After completing your daily reading, come back to chat with fellow Bible readers about any reflections you have on the proverbs, introduction, or questions from today.
When we fear God, we revere Him as holy, set apart, above all, and more magnificent than we could imagine. Though our fear of earthly things can lead us toward a posture of hiding, the fear of the Lord requires that we draw near, in worship and in adoration, to the only One who is truly worthy.
Reflection Questions:
What ideas, definitions, or images come to mind at the phrase “the fear of the Lord”?
How do these proverbs define the fear of the Lord?
Read Proverbs 14:2 again. What makes it hard for you to “live with integrity”?
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200 thoughts on "The Fear of God"
I love what Proverbs says about the fearing the Lord.
The Fear of God is a spring of Living Water. I don’t want to live apart from that by living a life guided by my own wisdom or impulses.
I love what Proverbs says about fearing the Lord.
The Fear of the Lord is a spring of living water. I don’t want to miss out on that by living a life my own
Living with integrity is a heart issue. When I fix my eyes on Jesus and seek after him first my heart is filled with His desires. When I’m distracted and not rooted in the Word, my selfish desires are evident.
I looked up the definition of integrity just to see if I was on the right path and part of the definition means whole and undivided. What makes it hard is I want to live for myself sometimes, other times I lose focus and don’t give my all to the Lord.
To Fear God is to obey his word and commands. We all fall short but actively trying everyday to live the way Jesus did
When I think of the fear of the LORd. I think of standing at the highest part of a mountain range and looking all around at its grandeur and seeing its magestic peaks and its beauty but also having the fear of not falling off the edge if I fell.
“Fear the Lord” has always honestly scared me a little- I always wondered “why do I need to be scared?” But, in recent years, through studying and prayer I have come to learn that God does not mean for us to be afraid, but to yearn for Him. He wants us to know that He is the end all- be all. Proverbs helps define this in a way that is understandable- we must have reverence and respect for the Lord. I do believe we are all born with an innate sense to sin. It’s human nature… I don’t believe I am a “devious” person but I do have devious ways… unfortunately. I pray that the Lord will reveal those to me and help me correct so that I can live with integrity
I have the same sense of “why should I fear God?”
My way of understanding is fear of disappointing Him in my ways, how I act as a wife, as a mom, and that I’m not doing enough to live by His word, or teaching my children about Him. I love the way you put it, to “yearn for Him.” Living day to day, wanting to please God, and yearning for his love and acceptance.
Amen❤️
Fear the Lord. Sometimes we get deceive by the words FEAR x LOVE. We get fed by lies that God is loving therefor there is nothing to be afraid of, and it breaks the varrier to take advantage of it. Now I FEAR the Lord. I fear of being separated from Him because I know what it leads me. I fear of his Anger.because I know that I need Him in my life. LOVING GOD is fearing Him. Like a child, I do my best to please and praise Him. Because it is all I can do. Glory to God
Before I became a Christian, my understanding of “the fear of the Lord” was clouded. I pictured it as trembling in terror, always imagining God as someone to be afraid of. But now, that fear has transformed into something deeper: reverence, respect, and a desire to honor Him. It’s not so much about fearing punishment, though that’s still there in the background, but more about the weight of not living a life that brings Him delight. My greatest fear now is disappointing Him.
that is beautiful
This is a great description.
Trusting and fearing the Lord is an every day, every moment choice. When we choose to trust and fear Him with all we do, there isn’t room to “go in our own understanding.” It’s hard and easier said than done, but that goes back to praying with ceasing and making Jesus our priority!!
I always have a hard time with the phrase fear the Lord. I don’t see it as fear because I believe in Jesus therefore I’m saved. I need to adjust my mindset every time and that’s difficult.
I grew up believing I wasn’t worthy, and my first marriage also hammered this home so i always try to handle things on my own so i’m not a bother and I realized i don’t just do this with other people, i do it with God too. It’s very hard for me to ask for help let alone “let go & let God” but right now i’m at a point in my life that i have more problems than solutions so I think God is reminding me it’s ok to ask for help
I heard a sermon that said to fear the Lord is to give him your allegiance, a trust in him above all other things. So when we are faced with a hard choice, we give our allegiance to his truth and not others.
I think what holds me back is generally taking foolish actions which leads to more foolish decisions and wanting to please other people. I’m learning to only focus on reverence for God
That last question did get me! I am going to focus on letting go- as humans it’s so hard.
Amen
What makes it hard for me to live with integrity is that my flesh is angry, my flesh likes to blame others, my flesh is defensive, and my flesh is quick to speak. I have to deny myself by denying the anger, defensiveness, blaming, quick tongue and take up His cross instead so I can walk in uprightness.
amen
May I walk in adoration of the Lord daily. Seeking His will and not my own.
Amen ❤️
I think the thing that holds me back is wanting to have control over all of in the things my life, I’m slowly learning now to let go and let god
Fear of the Lord to me is deep reference and a peace of knowing I can trust Him. Life sometimes trips me especially when my focus goes from Him to my circumstances
I certainly felt conviction reading the last question. The thing that tends to hold me back is my lack of trust and somehow believing I know more than God. I’m working on surrender.
The fear of the Lord to me is face down, holy acceptance of His ultimate knowledge for what’s best for me.
Yes! The images from Revelation when John laid face down in the Presence of God because he knew he was not worthy!
I believe the fear should be to decieve God. He knows what right, so when we walk without integrity and deceive his word, natural consequences happen and that is what we should fear. By obeying Him, good will come.
