Godly fear equips us to handle life God’s way—and everything that comes with it. From abundance, resources, to betrayal. Godly fear moves a person to immediate obedience…even when everyone else is doing something that the world calls okay—but God calls sin. 

Abraham obeyed God instantly, even when it didn’t make sense to him, when it was extremely painful, and with no promised benefits—but Abraham still went the distance. He obeyed God. 

Obeying God is one of the necessary steps in receiving God’s greatest blessings—and the most critical in the Christian life. It always blesses others, and we will never be disappointed in God. 

Abraham’s focus was not on abundance—but on the fear of the Lord. Focusing on the wrong thing can also open doors and even success—but may very well silence what God is saying to your heart, and even desensitize you to His voice, warnings, and last instruction. 

Immediate obedience is the outward evidence of a heart that loves and fears the Lord. When we fear God, we will obey Him instantly, when it doesn’t make sense to our natural minds, when we don’t see benefits, even if it hurts, and to the finish line. 

God asked Abraham to do what most people might say is unthinkable. God instructs Abraham to sacrifice the greatest promise of his life; the one he had waited on for many years. And guess what? God didn’t explain it to him either. 

We must learn to see the beauty and benefit of obeying God. Abraham went the distance through three days of travel. Abraham didn’t have the written Word—the Bible—like we have today to give him encouragement. 

Abraham obeyed God—climbs the mountain, builds the altar, ties Isaac (his promised son) up, and is about to thrust the knife into his son’s heart. Suddenly, an angel appears and cries out: “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12).

The angel knew Abraham feared God because he obeyed immediately. Godly fear moves us to obedience and equips us to handle God’s blessings here on earth. “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, was very different from Abraham. His heart was out of sync with God’s heart. On one particular day, a wealthy woman chose to pour an entire bottle of expensive perfume on Jesus. Judas was outspoken and indignant in his approach to her—and called her behavior “foolish.” 

“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor,” he said (John 12:5 NLT). His worldly thinking, reasoning, and logical comment was persuasive to the other disciples—as they too went along with the crowd to condemn her actions. 

It’s never wisdom to go along with the crowd. We must learn to hear the voice of God and obey Him. 

Jesus corrected Judas by saying, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing a good thing to me?…This woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Mark 14:6, 9 NLT). We can see that Jesus identified her action as good and lasting, while Judas judged her behavior as bad and fleeting. Judas was not thinking correctly and his discernment was way off. 

Judas went on to betray the Son of God—Jesus. However, once Jesus was condemned to die, Judas realized he was wrong and hung himself. His worldly, warped thinking and his plan of action did not accomplish what he thought it would. 

Abraham and Judas clearly demonstrate the difference between a person who fears God and one who does not. Abraham operated in discernment—while Judas operated in deception. 

The outcomes of these two mens lives were drastically different. We each need a pure heart that is quick to obey God. Without a pure heart, the enemy can cloud the mind through the world system, what everyone is doing, and improper heart motives. 

When we cry out to God and love the Lord, we want to hear what He has to say. He reveals all hidden truth and shows us things to come. While we may experience betrayal in this life, we will surely know we have been warned by God. Never ignore the warnings and nudges from the Holy Spirit (or checks in your spirit). 

Your obedience to God—from small to big things—will reveal where you are presently. Don’t cruise along in life—until one day it is too late. God sends small checks in our spirits to warn us of impending danger. Don’t allow your conscience to be seared through desensitization by the things of the world. “Things nor abundance” are wrong in themselves, it is when they turn into greed and selfishness that it is sin. 

This world is not our home—we are passing through. Choose to know God and make Him known. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord is respect, awe, and submission to God. 

There is nothing more important in life than maintaining godly fear. Pray and ask God to open your eyes to see yourself the way He sees you—and to see others the way God sees them. Every person is highly valuable to God. Everyone is level at the cross of Jesus Christ. 

So, how will you be remembered? As one who would sell others out for worldly comfort, convenience, pleasures, and gain—or one who obeys God at all costs and immediately. 

Choose to seek Godly wisdom and the fear of the Lord. You will never regret that choice. 

Oh…how God loves you!

HIS love and mine, 

Deborah 

BOOKS BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI

GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed and Know Your Purpose)….. how to move from drama to destiny, pain to purpose, and a mess to a message.

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)…the full account of God’s divine intervention, resurrection power, and miracles on a daily basis….you will be changed forever.

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)… a must read for every leader.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors

SHIFT HAPPENS (Anthology – with other authors – available on Amazon—-click on Dr. Deborah Starczewski

You have probably sat on the sidelines to watch your favorite football team. You may watch the big game from your sofa or meet at a local restaurant and enjoy friends and food together. But there is a bigger war–between good and evil–that is happening all around us…and it is way too late to sit on the sidelines. 

