When we have a healthy fear of God, we will obey God. Isn’t it funny how people can fear thunder and lightning, but not the One who created it? God is Our Creator and He deserves our respect. When God speaks we need to listen and when God speaks we need to obey.

Ask yourself: “Do I have a godly fear of the LORD?”

God expects us to obey like Noah who moved with godly fear when the LORD told him that He was going to destroy the world with a flood.

• Hebrews 11:7 New King James Version –  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

If we have a godly fear, we will not delay when God tells us to do something. It’s not okay to delay and follow His instructions when we feel like it.

Consider Jonah. He knew the LORD’s voice. He knew God gave him an instruction.

• Jonah 1:1-3 New King James Version – 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah decided to disobey the LORD. He went in the exact opposite direction from where the LORD told him to go. So the LORD decided to get Jonah’s attention. God can use anything and everything to do His will. He sent Jonah a storm. But Jonah was the one who caused the storm with his disobedience.

• Jonah 1:6 New King James Version – So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

As Christians we need to wake up and call on the Name of the LORD. We must make sure we are spiritually awake and obedient to the LORD. Even unbelievers know that it is time to pray. They just don’t know who the true and living God is.

• Jonah 1:14-16 New King James Version – Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” ¹⁵ So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. ¹⁶ Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.

We need to pray for ourselves and our loved ones. Before our children leave out the house, we must pray for them. We cannot get too tired to pray or witness. And, we are never too old to do the will of God. Jonah knew he had to get off the ship going in the opposite direction of the LORD’s will. As soon as Jonah decided to obey, the storm subsided.

It’s time for us to do the same–fear the LORD and obey Him.