I once had a pastor explain that the fear of the Lord is like the fear of the ocean. You enjoy it’s presence and being in it but it is so vast and all powerful that if you don’t know how to properly swim in it or respect it then you can get pulled into a rip tide. I don’t think I am explaining it the same way he did but it made so much sense to me.
This is helpful. Thank you for sharing!
This is a great metaphor. Thanks for sharing!
I love this explanation!
The fear of the Lord is reverence and respect to The Creator and Maker of all things. To recognize that we are not worthy and all honor and glory belong to Him.
This is already such a beautiful and challenging study. My definition of fear is not what Solomon is talking about here and it’s so freeing. Lord, help me let go of any fear and anxiety that’s holding me back, and instead strive to be more WITH you and more LIKE you.
This resonates with me. Thank you for transparently sharing
1) Wonder, in a sense. I always picture Galadriel, beautiful and terrible. God has infinite unimaginable incomprehensible power, yet is so near to us and loves us much deeper than we could understand. I wonder at this God, who He is…
I like this example!
When I think of “fear” it’s being fearful on judgment day and possibly hearing “depart from me”, meaning I want to draw near to him always, know him and grow obedient in the word so that I am welcomed into the kingdom of heaven with open arms. These verses define it for me as in seeking the wisdom and to set yourself apart. I think what makes it hard to live with integrity is my flesh, being selfish, remembering to walk by faith and not to lean on my own understanding but to seek him first.
In these verses we read today I am reminded that fearing God should result in obedience, not because God is mean and scary (although he is all powerful) but that obedience comes from fearing God (having a certain awe and deep respect for him) because he knows what’s best for us. As Proverbs 3:7 reminds us, we are “not to be wise in our own eyes” – I have to remind myself that I have a very narrow view of what is good for me/what I need. instead of relying on my own knowledge I need to trust God that his way is best even when the other path looks shiny/appealing on an earthly level
This is where I struggle with my relationship with Jesus. I’ve got the fear/respect thing down with God but I have trouble translating that to Jesus.
1. I thought of the story when God showed Moses his back and the glory rested on his face
It was hard for me to comprehend that fear of the Lord wasn’t a bad thing but a reverence to our Heavenly Father.
1. The fear of the Lord is not terror, it’s a posture of awe, humility, and love that shapes how I live. It means God is at the center, and I respond with trust, obedience, and worship
2.The fear of the Lord, according to these Proverbs, means reverence, trust, integrity, humility, hope, and obedience. It’s the posture that places God at the center and aligns life with His values
3. What makes it hard for me to “live with integrity” is that sometimes it feels easier to take shortcuts or hide weaknesses instead of being fully honest. Pride can push me to care more about how I look to others than about how I look before God. Fear of people’s opinions or wanting quick results can pull me away from consistency and truth. But this verse reminds me that real integrity flows from fearing the Lord, when I keep Him at the center, it strengthens me to live openly, honestly, and uprightly.
Talk about a deep “walk away and think about it” moment. My instinct is to question why we are to fear the Lord, because (like in the intro) the instinct is to turn to the earthly meaning of ‘fear.’ Yet, we are called to be near to Him, walk with Him, delight in Him, grow in Him, confide in Him, and so much more. When we put our faith in him and accept him as our Lord and Savior, we are turning our backs on the rebellious for eternal life. Today’s Proverbs are a reminder for myself and us She’s that we are to Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t rely on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
Well said!
I have a hard time using the word fear, over the word in awe.
I am really enjoying this bible study. These questions really make you look inward. Here are my answers. 1) This was a hard one really. Having not grown up in the church, this phrase made me feel scared. My mom was very abusive, so I was comparing fearing the Lord, like I feared her. It made me think he was angry and vengeful. Thankfully I now know better. 2) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. To me that is following the Lord, and his commandments as he said. Our minds can never comprehend all that is him, so we cannot just rely on our own understanding alone. We should congregate, and be around other believers, and avoid those who do not believe and sin. 3) To my understanding, those who are following the Lord’s ways, and living right, they fear the Lord. But if you are living a wicked and sinful life, you cannot have fear or respect for the Lord. We need to always pursue more knowledge and learn, just as we are doing now.
I’m sorry for the suffering you experienced by your mother. Thank you for sharing ❤️
I have to admit that sometimes I forget that God isn’t just my friend, but my God. The creator of the universe that is over all and holds the whole world together .
I grew up in a church and home that taught fearing God, as in being afraid that if I stepped one foot out of line, God’s punishment would fall on me in the most terrible way imaginable. My greatest fear when I became a mother was that if I wasn’t “in the center of God’s will,” He would take my baby away from me. The fear was paralyzing. I went to a new church because we had moved, and started hearing about God’s love. I met with the pastor, and he was amazed at what I had been taught my whole life. He asked, “Where did you hear such baloney?” That’s was the beginning of me discovering that fear of the Lord is not being scared, being afraid. But having deep respect for God. Having a feeling of awe when I think of Him.
All of your comments today have been so uplifting and so deep about true fear of the Lord. How can I not live in awe and respect for God, the creator of everything, who is perfect in every way, and still sacrificed His only son so I can be forgiven and have everlasting life. It just makes me want to shout and sing!!
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I believe the fear of the Lord is about respecting God, honoring him, trusting him, worshipping him and obeying him. When we fear the Lord we will be waking in the path that leads to life. We will be receiving his direction and protection over our lives.
