The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snare of death.” (Proverbs 14:27 NKJV)

    During our study so far we have found that fearing the Lord means revering Him in both awe and trepidation of His power, might, and majesty. Having a wholesome fear of God is the first step in gaining true knowledge, wisdom and understanding. When we properly fear God we will see that He has provided all we need to be pleasing to Him and we will obey His instructions with determination and gratitude.

    Today, let’s consider that the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. The very image of that statement is appealing and refreshing, isn’t it? When we fear the Lord, humbly submit to Him and obey Him, we have access to an unending spring of sustenance – WOW! How amazing is that! – in God’s word we learn of the path that leads to eternal life and with that we find guidance, strength, encouragement, and hope to help us as we journey on that path! We discover that God provides for our daily physical needs (Matthew 6:25-34), our daily spiritual needs (John 3:16-21, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9), and loads us with abundant daily blessings (Psalm 68:19)!

    God provides this continual spring of sustenance, this refuge from the sinful ways of the world, a place where we can gain knowledge and wisdom, so that we may avoid the bait and lures of the devil, seeing them for what they really are we can resist them (James 4:7). The snares of the devil lead to spiritual death, and he will use every trick in the book to gain our attention and interest: anger/revenge, lust/sex, jealousy, greed, pride, apathy, the list goes on and on.

    The devil deceives us with lies that lead to death. His deception decays our life now and condemns us to everlasting destruction later. Everything he does is for our harm and downfall; he baits us with lures that when chased will draw us to the depths of despair, but what God provides is LIFE, life through His Son, a better life now, and eternal life later!! Everything God gives by way of instructions for what we need to be doing and by way of boundaries to keep us from things we should avoid – all of His doing is always for our good! God provides all the help we need to grow, develop, and succeed!

    Are you desiring refreshment and revitalization? Seek God, submit to Him and His way, approach Him with fear and trembling and awe-filled adoration and gain access to His abundant provision of sustenance!! Let the knowledge and understanding you gain help you avoid the lures and temptations of the devil. Humbly obeying God’s way will keep you away from the snares of death!! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Gain Confidence Through Fearing the Lord

“In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26 NKJV)

    A little while ago, something came into my day “from outta left field” and although I received the information calmly and attentively, my mind was beginning to reel. After the conversation, as I got into my car I wanted nothing more in that moment than to get home as fast as possible and get to my bedroom where I could privately get down on my knees and pour out my heart to God. I knew without doubt that He could help me sort out what I was feeling and help calm my mind.

    In fearing the Lord, I have learned that His promises of help are real! I have gained strong confidence in His faithfulness and unending love for His children. God is my refuge, the One I run to in times of struggle and in times of joy. My first words of the morning, upon waking, are to Him as are the last words I speak before closing my eyes at night. I run to Him, asking Him to protect my husband and children from harm as they leave the house for the day and as each of them return in the evening I raise my voice to Him in praise and thanksgiving. I ask His care to be upon those who are unwell because I know His care can go to places I cannot; it can span the world, go into war-torn areas, into ICUs, and into the lives of those whose struggles are known only to Him.

    God, Himself, is the refuge of His children and it is only in fearing Him – submitting to Him and to His way in reverent awe and fear – that we can access His proffered refuge. God is not bound by time or fatigue so the refuge we find in Him is always available to us, no matter the time or quantity of times we seek it (consider 1 Samuel 1:12-18 and Hebrews 4:16)!

    Each time you take refuge in God your confidence in Him will grow and develop and your faith will be strengthened! God wants you to have strong confidence in Him and the only way you can construct that kind of confidence is by taking Him at His word (trust Him!), humble yourself, and obey His commands!

    Let God be your place of refuge! Pour out your heart’s joys and sorrows, your hopes and fears, and discover all the good things God provides to those who fear Him!!

You can do it! So can I!!

“In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:7-8 NKJV)

Understand The LORD So You Can Properly Fear Him

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, 
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 
(Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

    Let’s break this verse down in as simplified a way as possible, beginning with the second statement.

    Knowledge of the Holy One, God – according to the Hebrew, this is the highest form of knowledge one can attain – this knowledge will lead to understanding Him because He does not change (Psalm 33:11, James 1:7); the God of Old Testament times is the same God we see in the New Testament scriptures, and the same God we serve today. The more we know of Him, the more we understand of His love for mankind, His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy, His power, and His majesty.

    Understanding God will lead us to fear Him – be in reverent awe of His all-powerful ways – at least it should, that is choice we all have to make when we learn of God and begin to understand Him: do we submit to His way or do we refuse to submit and walk away?

    Fearfully submitting to God, knowing that He has provided all the instruction we need to walk worthy of Him and be fully pleasing to Him (take time to think on Colossians 1:9-11), and knowing that He will bring us all into judgment one day (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), is the first necessary step in gaining wisdom.

