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August 27 - October 6, 2023
My children are mighty on the earth, successful everywhere they go, and they possess the gates of their enemies.
When we are defining in what man’s true wisdom consists, the most convenient word to use is that which distinctly expresses the fear of God. —AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
When God promotes, no one and no circumstance can demote! Wisdom, therefore, is the path to enduring significance.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27 NKJV)
When we are left on our own, separate from God’s wisdom, mankind has proven for thousands of years that we will make detrimental decisions all the while thinking we’re making good ones.
The ways of death and destruction are hidden and baited, no different from a hunter’s trap.
What appears to be good, wise, beneficial, and enjoyable is often merely bait to lure you into what ultimately is bad, unwise, detrimental, and grieving. The fear of the Lord protects us from ...
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Scripture states that in rejecting holy fear, “their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools” (Romans 1:21–22).
True humility and holy fear are connected. You will never find someone who fears God who is not truly humble, nor will you find anyone who is truly humble who doesn’t fear God.
“Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
me that day, “John, to the degree pride dies is the degree you will have a fresh vision of Jesus.”
To the degree pride dies is the degree we will have a fresh vision of Jesus. True humility is rooted in holy fear. It’s knowing that without Jesus, we can do nothing. Therefore, we choose to be completely and utterly dependent on Him.
A person who truly fears God abounds with joy. One aspect of joy that’s specifically stated is our labor.
Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the LORD’S blessing for those who fear him. (Psalm 128: 3–4)
Praise the LORD! How joyful are those who fear the LORD and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. (Psalm 112:1–2)
They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will last forever. . . . Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. (Psalm 112:3, 6–8)
However, those who lack holy fear do not have this promise—in fact just the opposite: “Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone” (Ecclesiastes 9:6).
Those who fear God do not fear bad news.
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. (Proverbs 14:26 NKJV)
The angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. (Psalm 34:7)
Angels are assigned to protect those who fear God.
Then the fear of the LORD fell over all the surrounding kingdoms so that none of them wanted to declare war on Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 17:10)
Another biblical example is Jacob, who directed his family to fear God and to put away their idols. Once they did, we read, “As they set out, a terror from God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked Jacob’s family” (Genesis 35:5).
Always continue to fear the LORD. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. (Proverbs 23:17–18)
The fear of the Lord rewards us in so many ways: desires fulfilled (see Psalm 145:19), faithful friends (Psalm 119:63, 74, 79), healing for our bodies (Proverbs 3:7–8), identity (Psalm 60:4), and the direction in life so many are longing for.
Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land. (Psalm 25:12–13)
He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. (Ephesians 5:27)
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and [the Spirit of] understanding, the Spirit of counsel and [the Spirit of might], the Spirit of knowledge and of the [Spirit of the] fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2–3 NKJV)
My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1–5)
It’s my earnest hope that by the help of the Holy Spirit, what was birthed in me that morning at the construction site has been birthed in you—an insatiable hunger for the fear of the Lord. Treasure it and hold on to it as if it were your greatest asset. If you do, you’ll love what God loves and hate what He hates; what’s important to Him will become what’s important to you. You’ll deeply love people and deeply hate the sin that unmakes them. You’ll change your world of influence and be glad you did throughout eternity.
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. (Jude 24)
He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. (1 Corinthians 1:8)
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24–25 NKJV)