In reading through these selections from Proverbs –
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
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Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
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He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
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The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
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and more . . .
Who, if thinking clearly, would NOT want to have a healthy, respectful, reverent fear of the Lord??? He is for us, and not against us.
YET, how much of my life did I live with my back turned to the Lord?
Sisters, the evil one begins to try and pull us away from the Lord at birth, so much glitz and glitter, lies and temptations. Praying for every one of us and our loved ones. Praying also for the lost.
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The fear of the Lord is like a stern stare for me, like a school principal looking quietly but closely. The fear of the Lord keeps me from cheating, lying, doing dishonest things secretly, because the Lord is all eyes. The fear of the Lord always stirs up this verse that I always keep in the back of my mind “The Lord will render to every man according to his deeds”. The balancing of account day- I like that day to be a pleasant, peaceful and of a cheery note. I don’t want to dishonor Him in my deeds, to the best of my abilities. It can become very personal when I cause grief to my Father. It upsets me greatly to the point of being in distress and pain. Plus my three young children are always all eyes lol. The fear of the Lord is clean (Psalm 19:9), as their mom, I want to be clean for them. Bless God for the fear of Him. There have been months that I pray for the outpouring of the Fear of the Lord onto my heart, my children, unsaved loved ones and the nations who have been living in ignorance, rebellion and . Not too long ago, I was thinking about the exact topic (coincidence much? lol), and the Lord showed me shirt “Fear of God Essentials” clothing line -a lux streetwear that is getting popular in LA. I was pleasantly surprised seeing people wearing hoodies with FEAR OF GOD in front. The founder/designer grew up in a Christian home, where his family would daily read “My utmost of His highest” by Oswald Chambers (one of my top favorite devotionals- coincidence?). FEAR OF GOD is spreading in Hollywood, with a message. Praise God. Next question, why is it hard to live with integrity in our modern society? I think it comes down to cost. Integrity requires sacrifice, courage, faith in God. Some challenges I think are cultural pressures, self driven image, success at all cost mentality, short term gain vs long term trust in God? Integrity can feel like great isolation when no one is doing it. But is it worth it? Absolutely. Proverbs 10:9: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely…”. Integrity will shape our character, train our heart to value truth. Practice integrity daily so we can be resilient against temptations and gradual compromise. Children, coworkers, and communities are shaped by the example of someone who stood firm in truth. I thank God for my dad because he is a man with integrity and a kind heart. That is why integrity leaves a legacy in family and bloodline. Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is more desirable than great riches”.
@LINDA IN NC: lifting you and GENE in prayers over the health issues,
@CAT-TEE: your mom’s assessment for assisted living.
Be blessed dear sisters.
Such an insight response! Thank you for sharing!
This is so good Mercy! Thanks for sharing.
♥️ Thank you!
A favorite saying I read in a devotional is ;
“ Wisdom is gained when knowledge meets experience “
Something I found really helpful that explains the “fear” of god in Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that everything god does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does this so people will fear him.” It’s really a beautiful scripture if you look at it. He isn’t to be feared in a scary sense. He is to be feared in a respectful sense. Not sure if this resonates with anybody else but it helped me a bit!
Good point. I see fear of the Lord as having the utmost respect for Him.
Hi ladies….My first SRT study group and I am excited about this journey through Proverbs with you all and I’m looking forward to what God is going to do in our life. Reflection Questions:
1. When I hear “fear of the LORD” I think of reverence for the Lord and His ways. A person who lives a life of CONSECRATION toward God, not out of ritualistic duty, but out of genuine love and sincere devotion to their First Love – Jesus Christ. Words like total obedience, daily repentance, and intentionally seeking to please the Lord. It’s counter-culture…. It’s not self-seeking but God-seeking, God – pleasing.
2. Proverbs 1:7 says it’s the beginning of knowledge. It’s the foundation of wisdom by which everything else is built upon. It’s living honestly and up rightly according to scripture (14:2). Not envying sinners nor their ways. It’s defined as a fountain of life that enables us to depart from Satans deadly traps. When we walk in it, it is protection. It’s defined as being obedient to God and those in authority upon the earth. It’s a patten of behaviors – a holy lifestyle…. Set apart to bring God glory.
3. I would not say that it’s hard to live with integrity but I would say it’s counter-culture and requires intentuality and committed. When you have a made up mind to please God no matter what the circumstance, it makes it a part of your lifestyle. When your aim is to make it to Heaven, which is mine and I know all of you, keeping that in mind, it makes you want to live honestly.Without a MADE UP MIND to serve God and him alone- I would imagine it would be challenging. Also if your heart has competing affections like pride, ambition, pursuit of money, lust, these things try to keep us from living honestly and upright before God. Think about the early church- in Acts- Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Ghost and was not honest about what they gained from the sale of land. They were dishonest and deceitful and the price they paid for not walking in integrity was great! They dropped dead! I’m just not willing to pay the price of living dishonestly before the Lord because the price is great! For the wages of sin is death- spiritual death. I have seen what living without integrity and being dishonest can do in people lives, ministries, and even in families. It’s a trap of Satan! I’m not willing to pay that price when God has offered me eternal life in living uprightly. I strive and repent and continue to strive to live honest by Gods grace!
I love your answers to these questions. You helped me think deeply. Thank you for sharing your heart. ❤️
UCOBB, Welcome! You shed some great light on this reading! Like you, I made up my mind early on that I wanted to please God and live a life of integrity. As a mom, I always cautioned my young sons to live above reproach so if anyone ever falsely accused them of something, their reputation would be their witness.
