How can we cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord today? The Table God Spreads “He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.” – Psalm 111:5 • The verse links two realities: reverent fear and steady provision. • God’s covenant faithfulness is not abstract; it shows up on the dinner table, in the paycheck, in every breath we take. • A healthy fear, then, is not dread of punishment but an awakened awareness that the One who feeds us is infinitely holy. What “Fear of the Lord” Really Means • Awe at His majesty (Isaiah 6:1–5). • Loyalty to His covenant (Deuteronomy 10:12–13). • Hatred of evil because He is pure (Proverbs 8:13). • Childlike submission that still knows He is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28–29). Why Cultivate Holy Fear? • Beginning of wisdom – Proverbs 1:7; 9:10. • Key to contentment – Psalm 34:9: “those who fear Him lack nothing.” • Pathway to holiness – 2 Corinthians 7:1. • Anchor for future grace – Psalm 103:17: His loving devotion “extends to those who fear Him.” Practical Steps for Today 1. Gaze at His greatness daily – Read a psalm aloud each morning (Psalm 33; 145). – Note every attribute of God, thanking Him aloud for each one. 2. Remember His covenant meals – Before eating, recount one specific way He provided that day. – Celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly, reflecting on Christ’s blood that sealed the covenant. 3. Obey promptly in the small things – When Scripture speaks, respond the same day (James 1:22). – Keep short accounts: confess sin as soon as the Spirit convicts (1 John 1:9). 4. Choose companions who tremble at His word – Malachi 3:16: those who feared the LORD “spoke with one another.” – Join a fellowship where Scripture is opened, believed, and applied without apology. 5. Meditate on both kindness and severity – Romans 11:22 calls us to behold both. – Write a two-column journal: left side, acts of mercy; right side, warnings against sin. Balance breeds healthy reverence. 6. Serve someone secretly – Jesus links hidden giving with reward from the Father (Matthew 6:4). – Doing unseen acts reminds the heart that God alone is the audience who matters. Signs the Fear Is Growing • Sin feels bitter faster. • Worship feels weightier yet sweeter. • Gratitude surfaces spontaneously during ordinary routines. • Decisions increasingly run through the filter, “Will this honor His holiness?” Looking Ahead with Confidence The God who “remembers His covenant forever” will never forget those who honor Him. As holy fear deepens, assurance deepens with it, and daily bread—physical and spiritual—keeps arriving right on time. |
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