Good Fear

When I was a new believer, I remember hearing phrases like: “You must fear God,” or, “The fear of the Lord must be in you.”

And while it’s true, oftentimes, these phrases are misused to condemn and tear down due to misinterpretation. Some of us may have grown up hearing authoritative figures say things like: “If you do bad things, bad things will happen to you,” or, “You can’t hide from God,” in order to establish an unhealthy fear of the Father….

But, that’s not God’s heart, or the way He intended it.

In a healthy fear of the Lord, peace is produced. In a healthy fear of the Lord, God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

As we are full swing into 2023, some of you may have set a personal goal to grow spiritually. The truth is, we never fully arrive and we can always afford to grow in the area of our relationship with Jesus, right? Well, a great way to increase your spiritual wisdom is by reading God’s Word, and the book of Proverbs is a great place to start.

Wisdom, according to the world’s standards, is much different than God’s Word. Proverbs 1:7 says,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

- Proverbs 1:7

So, the very basis of our wisdom as Christians is a fear of the Lord. What does that mean?

According to Psalm 86:11:

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

- Psalm 86:11

It means living a life undivided, giving God your full attention!

Some of you may be wondering: “How do I fear the Lord, what do I do?” Well, in Psalm 31 David has just said a prayer of deliverance from his enemies and is seeking the Lord for guidance. He has full trust in the Father, believing that He will provide protection, stability, and security for him in his time of need. He’s speaking to the Lord in verse 19 saying, “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.”

We fear God by taking refuge in Him.

We fear God by choosing to run to Him in the midst of our problems instead of the world. Family, we must draw near to Him to establish a healthy fear of Him.

So, today I pray that you press into the things of God; that you will find refuge in Him; that you will embrace good fear. The kind of fear that is expressed in His Word.

Som Tami

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