How can we cultivate a healthy fear of God in daily life? Psalm 36:2—Self-Flattery or Holy Fear? “For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect and hate his own sin.” • The psalmist diagnoses the root of a dulled conscience: self-talk that excuses, minimizes, or rationalizes sin. • A healthy fear of God begins when we refuse to believe our own flattering press releases. Recognize the Enemy: My Own Deluded Heart • Proverbs 3:7—“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” • Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us the heart is “deceitful above all things.” Practical steps: – Ask the Spirit to flag self-justifying thoughts the moment they appear. – Replace “I’m not that bad” with “Lord, show me what You see.” Center on God’s Holiness Every Morning • Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8—unceasing cries of “Holy, holy, holy.” • Beginning the day with passages that showcase God’s majesty recalibrates the soul. Try this rhythm: – Read a holiness passage aloud. – Pause and picture the scene; let awe rise before asking for anything. – Close with Proverbs 1:7, reminding yourself that reverence is the launchpad for all wisdom. Let Scripture Expose What I’d Rather Deny • Hebrews 4:12—God’s word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” • James 1:23-25 compares the Bible to a mirror. Suggestions: – Keep a running journal titled “Mirror Moments” where you jot every time a verse convicts you. – Memorize short “fear-of-God” verses (e.g., Psalm 33:8; Ecclesiastes 12:13) and recite them when temptation whispers. Confess Immediately and Specifically • 1 John 1:9; Psalm 139:23-24. • Specific confession short-circuits self-flattery. How-to list: – Name the sin without euphemisms. – Agree with God’s verdict: “This is wicked.” – Receive the promised cleansing; gratitude fuels future obedience. Invite Godly Voices Into My Life • Proverbs 13:20—walk with the wise; Hebrews 3:13—exhort one another daily. Build an environment of reverence: – Join a small group where honest sin-talk is normal. – Ask a mature believer to text a weekly “heart-check” question. – Read biographies of believers who walked in holy fear; their stories stir fresh awe. Worship That Magnifies, Not Minimizes • Psalm 95:6—“Come, let us worship and bow down.” • Hebrews 12:28-29—serve God “with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” During corporate and personal worship: – Choose songs that exalt God’s character, not merely our feelings. – Physically bow or kneel to train the body in humility. Keep Eternity on the Dashboard • 2 Corinthians 5:10-11—judgment seat of Christ; Ecclesiastes 12:14—God will bring every deed into judgment. Daily reminders: – Begin projects, conversations, and leisure with the silent question, “Will this matter at the throne?” – When fear of people spikes, rehearse Luke 12:4-5—fear the One who has authority after death. Living this way turns Psalm 36:2 on its head. Instead of flattering ourselves, we face sin honestly, cherish forgiveness deeply, and walk through each day with the joyful, trembling confidence that flows from a healthy fear of the Lord. |
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