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I look forward to your future shares! ❤
❤️ amen, so good sister!
Welcome. Appreciate your insights. ❤️
When I think of fearing the Lord I think of obeying him and walking in his ways. These proverbs define the fear of the Lord as wisdom. My flesh makes it hard to live with integrity
The fear of the Lord to me is just fully surrendering to him and knowing he knows above all else.
They talk about fearing the Lord is what gives us righteousness, not walking the acts of sin.
It becomes hard to live with integrity when other people around you don’t, but when you surround yourself with good people, it becomes easier.
The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom; it is a wellspring of blessing. It imparts knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), brings healing and renewal to body and soul (Proverbs 3:5–8), guides us in integrity and righteousness (Proverbs 14:2), and becomes a fountain of life, protecting from the snares of death (Proverbs 14:27).
To me an accurate picture of fearing the Lord is standing with mouth agape and thinking, “Oh, wow!” Unfortunately, I often let worldly fear enter in, and don’t pay attention, as I should, to having fear of the Lord. I’ve often said to a young friend that my greatest sin was anxiety. I think fear of the Lord also encompasses knowing that He knows what is best for me and will always deliver me in His way and His timing. That is the kind of fear in the Lord I need to remember and have… always!
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Some other thoughts…
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Am I devious?
No.
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Do I have integrity?
Sometimes, but I should have it ALWAYS because I love Him. ❤️
Reflection Questions:
What ideas, definitions, or images come to mind at the phrase “the fear of the Lord”? I picture myself on my knees praying. And honestly a big feeling of anxiety. But know it’s supposed to be about me understanding His truth and knowing the consequences of not fearing Him, but I’m a people pleaser at heart, and I just feel anxiety.
How do these proverbs define the fear of the Lord?
A fountain of life and understanding.
Read Proverbs 14:2 again. What makes it hard for you to “live with integrity”? To put it bluntly laziness. Not putting in the work
Maybe we are such kindred spirits, Adrianne, because our names are spelled almost the same!
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Phew, I finally made it through all of your comments.
What a BLESSING you sisters are!!!
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I confess to ‘freezing up’ when we have reflection questions, but y’all knocked it out of the park today!
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As I went back to read 14:2 again I was thinking that at my age, I don’t fall for the worldly influence. Upon reflection though, I recognize areas that I do fall into that trap when it comes to my emotions even if I don’t with my actions. I don’t know if that makes sense to any of you, but that is my reflection takeaway.
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WELCOME again to all the NEW SHES! We are so glad you are here!❤
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
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SEARCHING – miss you! ❤
Good morning sisters, I wasn’t able to start this book until this morning. Maybe someone mentioned this yesterday, but I’ve wondered why wisdom is always personified as a woman. So decided to find out and it’s due to the grammatical gender of the Hebrew word for wisdom, “chokmah”, which is feminine. This is only a literary device and King Solomon, used personification to bring wisdom to life, making it more than just an abstract idea. Lifting you all in prayer and love!
I have been wondering how your son is doing?? Is he recovering well?!
Thank you.
Thank you.
I got to writing this morning a couldn’t stop! Forgive me for the long response.
Today’s reading prompted me back to Proverbs 9:10 from yesterday which I thought was also relevant for today.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” — Proverbs 9:10
The book of Proverbs reminds us again and again that true wisdom doesn’t start with intelligence, success, or experience—it begins with the fear of the Lord. This “fear” isn’t about being afraid of God but living with deep reverence and respect for His holiness, His authority, and His ways. It’s choosing to trust that His wisdom is greater than ours, and His path is better than any shortcut the world offers.
Proverbs teaches that the fear of the Lord means hating what is evil (8:13), walking humbly (15:33), and finding security in God’s presence (14:26). It’s the foundation of integrity—living with honesty, uprightness, and consistency even when no one is watching.
But integrity isn’t easy. Pride whispers that we know better than God. Temptation offers quick gains through compromise. And the fear of people—wanting their approval—often overshadows the fear of the Lord. That’s why we need God’s Word to anchor us and His Spirit to guide us.
When we choose to walk in the fear of the Lord, we find not only wisdom but also life, peace, and blessing.
This really made me think deeper. When I first read this study today I was confused because I do not “fear” the lord in the traditional sense of the word. I definitely need to do more searching on this topic and what is truly means.
Your “long” response is thought-provoking and spot-on.
I have been a Christian a long time and I understand the concept of fear of the Lord and say that I have a fear of the Lord but when I think of God I think of love. I know God is almighty and I have reverence for Him but I just get hung up on that phrase because fear is not what I think of when I think of Him. I’ll have to do a deeper search into the fear of the Lord and maybe the picture in my mind will become clearer. So thankful for this group that makes me think deeper on things ❤️
Staci, I feel the same. Thank you for mentioning it.
Sweet She’s, I’m still trying to get use to my (or back to) my new schedule. I need MORE time here. “fear of the Lord” Reverence comes to mind. When I was little, my mom would say (in Spanish) that if I didn’t obey God would punish me. THANK GOD, when we all accepted JESUS in our hearts, this was no more, plus we were older and my mom since then asked for forgiveness for saying that. Reading these Proverbs this morning remind over and over to TRUST, that HE has me. Proverbs 23:18 “There is surely hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off”. Lastly Prov 14:2 answering the question. What makes it hard for me? That I mess up ALL the time, ALL THE TIME, BUT GOD continues extends GRACE towards me and you. And not that I should stay where i’m at but to try harder and keep going forward. MOVING forward. Gotta go or I’ll be late for work LOVE you all
Agree willow! I get in my own way daily!! I think of fear as a respect and love for someone who has nothing but good intentions for my life. I may not always agree or like the plan, but I know he loves me and I can always find peace with life/decisions/situations etc. because I of that.
