What practical steps can we take to develop a healthy fear of God? Grasping the Weight of Psalm 90:11 “Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.” (Psalm 90:11) Moses reminds us that God’s wrath is proportionate to the reverence He deserves. A healthy fear of God springs from knowing both His righteous anger against sin and His majestic holiness. Why Cultivating Godly Fear Matters • Proverbs 1:7 — “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” • Ecclesiastes 12:13 — “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” • Hebrews 12:28-29 — “Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” A right fear produces wisdom, obedience, and worship that pleases Him. Practical Steps to Grow in Fear of the Lord • Meditate on God’s holiness – Isaiah 6:3 shows seraphim crying, “Holy, holy, holy.” – Set aside time daily to ponder His purity and moral perfection. • Reflect on His righteous judgments – Read accounts such as the flood (Genesis 6-9) or Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). – Note how His judgments reveal both justice and mercy. • Remember the cross as the ultimate display of wrath and love – Romans 3:25-26 explains that God “presented Christ as a propitiation… to demonstrate His righteousness.” – The price Jesus paid underscores the seriousness of sin. • Saturate your mind with Scripture – Deuteronomy 17:19 commands kings to read the Law daily “to learn to fear the LORD.” – Read, memorize, and recite verses that highlight His character. • Worship with reverence – Psalm 96:9: “Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.” – Approach corporate and private worship conscious of His grandeur. • Practice immediate obedience – John 14:15: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” – Train yourself to respond quickly to biblical directives; obedience reinforces reverence. • Cultivate accountability – Acts 9:31 notes that the early church “walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” – Meet regularly with believers who encourage holiness and correct lovingly. • Pray for a trembling heart – Isaiah 66:2: “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” – Ask God to soften your heart so His Word moves you deeply. Fruit of a Healthy Fear • Deepened humility (James 4:10) • Hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13) • Strong confidence in God (Proverbs 14:26) • Ongoing sanctification (2 Corinthians 7:1) • Joyful worship and service (Psalm 2:11) |
    |