We are seeing acts of terror on American soil and evil across the land. Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy. It was too late for the Titanic because the warnings were ignored. America is being warned to stand up and turn back to God.

With the deep needs prevalent across America and the nations, we have the opportunity to go deeper in prayer and share the love of Christ. You and I have the opportunity to be the change we want to see in the world. The Church (the Body of Christ—all believers) must take her rightful place and be a place of prayer if we want to see this nation turn back to God. 

When leadership compromises biblical values, principles and morals, there is always confusion.   With the war of words across the media, and a state of confusion across America, you can see a trend—and it is ruining the nation. It is evident that leadership has compromised because there is confusion in almost every area. However, we live in the greatest time yet—a time of darkness, where the light of God shines brightest. We have some of the greatest opportunities to point people back to God. 

Unless there is a change for good, our kids and grandkids will grow up in a nation that is full of chaos and no foundation in God with the attack on religious freedom. Unless you build your house on the solid foundation of God, it will fail. When a married couple builds their home on a foundation of God, even when the storms in life come, they will stand strong through the adversity. 

God calls each of us to leave a legacy of knowing Him and making Him known. We are to teach our children about God, tell them about what He has done in our lives, discipline and instruct them so they will know God for themselves, and ultimately, grow up to do the same. (See Deuteronomy chapter 6)

I have got Good News…..we need more than a leader on our road to freedom. We need a Savior, His name is Jesus—and He keeps on saving. He is inviting us to seek His face. We seek God’s face by turning from our sin and turning toward Him. 

The real solution for America is spiritual not political. We need a solemn assembly, a gathering of unified believers leading to a much needed revival—before it is too late. 

We need a revival of true relationship with Jesus Christ—not religion. The prescription for healing for America is a biblical approach of returning to God. We are at the midnight hour—and must turn to God as a nation that will shatter the idols in this land that have destroyed families, marriage, and hijacked our worship. May God shake the church back to the foundation of prayer and fasting, and awaken our hearts again. 

After September 11th, everyone gathered for prayer. Churches were filled—for about three weeks—and life appeared to return to normal. However, it didn’t. 

If we want our lives to function as God our Creator intended, we must stop neglecting the spiritual and integrate with the social at every level. God will not negotiate His standards for anyone. He desires that we place ourselves under the authority of His Word. God doesn’t want us to conform to what the rest of the world is doing. However, the church is accommodating to the culture. 

God’s church must return to prayer where we experience His power that brings change—not performance, people-pleasing, and striving for position. 

The present society and world systems have redefined morality, commitment, marriage, and priorities. Manipulation and mixture have crept into the church and God is warning His people to turn back to Him in prayer and fasting.

Right in the middle of 2 Chronicles 7:14, “Then,” God says, “I will hear from heaven.” This means we must turn to Him and fulfill His conditions and come on His terms, not our own. Then, God will hear us—and not until then. 

How can we change anything in America? The way we change it is by having new people in government, public education, and in the media—who are going to represent Jesus Christ and His standards. It is time that believers stand up because the political realm is a legitimate sphere of influence for those who are called. 

God wants people who love Him, who will commit themselves to Him personally, in their marriage and family, and then step out to advance His kingdom by penetrating the culture for Him. 

Nehemiah is a biblical example of such a person. Now, are you going to sit back any longer and watch our culture fall apart? The promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is an awesome promise, but will take the kind of prayer that takes priority in our schedules. We must choose to reclaim lives, marriage, families, and this nation for God. 

Take time to read the Book of Nehemiah. If the church is going to help restore this nation, we must put God first. Church congregations must come together in a solemn assembly (see Joel 1:14) to repent and seek God’s face in prayer. 

While repentance and faith are requirements for salvation, obedience is the fruit. Will you be obedient to pray and seek God’s face on behalf of your marriage, family, and nation?

The spiritual foundation of America is crumbling fast—political action won’t stop the erosion—and money won’t stop it either. 

God is willing to forgive and heal our land if we will humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. When we do this, God can turn the course of America around. Will you pray?

Take time to read my latest book: THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?). It is a must read for every pastor, leader, and individual who wants to see our foundation in God restored. 

 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. 

DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

www.starministriesinc.com

Have you ever felt like if you heard the phone ring one more time, if you didn’t have five minutes of quiet time, or if you didn’t get a much needed vacation that you were going to come unglued or lose it? Lose what? Have you ever felt like screaming? Come on now! If you’re feeling like you are about to come unglued, that is a clue to unplug for rest and refreshing. 

You may own your own business, work from home, spend endless hours on flights, to dashing off to important business meetings, but no matter what you do in life, you are still highly valuable to God first and foremost. What you do is not who you are—and your body needs rest.