I like this.
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GM! Sweet She’s as you know it has been quite awhile since I posted. My family Dr didn’t feel the pain clinic was doing enough to help me. And I wasn’t comfortable with doing the spine stimulator implant. A friend of my son recommended a private practice doctor. I saw this doctor about 2 months ago. I’ve never had a dr. who spent the time this man has spent explaining things before and after treatment! My pain level has decreased to a very low level and I’m back to a somewhat normal life (if there is anything such thing). I will find out next week if my anemia is back. Prayers please.
Gene’s memory continues to decline and he is dealing with an UTI and another infection which makes it difficult to get up and down comfortably. As his caregiver it has been a very difficult year for me. Without the LORD’s strength and the prayers of his faithful people I couldn’t have made it. Love you She’s!
LINDA it is so good to hear from you!!! So thankful for that new doctor and the results! Continued prayers for you and Gene! ❤
Hi Linda, I haven’t been on for awhile either. Glad your pain is better. I had the spine implant stimulator done on 5/1 and not sure of result yet as they said could take 6 months. Yesterday, I had another steroid injection in base of spine. Our roads have many hills. I hope you find a lot of “smooth stretches”. Prayers for your healing and relief.
Hi Linda, So nice to get an update! I’m sorry it has been a tough year. Know that we continue to lift you up in prayer.
Wow, Linda, that’s amazing to hear about your pain!! I can’t imagine to have relief like that!! Praise God!! I am feeling a little better lately and not sure why, except giving Praise to God for the little things. I’m so sorry about Gene though, and how hard this is for you. Praying for you.
Great to have an update from you. Have prayed for you ❤️
I think of fear and awe. Fireworks and waterfalls and nature. Beautiful, dangerous, not controlled. A King and Queen.
I can’t help but share one more thing, a song, b/c singing it (loudly) this morning on my drive! Lion- by Elevation Worship.
He is coming back as a roaring lion!! And then Same God. He is the Same God of then, now, and tomorrow ! The old testament as vital total as the new!
Have a great day She’s!
That is my song for Chela because the Lord gave my husband a vision of her as a lioness!
God is the Sovereign King of the Universe and Abba Father. We treat kings and dads with respect and Awe especially when we ask are children. We can revere our dads.
Giving God his rightful place in our lives. Allowing him to be king.
The Proverbs says, ” To fear the Lord is to hate evil.” Walking a God honoring path and choosing to heed his instruction. Hating what HE hates and loving what He loves.
Living with integrity is being the same with God at home than being seen as a good church goer
1. Those who run from the Lord
2. Those who are committed to worshipping him for life
3. I decided to start with the definition of Integrity which is The quality of being honest and having moral principles.
I know honesty is important but it’s not something I truly understand.
I had a dad who was strict but in a loving way. He was a man of high integrity. There were no shortcuts for him, no fudging in income tax write offs, no not working at work. His integrity set an example for me.
I think respectfully fearing God is a bad thing. Where I fall short is with my trust in God with little things. Praying the Holy Spirit will guide me to surrender everything to Him big and small.
Praying for all.
For me, the fear of God is trusting Him and living with integrity (which is hard to do). I want to grow closer to Him and in relationship with Him. I want to work on not leaning on my own understanding and not being foolish and making wiser decisions.
My fear comes from imagining what my life would be like without Him and His word. Even at times I strayed I can still look back and see His work in my life. I have no doubt I am His child and loved beyond what I deserve. ❤️
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Amen! So good!
WOW! So many comments yesterday and today! Welcome Lauren G, Nichole Sells, Virginia Smith and all our new SRT sisters! This community is so good at lifting each other up and giving Godly insight and instruction. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
Have a blessed day.
Glad to see you back from vacation! ❤
To me,fear of the Lord is a heart postured to reverence, respect, worship and seeking Him. Its honoring and recognizing the rightful place He has in my life and drawing close to Him. I think having the accurate, healthy fear of the Lord, directs our gaze and perspective and can push away those earthly fears that can consume us. Growing in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord that we read/talked about yesterday increases our fear of the Lord. Fear of the Lord, silences the fears of the world. Simply put, knowing Him helps us know Him. Thank you, Lord for who you are and for your love for us. Thank you that you desire for us to know you, to have fellowship with you and long to have a relationship with us. Guide our ways and our hearts to look to you as the One who is Lord over all. Amen
The podcast is great so would encourage you to take a listen if you can. :)
Well said Wendy! ❤
Fea of God is not being afraid but knowing He is bigger, greater, stronger and reverencing and worshipping Him. No One is like our God! He is worthy of our honor, worship, everything we can give and do! When we revere the Lord, we remember He is everywhere and walk in such a way that everything is done to please Him and love Him and others!
big AMEN!
So many new She’s and comments to read! It fills me with JOY to know women are coming to read the word daily!! Oh what a difference it will make in families, and in our towns and states!! Imagine if the FEAR of the LORD came back to the US? Revival and love and respect for our Creator! It gives me hope that was fading!
