What does "feared the LORD" mean in the context of your life today? Key verse Proverbs 31:30: “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Defining “feared the LORD” • Reverent awe that recognizes God’s absolute holiness and authority • Loving submission that gladly obeys His commands (Deuteronomy 10:12) • Awareness that He judges sin yet richly rewards faithfulness (Psalm 33:18) • Foundation of true wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10) Why holy fear matters today • Guards the heart against casual, half-hearted Christianity • Shapes decisions with eternity in view rather than immediate comfort • Strengthens resistance to cultural pressure by prioritizing God’s approval • Deepens worship, moving it from routine songs to life-embracing surrender • Produces steady joy, because awe of God surpasses anxiety over people (Proverbs 14:26) Everyday expressions of fearing the LORD • Beginning each day by acknowledging Christ’s rightful rule over every plan • Declining dishonest shortcuts at work because integrity pleases the Father (Proverbs 16:6) • Ordering family finances to honor God first in giving (Proverbs 3:9-10) • Speaking truth with grace even when silence seems safer (Ephesians 4:25) • Turning from entertainment that mocks holiness, since eyes and ears belong to Him (Psalm 101:3) Blessings Scripture attaches to holy fear • Intimate friendship with God (Psalm 25:14) • Strong confidence and refuge for children (Proverbs 14:26) • Lengthened life and contentment (Proverbs 10:27; 19:23) • Wisdom for decisions (Psalm 111:10) • Ongoing growth of the church (Acts 9:31) Practical steps for cultivating this fear 1. Read Scripture daily, letting its portraits of God’s majesty shape perspective. 2. Memorize verses on His holiness and judgment alongside verses on His love. 3. Confess sin quickly, refusing to normalize what Christ died to forgive (1 John 1:9). 4. Serve others quietly, remembering that the Father sees in secret (Matthew 6:4). 5. End each day with thanks, recounting where reverence led to obedience. Living it out Fearing the LORD today means holding God in such high esteem that His character determines beliefs, shapes attitudes, and directs choices. It is awe that produces allegiance, wonder that produces worship, and respect that produces real-world righteous living. |
    |