Women spend lots of time pouring out, pouring ourselves into others, while doing seven or eight things at once. One minute you are at the hospital bedside of someone you love, to rearranging your calendar to see people that matter to you. Life is full of unexpected things that can happen to anyone—both men and women alike.  

I was recently on the phone with someone and my husband called from the grocery store several times, the doorbell starting ringing and it was a friend standing there with a homemade cake, our dog (Beau) was barking, Mother was telling me what kind of cereal she needed from the grocery, and the other phone starting ringing. Juggling a variety of responsibilities can be a strain.

Life can get hectic and by the time the day is gone, you can feel exhausted while falling into bed about midnight with a neck ache. Does anybody understand what I am talking about? Or, what if you’ve finally made it to bed, the kids are sound asleep, your husband is still awake and he asks you if you are tired at midnight. What about the scenario of being asleep and the sound of the family dog throwing up that wakes you at 2 AM in the morning and you never go back to sleep. These are real days.

While women are entrepreneurs to stay-at-home moms, many juggle responsibilities that in any ordinary day can be exhausting. Life is full of stressors and times of great enjoyment. You may be walking on the beach, fishing with your family on a camping trip, walking on the red carpet at a resort, nursing a sick baby back to health, or dealing with cancer treatments. Life has lots of surprises and challenges—and you need to know how to respond to them all. You must choose to respond rather than reacting by following your emotions that can send your life going downhill at warp speed. 

It is vital that you reflect, remember, and take time to replenish yourself in the midst of days like these. You must stand back, take a deep breath and stop allowing everything around you to control you. 

You don’t have to lose anything, or even come unglued. You can run to Jesus and find rest in Him. Take time to open the pages of your Bible and choose an additional quiet time, even if it has to be in the restroom or in the bathtub. 

With kids knocking on the doors of young mothers, to the phone ringing and work to be done, all need rest and refreshing. Jesus calls us not only to serve but also to rest. You must choose to stop and allow God to fill you with His love and power in order that you can pour into your family, your work, and your ministry. 

Jesus is calling you to come away to a quiet place—a time of rest, even while there are endless items on your THINGS TO DO list. He invites you to a quiet place of rest.

Think about what that looks like in your life. Do you take time for yourself to spend at the feet of Jesus, basking in His Presence, and finding solace in His Word? You may think you can miss quiet time, but by the end of the day it may begin to unravel. Take time to spend with God. Take time to meet a friend for a cup of coffee or lunch. Take time for yourself—away from the chaos of life. 

“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” (Mark 6:30-31 NLT).

You must take time for yourself with the Lord—in a quiet place. If you don’t choose to come apart to spend time with Him, you may feel like you are coming apart. 

How will you respond?

DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

Books by Deborah Starczewski:

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed, and Know Your Purpose)

 A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days at the Mercy Seat) 

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)

All books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.; visit www.starministriesinc.com for additional information and resources.

Pain comes in many shapes and sizes—it may be a hot flash to a total meltdown for some. It may be the pain from not seeing a child to losing one. It may be seeing an adult child making wrong choices to a number of real challenges that we can face in life. Pain for you may be the loss of a spouse, friend, or family member. It may be the memory of kneeling at an airport for a last kiss from someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Another’s pain may be feeling like they want to kill someone for destroying their family with an affair, to the pain of not knowing if a son or daughter will make it home from the military. 

Criticism is another thing that can produce pain—and we would do well to remember this: The words of another person that are critical are a reflection of what is inside their heart—not yours. Don’t allow criticism to crush your spirit. 

Pain is very real—and not many understand it until they’ve been there. Pain eventually comes to all. Pain comes with disappointment and anger. Anger is always buried alive and will always resurrect itself. Learn how to deal with what caused the anger–the root cause of which is unmet expectations and unresolved issues. 

In the midst of pain, God is with us. While pain is real, God’s peace is more real. 

Our pain positions and aligns us in need of God. When we choose to turn to God, even in the midst of despair, we will find healing, hope, and a heart to reach out to others. We are positioned and empowered to lead others out of the depths of pain into their God-given purpose and to share the love of Christ. It is in our deepest pain where we discover our purpose. 

“God’s Priceless Treasure” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. and will help you understand and give you practical ways of moving from pain to purpose. 

Failure does not make any of us a failure. Learn how to overcome challenges, be transformed, and know your God-given purpose.

Even in the midst of pain, you may be the person who likes to have the last word—you can say “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you.”

God’s Word has the final say over whatever you are facing. God has the final word over your life. Choose to trust Him. Make the choice to turn to Him and allow His love to sweep over your heart for healing and to position you into divine alignment—where everyday life can become an amazing adventure. You can make it with God. 

Choose to have an amazing day….knowing God has a good plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Deborah Starczewski

 *(This blog previously appeared in God’s Priceless Treasure, published by Creation House Press/Charisma Media 2010.)