Let the young mothers bring back faith in rearing the young ones- reading them scripture, praying and singing praise and worship in their homes!!! Even us older women can establish it back in OUR homes, where the Lord is respected while you are here, and we will talk about Jesus!! Share with our grands his love and his Greatness!
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Totally agree. Fear of the LORD begins at home. Our leaders need to start showing respect for God and God’s word and for all of us.
Yes ma’am!! I’m new here and I’m so very excited about being in a community of like-minded women of God who are diving in Gods word together! I know God is up to something BIG in this group and I’m so glad to begin with you all! Praise God!!
Welcome!!
These ladies are a wonderful community!
Welcome! You will love this community!
Amen!
Fearing God is something that brings us closer in our relationship with Him! It’s a concept that I struggle with a bit, not because I don’t fear Him, believe me I do. It’s difficult for me to reconcile this healthy fear/reverence with the hellfire & brimstone fear that I was raised with growing up Lutheran. Fearing God was always taught to me as fearing God’s consequences for my actions not this loving, knowledge bearing fear that is described in today’s readings. Living with integrity is difficult for me when I start to get in my head about how others perceive my choices. I know deep down that God’s approval is the only one that matters, but it’s hard to completely tune out the world.
Yes So good Susan, I can relate to everything you said!
Great share, Susan! ❤
My husband is a “cradle Lutheran”. I was baptized and confirmed 35 years ago. (LCMS) Neither of us felt fear like that in the Lutheran churches we were members of. (We were members at three different Lutheran congregations.) We are attending a Mennonite church currently, and I feel like many of them almost have that “scared” kind of fear. Obedience is a big theme for some of them. While I agree that obedience is vital, we all fail, and God won’t turn us away for our failures when we believe that He saved us from those failures. Yes, we suffer consequences for bad choices that we make, for sure. But I think more than anything, our lack of obedience makes Him sad.
I agree. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe
GM ladies. I am kind of piggy backing off of what Tina wrote. I can easily get myself into cycles of fear – fear for the future for my children, fear of the what ifs, fear of getting sick, fear of being alone. Now I find myself fearing what’s next as my daughter starts her junior year of college, what ifs and worst case scenarios running through my mind. What if she spirals and it is worse than before? What if she is unhappy, is anxious, lonely, can’t study, can’t eat… etc? How am I going to handle it AGAIN? But Tina showed me I can take these fears and swap them for the fear of the Lord, because the fear of the Lord brings hope, freedom, and peace. I think the fear of the Lord can also be taking him at His word. If I come to a place of reverence and awe of His power, there is nothing He can’t bring me (and my daughter) through. The fear of the Lord helps me to change my perspective.
Yes, your last sentence. “The fear of the Lord helps me to change my perspective.” I have a niece that is constantly thinking in fear and thinking the worst. We might say glass half empty type of person. But we waste so much energy on worrying. It clouds everything, and most never happens. That’s why we trust God one day at a time, and not worry about tomorrow’s troubles! Relying on God, trusting and obeying.
Yesterday I had to talk her off of a ledge of being overwhelmed, sad, fearful. Please pray for my niece Anniston and I will pray for dear Chela (I forgot how to spell it.) Love you friend, cast you cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you! (Psalm 55:22)
Praying for Anniston and Chelah! There is a lot in our world for anxiety and fear to grow and refocus our thoughts. Great comparative, TINA and TAMI!
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Re: what Rhonda saud –
When I was in high school, our Englush book had a sample sentence we were to follow. I do NIT remember what the English lesson was about, but I DO REMEMBER that sample sentence and it has strengthened me through the years. Ready? Here it us:
“What we anticipate seldom occurs.”
Love your last sentence CeeGee. I have another: those that worry before it’s necessary often worry more than necessary:)
Goid one, Tami! ❤
*Good*!
An older, wiser woman once asked me “do you believe that God is big enough to handle your worst case scenario(s)?” That question has stuck with me and been such a great “recalibration” tool when fearful/anxious thoughts try to be the boss of me.
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Tami, I’m not sure if your daughter struggles with depression but it sounds similar with her struggles you listed. My own mental health has been so up and down the last 5.5 years that I’m scared to take on a full time job such as teaching in a classroom. I am committing to substituting at a local preschool because I feel that’s all that I can do right now. I have found peace about this and hopefully, you will gain peace even if your daughter begins to struggle. Just be available to her and listen when she needs you. You will know when to step in and I’m sure as a parent it’s a worry that won’t go away.
I have fortunately always had a good understanding of what is meant by having fear of God. We just think of fear in negative terms usually as things we are scared of, which can be used for God as far as He IS all powerful, he does correct and is the judgement of all things. But, it is good to have a healthy fear of stepping out of boundaries given for our own good, as a parent gives boundaries to protect and guide their children. We should respect the rules like you do or should in your home, your town, and country. There is chaos and disrespect otherwise, a mess. Don’t we see that clearly around us today?
But also it is reverence for our God. He is our Maker. I have reverence and respect for my parents because they gave birth to me and raised me and took care of me, so I thank them and love them with all my heart and want to honor them. Even as a teenager, I knew the boundaries, and respected them and (mostly) obeyed them out of knowing they loved me.
I have a fear of God because he loves me and knows what is best for me, and he created me and established the rules for my good. When you look back you know that every choice brings consequences, either good or bad. And you can see God’s ways are good! It takes a while for our stubborn, wayward, stiff-necked ways to learn this.