Knowing God ---> Understanding God ---> Fearing God ---> Wisdom from God (James 1:5-6, 3:13-18)

    Which would you rather: Worldly wisdom that elevates you for temporary reward or wisdom from above that elevates God and comes with eternal reward? If you desire knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, your very first and needed step is to reverently seek God and His way, He will provide all you need to attain these things and more!!

From wherever you are right now - BEGIN!!

    

Learning to Fear the LORD is the Best Place to Begin

    It’s hard to admit that we don’t know something, isn’t it? We would like to be regarded as wise and learned having something to offer others by way of information or advice. We read newspapers, webpages, and self-help books, we may watch the news and all the current TED talks; we even save up money to send our children to college/university because we want them to be educated and have “a good start in life.”

    There is nothing wrong with any of these pursuits as long as first and foremost we learn to fear God and we teach our children to also fear the Lord (consider Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Psalm 78:4-7)!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have those who do His commandments.” (Psalm 111:10 NKJV)

    The proverbs declare that fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7, read vv28-32 to see their result) and that the fear of the Lord is the very first – and necessary – step in attaining knowledge and gaining wisdom.

    How do we fear the Lord and attain knowledge?

    We need to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge that everything we see – everything we need in order to exist – was brought about through God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding – EVERYTHING (Genesis 1, Proverbs 3:19-20)! God did all this so that we might seek Him (Acts 17:24-27), fear Him (Psalm 33:8) and tell our children of His wondrous ways (Deuteronomy 4:10, Psalm 145:1-7, 10-13)!

    We also need to acknowledge that although there are many pathways that have been devised by man through the centuries, that there is only ONE path that leads us toward God (Matthew 7:13-14) and access to that one pathway is found only in His Word (John 8:31-32, 14:6)! Compare what you are being taught at church services to what is found in the Bible. Are things being left out? Are things being added? Divergences from the path is no longer the path!  

    Obedience to God’s commands will give you good understanding. For example, there are promised blessings that can only be received through obedience of His commands. Consider the command found in Philippians 4:6-7, ‘Be anxious for nothing, instead pray and be thankful,' the blessing from obeying is that ‘you will receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and it will guard your heart and mind through Jesus.’

    When we obey and see the result we will gain understanding of God’s wisdom, His faithfulness, and His love; we will grow to respect and trust Him more, leading us toward greater wisdom and greater understanding as we grow and develop our faith in obedience to Him!

    The very best start you can give yourself is to humble yourself and fear God enough to seek HIM, through HIS word and in obedience to HIS way and in doing so gain wisdom and good understanding, teaching your children through word and example to do the same! Gain the type of wisdom that will be valuable to all generations!

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom and before honour is humility.” (Proverbs 15:33 NKJV)

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!

Understanding the Fear of the LORD

    In a world that wants to see God as all-loving and accepting of all their varying forms of worship and ‘modified-to-suit-me’ levels of obedience, now more than ever, we need to properly understand the fear of the Lord. 

    “Fear” means to morally revere; cause to frighten, make afraid. It holds within it both awe and reverence – regarding God as holy – as well as fright and trembling – knowing of God’s mighty power and righteous judgment. 

    I found many verses within the books of Psalms and Proverbs that teach us the facets and benefits of fearing the Lord. Proper and wholesome fear of God will keep us from evil (dreading His fearsome wrath) and guide us on the right path (respecting His wisdom and love for us).

    Are you ready to dig in and find out what the Bible says on this important subject? Me too!

    The Bible is its own best commentary, so when I wanted to better understand the fear of the Lord I opened the Bible and began to look up every verse in which this phrase is used. I found many verses in the Psalms and Proverbs that identified the facets and benefits of properly fearing the Lord and it is from the verses found in these two books that I will focus our study. 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV)

    Simply put, you need to let go of your own thoughts of what you THINK is right and humbly seek God’s instruction to KNOW what IS right, trust Him and do it His way.

    God’s way is the best way and His instructions and commands are only ever for our good (consider Deuteronomy 10:12-13), so when we are instructed not once but twice to let go of our own ways and thoughts of what we think is right and instead trust in the Lord, acknowledge Him, and fear Him, we had better listen!

    Do you respect and reverence God enough to change your thoughts and ways so that they conform to His thoughts and ways (Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 7:21-23)? When you humble yourself before God, truly seeking His wisdom and His guidance by opening His word and honestly reading it, you will learn what is right and you will also learn what is evil (consider Hebrews 5:12-14); being able to discern between the two will help you stay on the right path, a path made clear by God’s loving instruction, a path that strengthens and benefits you as you follow it!

    Are you ready and willing to fear the Lord and depart from evil? Your own thoughts and notions could be leading you astray, open and read God’s word today!!  

You can do it! So can I!!