How can we cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord in our lives? The Blessing Connected to Reverent Fear “He will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike.” (Psalm 115:13) God attaches tangible favor to those who treat Him with holy awe. That promise stands, unchanged and literal, for every believer—no matter social rank, age, or background. Defining Healthy Fear • Not paralyzing terror, but a heart-deep reverence that takes God at His word, honors His holiness, and gladly submits to His commands. • Psalm 19:9 — “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.” • Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Paths to Cultivate Godly Fear • Saturate the mind with Scripture – Proverbs 2:1-5 shows that diligent intake of God’s words ushers in the fear of the LORD. • Contemplate His holiness – Isaiah 6:1-5 records Isaiah’s vision; seeing God high and lifted up produced immediate reverence. • Recall His mighty deeds – Psalm 111:2-4 urges meditation on the works of the LORD, which stirs awe. • Welcome loving discipline – Hebrews 12:5-11 teaches that the Father’s correction trains us to respect His authority. • Worship with awe-filled gratitude – Hebrews 12:28-29: “Therefore let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” • Walk in obedience, even in the small things – Deuteronomy 6:24 links keeping God’s statutes with fearing Him for our good always. • Practice continual repentance – Acts 5:11 shows that sin exposed in the community produced great fear of the Lord, preserving purity. Daily Habits That Nurture Awe • Begin every morning with an unhurried reading of God’s Word, asking what it reveals about His character. • Speak aloud attributes of God—His majesty, justice, mercy—throughout the day. • Choose immediate obedience when the Spirit brings conviction. • Share testimonies of God’s greatness in fellowship; corporate remembrance amplifies reverence. • Serve those who cannot repay you; seeing God’s heart for the humble enlarges awe. • End each evening listing specific mercies received; gratitude turns routine into worship. Fruit of Fearing the Lord • Wisdom that navigates life rightly (Proverbs 9:10). • Angelic protection (Psalm 34:7). • Strong confidence and a secure refuge for children (Proverbs 14:26). • Freedom from evil through steadfast love and faithfulness (Proverbs 16:6). • Abiding blessing, promised once again in Psalm 115:13. Remembering the Gospel Foundation At the cross the full holiness and full love of God converge. Jesus “learned obedience” (Hebrews 5:8) and satisfied divine justice so we might call God “Abba, Father” without losing a shred of reverent awe. Standing in that grace, we cultivate a fear that is pure delight, secure in His steadfast covenant yet ever mindful that He is “the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57:15). |
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