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Amen
Wholesome dread of displeasing God, consumed with the “Awe” of God. Fear of the Lord
Letting go of things and situations we cannot control. Offing it to God, hands wide open.
May my fear of the Lord be greater than my fears of this world. May I fear missing an opportunity to share God’s love more than I fear rejection.
love!
Yes, amen Jane!
let me repeat that…”May I fear missing an opportunity to share God’s love MORE than I fear (worldly) rejection!) ooph! May my fear of the Lord be greater than my fears of this world!
Yes, ma’am. Bullseye! ❤
The phrase “the fear of the Lord” brings to mind the “picture” described in Isaiah 6:1-5, when Isaiah saw the Lord, high and exalted seated on the throne.
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I imagine me standing before God – or rather, falling on my face before Him because He is too bright and holy to gaze upon.
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To fear God is to acknowledge His greatness that is like no other. To picture His glory (if that’s even possible). To recognize His holiness and my “smallness” as I come be before Him.
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I can imagine that like Isaiah, I too would think – “woe is me, for I am undone!”
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What makes it hard for me to “live with integrity”? When I take my eyes off of Jesus – and I see the raging waters around me. I must daily learn to look upon Him and lean upon Him and draw upon the strength of the Holy Spirit who lives in me, so that I might be found blameless in His sight.
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Welcome sisters that are new to SRT, its good to see you hear!
Have a blessed Tuesday She’s – sending love and hugs to you all! ❤️
Thank you for the picture from Isaiah Sharon! Very helpful!
Yes, I agree! That is what people have forgotten. GOD is almighty, SO big and bright and AWE we will literally fall to our face. We have to know this. Our society is just so spoiled and blessed that we have no need (so we think) to pray and worship a God we don’t know exists.
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I love the example from Isaiah!! Well said and thank you for sharing that❤️
Fear = Reverence, Respect
I picture someone bowing before Him in complete surrender and awe.
I think the times it is difficult to live in integrity are when I allow others actions or words to negatively affect my own. Disappointment, discouragement, hurt/anger can lead even the most faithful to not walk in integrity. We need Jesus all the time! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness.
Amen, thank you for this!!
Ideas, definitions, or images at the phrase “the fear of the Lord”:
-the image of bowing down in reverence, worship and literal fear as He is holy, all powerful, and righteous.
-reminds me of OT stories of Noah’s arc, Lot’s wife in Gen.19, the plagues of Egypt in Ex. 7-12, the parting of the Red Sea in Ex. 14, all of Jesus’ miracles, his crucifixion and resurrection.
-All of these events display the unmatched power of the Lord, his hatred of sin and injustice to the point of destruction, but also his heart, commitment, and love for His righteous people, His saving power, and the lengths He will go to rescue us. All of which demand awe, fear, worship and gratitude, conviction, obedience, & more.
How do these Proverbs define the fear of the Lord?
-the beginning of knowledge
-wisdom
-direction, instruction
-A fountain of life
-hope
-safety
What makes it hard to live with integrity?
My selfish desire to have it easy, fast, and comfortable. The tendency to choose what serves me in the moment without regard of others and finding ways to justify my actions or choices.
Yes, amen!
“…tendency to choose what serves me in the moment…” I think you speak for a lot of sisters there! ❤
Oof…so true.
Father forgive me/us and help me/us. Amen
The image of kneeling on my knees with hands lifted high comes to mind. The posture of complete surrender. Sometimes my attitude towards others keeps me from living in righteousness
My attitude does the same Willow!
I’ve just been reading scripture consistently for a little under a year, this did not mean what I thought it meant a year ago. I started in proverbs. I’m glad that this conversation/community has gone into great detail. Listening to the podcast yesterday helped with the clarity and that fear is all honoring.
Thanks for sharing that, Teresa! ❤ We are all here to grow closer to God and each other. Glad you are here! ❤
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Amen
This one caused me to stop and think. The first image of the word fear was one of punishment.
However, by fearing the Lord you gain
I too think of reverence, images of those falling to their feet in awe and respect
I am in awe of all the Lord has done for all of mankind and for me. No matter what the world around me is doing, I want (need) to “delight in [His] will and walk in [His] ways to the glory of [His] holy name!”
Thank you all for your prayers yesterday. My mom’s asssessment kind of surprised us. In spite of having one of her best days in a while, she will be placd in memory care not assisted living, for reasons we totally understand. Fortunately this facility (it is beautiful, nearby, and we love it), has measures in place for when money runs out (which it will) and we are confident she will be in good hands. But it’s still a bit of a shock and we are still reeling a bit from the outcome
We went through this with my mom,it does surprise you; but they are very good at this care. I will be praying for you and you’re mom
Cat-tee, I’m sorry that it didn’t work out the way you had hoped, but thankful that your mom will be in a place that is beautiful and nearby where she will be well taken care of.❤️
I will pray that she will meet God loving people in the assisted living facility and feel God watching over her in her new surroundings.
Sending prayers; to say this was a difficult time for me puts it mildly as Mom needed the physical help, but was alright otherwise. She moved into assisted living, and this very nice facility also had a memory care unit. She watched several friends go there over the 5 years she lived there, and would ask if I thought she was ‘ok’ because she was worried about the money (nearly double what she was paying & that was A LOT). God honored my trust in his Word (maybe even more like desperation) in finding this place, and her body ran out before her money did. Peace to you as you navigate these times.