With all eyes on the presidential debate, it is important that we are open to see the truth. This is probably the most pivotal election of all time. The only other election that takes precedence over all, is the one that matters for all eternity–being born-again from above through Jesus Christ. God wants all people saved. It is not His will that any should perish. 

Instead of assuming and attacking each other, we must rally together in prayer and unity to take a stand for righteousness. Success in life doesn’t matter very much where there is no safety. 

“I ask You, God, to wrap your arms of love around the families and friends of all who have lost loved ones in this war—-right here in America. I decree blind eyes open and light where there is darkness.”

There is always something you don’t know in every situation. Instead of being critics, may we use our voices to cry out to God for all people in this nation. It’s not hard to tell that America is on a moral decline at a high rate of speed. With terror in the streets, and needless casualties of a real war…it is the midnight hour, and we must take a stand.

One man–Elijah–took a stand. He defeated the prophets of Baal. Samson had a come back and destroyed more enemies in his death than he did in his lifetime. Delilah forgot to keep the scissors handy…and Samson’s hair began to grow again. He had a Covenant with God. 

A nation divided will not stand. Satan uses evil tactics to sow division and discord in a nation, in its leaders, in the family, in the church, and in the workplace. He poisons the minds of all who will take his bait. His mode of operation is to create strife and to cause everyone to fight against each other. It’s much like a Trojan Horse…in war..that destroys from within. Satan’s agenda is destruction. 

It’s time to take a stand…for righteousness. If one man named Elijah can make a difference, you can. Jesus used one little boy’s basket lunch to feed a multitude. Whatever we place in God’s hands, He multiplies. 

“Lord, I pray, the Holy Spirit draws us back to YOU as a nation. May revival fires fill every single heart to create a changed life that sparks revival fires in others across the nations.”

We are here on earth to stand beside each other, help when it is in our power to do so, squeeze a hand and listen intently to someone who is grieving, and to be a person who is so empty of self, but alive in Christ, that we feel the other person’s pain and are moved to tears and action like Jesus. 

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will American Turn Back To God?) is a must read for every leader, every pastor, and every person who cares about the next generation to come. God’s Word is coming to pass before our eyes and with all the signs from Heaven we could be the generation that sees the return of Christ! We are called to occupy….to be about the Father’s business…..till Jesus comes! We are called to live like Jesus may come back today, and plan for the future…because no one knows the day or the hour of His return. 

We are not here to be entertained but to live in God’s power and advance His kingdom here on earth. America’s problem is sin–and the remedy is Jesus Christ! 

God wants to use you to advance His purposes and give you a future that is good. God used a man who committed murder (Moses) to lead His people out of slavery, a shepherd boy (David) to kill a giant and he became king, a virgin (Mary) to give birth to our savior Jesus, and a common fisherman (Peter) to lead His church. A man named Saul who had believers murdered, (now Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus) was the most prolific writer of the New Testament.  If God can use all those mentioned above, God can use you and me!

 *(Excerpt from THE MIDNIGHT HOUR…published 2015). 

Pray with me daily:  God, I thank YOU for frustrating all evil plots and all ungodly counsel. I thank You God that the Holy Spirit reveals ALL hidden truth and shows us things to come. Father God, use me in your purposes here on earth. 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”(Ephesians 2:10). 

RESOURCES FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

The Midnight Hour (Will America Turn Back To God?)

God’s Priceless Treasure (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed And Know Your Purpose)

A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)….a modern day miraculous story

www.starministriesinc.com

Books available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Books Distributors, etc. 

The difference between success and significance is as vastly different as pride to humility. How our lives impact others is far more reaching than just here on earth—but in the light of eternity. If you have ever watched the movie..WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE…you will see how our lives are like a beautiful tapestry, knit together by the hand of God. When we begin to see what God sees, we start to connect the dots and see the hand of God at work behind the scenes, making an impact on souls. We touch the lives of everyone we meet—leaving some kind of impression. What kind of impression are you leaving?

When someone doesn’t do something like you think they should, do you mock, laugh, joke, and ridicule? Or, do you recognize that everyone is unique and individually gifted in different ways—where all are necessary in the Body of Christ? What is your heart response?

Do you take the time to get to know people, or are you too busy to stop and notice? People matter to God and they must to us as well. 

Begin to pray Ezekiel 36:26 in order for God to change your heart to be more like His. We are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ or either becoming more like the world. 

God sent His Son Jesus to deliver us from this present world system. We are not intended to become like what God sent His Son to deliver us from…something to think about today.

(Excerpt from GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE, by Deborah Starczewski, published Sept. 2011)…available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

Resources for spiritual growth and encouragement:

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

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

Books by Deborah Starczewski