Inspiring Stories to help you beyond your circumstances DIRECT MY STEPS LORD
When any of us are stricken with some crushing pain, crisis, hardship, or trial and we don’t know what to do, it is paramount to remember the words of Jeremiah: “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23).
The absolute worst thing we can do in times of trouble is to make hasty decisions and to take whatever course of action seems easiest at the time. Remember, God has promised to lead us.
In 1 Samuel 30, David was in extreme duress and had wept till he had no strength left. All those with him did the same. You can read the story. Even those around him wanted to stone him, but David encouraged himself in the Lord, chose to worship, inquired of God and God gave David specific instructions. David obeyed and recovered all. (*Note: … those with him wanted to stone him and out of all of those men, David was the only one mentioned that turned to the Lord). Time doesn’t heal our wounds; it is in turning to the LORD where we find strength and help in times of trouble.
We must remember that our life is not our own, and that God has promised to lead us. I don’t know what you are facing, but God does. Turn to Him and He will give you direction. He will direct your steps. If you sense a small unsettling nudge in your heart, don’t ignore it. It may save your life and future.
You may be seeing injustice all around you and sense God nudging you to step out into a new career to be the change. You may be facing a business decision and need help from God and clarity. You may be deciding which job to take, where to move, or what church to connect with in a new city. One thing I know for sure, God will lead you. He will also connect you will people to help you succeed as a team.
HIS love and mine,
Deborah
BOOKS BY DR. 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 miraculous account of God raising my husband from death, healing him from two strokes, and two open-heart surgeries. The story will keep you turning the pages, give you encouragement, and increase your faith to believe God for whatever you are facing.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…a must read for all. A great devotional type read…the perfect gift for family, friends, and co-workers.
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors.
Contact Deborah at www.starministriesinc.com for speaking and ministry engagements.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
Many sincere seekers for God are puzzled about what God wants them to do. Man’s traditions and world’s religions are humankind’s attempts to answer this age old question. In John 6:22-29, Jesus’ reply to this question is simple: We must believe on Him whom God has sent.
The crowds began gathering on the shore, waiting to see Jesus. They knew that Jesus and His disciples had come over together and that the disciples had gone off in their boat, leaving Jesus behind. Several boats from Tiberius landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. When the crowd saw that Jesus wasn’t there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. When they arrived and found him, they asked, “Teacher, how did you get here?”
Jesus replied, “The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign. But you shouldn’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose.”
They replied, “What does God want us to do?”
Jesus told them, “This is what God wants you to do; Believe in the one he has sent.”
The first step is accepting that Jesus is who He claims to be. It’s imperative for our spiritual development to know who we are IN CHRIST and WHO HE IS.
Satisfying God does not come from the work we do but from whom we believe.
In this passage, Jesus criticized the people who only followed Him for the temporal and physical benefits and not for the satisfying of their spiritual hunger. In this world many are driven by ambition, prestige, power, and performance and use religion to gain prestige, comfort, or even political votes…which are all self-centered motives.
We must know in our hearts that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), and embark on our life and spiritual journey of belief that is pleasing and satisfying to our Creator. Jesus is the true Bread from heaven.
It’s not about a head knowledge, it’s a heart change. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. (See 1 Samuel 16:7)
If you keep on reading in John 6:30-40, we learn that Jesus did not work independently of God the Father but in union with Him. His purpose was to do the will of God, not to satisfy human desires.
People eat bread to sustain physical life and satisfy physical hunger. We can sustain spiritual life and satisfy spiritual hunger only by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not about man’s traditions or world’s religions; it’s about a relationship with Jesus Himself. There is no wonder Jesus called himself the Bread of Life.
Bread must be eaten to sustain life, and Jesus Christ must be invited into our daily walk to sustain spiritual life.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life—that I should raise them at the last day.”
Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ will be resurrected from physical death to everlasting life with God when Christ comes again (see 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
Oh, what a glorious day that will be.
If you have never been born-again, now is the time to believe on Jesus. It’s not too late while you have breath in your lungs. Cry out to Him now. He is waiting on you to receive the gift of eternal life through believing in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of God gives spiritual life. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, we cannot even see or recognize our need for new life (John 14:17). Thank GOD for the Holy Spirit……who convicts the world of sin.
Love,
Deborah Starczewski
Books for encouragement by Dr. 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 full account of God raising my husband from death, healing him from two strokes and two open-heart surgeries. The miraculous account will keep you turning the pages and give you faith to believe God for anything.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…. a must read for all.
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors
GOD HONORS HIS WORD….It’s resurrection time
I don’t know about you, but I know the enemy comes right before breakthrough to hinder, frustrate, distract, and to get you to operate in fear. The devil is a liar. Let me tell you, brothers and sisters, God raised my husband from the dead, healed him through two open-heart surgeries, healed him from two strokes…and he is still alive. (The full account is in my second published book: A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat).
Jesus is alive and He is seated at the right hand of the Father God, interceding for us that our faith will not fail. You pull yourself up, raise your hands high toward the heavens, and declare the Word of God with me now. Get up on your feet and praise the God of Heaven and Earth, the Creator of All! He wants to raise you up to represent Him in the earth! God honors His Word and it is Resurrection time!
Psalm 63
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory (Psalm 63:2)….
One Sunday morning during worship, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see the Lord walking in the sanctuary, clothed in a cream linen cloak. The Spirit spoke to my heart to sit down, right in the middle of worship, and to read Psalm 63:2. When I read it, I knew God was confirming what He just allowed me to see. That is the amazing love of our Heavenly Father.
So if the devil is raging, and the attacks seem relentless, know this; God is on the throne and He is for you, not against you. Stand strong and prophesy what God says about you and over your circumstances.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in Him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.”
(Psalm 63 NIV).
HIS love and mine,
Deborah
BOOKS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT BY DEBORAH STARCZEWSKI
A LEAP OF FAITH (25 Days At The Mercy Seat)….the full account of God raising my husband from death and healing him….the story will keep you turning the pages.
GOD’S PRICELESS TREASURE (How To Overcome Challenges, Be Transformed And Know Your Purpose)…..move from drama to destiny by turning to God.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (Will America Turn Back To God?)…. a must read for every Pastor, leader, and family.
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, www.starministriesinc.com and other distributors