly, fleeting happiness.

B all writes with sincere conviction and considerable knowledge garnered from her career as a counselor with a particular emphasis on Christian values. She has composed several engaging parables: three pigs seeking counseling from a lion disguised as a pig; an overweight rabbit discoursing on breaking bad habits while chomping a carrot; and two Christians so immersed in basketball lore that they use sports metaphors to describe their religious convictions. She presents a variety of insights into human behavior based on her understanding of scripture, all with the goal of helping her readers disengage from self-destructive behaviors. The segment centered on Satan’s methods for exploiting human weakness is especially compelling. Ball’s wise and well-organized manual could serve as a guide for people at any stage of life and would make an excellent focus for Christian study groups.

© 2019 All Rights Reserved • The US Review of Bo oks

This review was written by a professional book reviewer with no guarantee that it would receive a positive rating. Some authors pay a small fee to have a book reviewed, while others do not. All reviews are approximately half summary and half criticism. The US Review of Books is dedicated to providing fair and honest coverage to all books.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

How to Use This Book

PART I — Properties to Inflating God’s Spirit

1. Embracing God’s Grace, Mercy, and Love

2. A Hope Worth Fighting For

3. Deflating the Power of Discouragement

4. Fear Is Conquered by Faith

5. Joy versus Happiness

6. The Gift of Forgiveness

PART II — Satan’s Systems and the Consequences of Serving a Deceiver

7. Welcome to the Eternal Lake of Fire (Satan Addresses the World)

Welcome to the Eternal Lake of Fire (The Play Scene Version)

8. The Awareness of Satan’s Tactics

9. Disastrous Ambition Produces a Fatal Ending

10. Idol Worshipping Produces the Root of Lethal Fruits

PART III — Benefits in Serving Jehovah God

11. Tools to Increase Self-Esteem as It Reflects a Miraculous Spiritual Do-Over

12. The