Sending prayers. Rest in the knowledge that you have done the best for your mom and she will benefit from the care she receives in memory care. I wanted to be able to do the same for my mom but got push back from my brother who lived with her.
Praying for all of you as you go through this process.
Joining our sisters in praying for you and your mom through this transition. ❤
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord.
How easy it is to be envious of those who walk in their own path without giving a second thought of Jesus. But walking in fear of the Lord has always been my conscious helping me to determine right from wrong. Some may call it “Catholic guilt”, but those of us who believe know its true power.
Amen
I agree! I was known as a “goody two shoes.” Who came up with that ridiculous moniker?!
I once overheard my daughter with her cousins. One of them said something about being bored. She quickly told him to not say that. She told him that if I heard any of them say that word I would give them chores to do. Her intention was for them not to fear me but to understand that I would follow through with what I said. This is the picture that came to me.
Love this!
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Haha! That was my parents response to complaints of boredom, too…I haven’t been bored in decades ;) and you’re right, like my parents, God surely will do what He says He will do.
you too? I give chores when i hear a boredom comment, which tend to spread quickly. There’s always plenty of chores :)
I wish English had more complex words like Hebrew. I’ve heard fear of the Lord being like reverence— highest respect. The readings show me that highest respect of the Lord will lead me to be more like Jesus
Amen! Well said Sarah
The phrase “the fear of the Lord” brings to my mind the accounts of God’s voice coming from smoke and fire above Mount Siani like thunder.
The writer of these proverbs considers the fear of the Lord a life-giving heart attitude.
Living with integrity can be hard when the Lord is not my focus. When looking around at others, it can be easy to rationalize my choices, thoughts, and attitudes as being “not that bad.”
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WELCOME to all the first-timers. So glad you are joining us, whether you comment or not.
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CAT-TEE – praying for the doctors to have wisdom with your mom’s assessment.
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SUSAN BURLEY and ANGELA CEPHAS – praying you both have clarity soon about next steps with work.
“When looking around at others, it can be easy to rationalize my choices, thoughts, and attitudes as being “not that bad.”” Amen, Kelly! ❤
In Proverbs 1:7, John Gills commentary describes the “fear” as a filial. An emotion that exists between a son/daughter and the parent. This was so interesting to me due to the fact that I have often and personally compared His love and direction for me as the same love that I have for my children. So many times when scripture or circumstances seem confusing to me, if I am able to view it through the lens of that filial experience, it will shed light onto the situation and or words. As far as I can read, all reference to fear in these verses are referring to an awe and reverence to God. The law is no longer held over us and therefore we are left in admiration of His grace given to us through His Son.
Amen
Amen❤️
To me fear of God means reverence and respect. Obedience to God’s word and will.
I have fear left, right and centre.
I have fear of heights.
I have fear of water ( large expanses)
I have fear of rejection, a BIG one!
I have fear of not being good enough, a throwback from point above!
I have fear of forgetting.
I have fear I my new season of retirement..
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I have fear.
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Earthly fear.
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BUT GOD..
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Reading these verses, there is a positive feel, they are encouraging, supportive, gracious..
The fear of the LORD protects you, keeps you safe.
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The fear of the LORD, brings wisdom.
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The fear of the LORD, is the beginning of knowledge, true knowledge.
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The fear of the LORD, helps navigate life, is healing and is nourishing as we take the steps towards..
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The fear of the LORD walks in righteousness with us, guiding us..
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The fear of the LORD, gives us the life He intended for us.
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The fear of the LORD, brings Hope.
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The fear of the LORD, brings freedom.
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The fear of the LORD, brings peace.
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Absolutely encouraged this morning, as i have felt a shift in my thinking.
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Earthly fear, cripples you, fear of the LORD imancipates us..
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Amen..
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Happy Tuesday my dears.. as always covered in much, much love and prayers.. hugs..❤️❤️❤️❤️
I can relate to your words of fear in earthly things and circumstances sooo much, Tina – rearing their ugly heads when I try to take control with situations that God never meant for me to wrestle with or asked me to fix (as if i could!). I love pondering and holding tight to the knowledge that the fear of God results in protection, hope for the future and a guiding light for the path He has for me. Thank you for sharing your feelings of encouragement so beautifully this morning!
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Tina you expressed the fear of the Lord in a way that made me understand it so much better. And I sooo get the fears of the world so it helped to see the contrast! Thank you!
So well put. I also struggle with fear of so many earthly things. I need to step out of my comfort zone and remember that God is with me always and will protect me.
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“Earthly fear, cripples you, fear of the LORD imancipates us…”- amen, sister! ❤
As I mentioned yesterday, we just started a study of Proverbs in church Sunday. From the sermon we got this definition of fear of the Lord: “a posture of surrender to and trust in the Lord. We acknowledge He is in control and the final authority.” I love the SRT statement that instead of shrinking back from God, this knowledge should draw us near in worship and adoration!
One other encouragement I found was to look for what virtue is commended and what vice is discouraged as we read Proverbs.
This is a great study already, Ladies! May we begin our day in worship and adoration of the only One worthy today and everyday!
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Sally, Hi Yes, I agree. When I read Proverbs I take note of what is commended versus what is discouraged.
I suppose usually when I hear the word “fear” I also think “scared”, but this is not the same type of “fear” we have when we fear the Lord. Sure, a certain reverence should be there, where it may be healthy for us to know he is all powerful and we should be scared to cross him!
I really enjoyed verse 14:27 where it says the fear of the Lord is the “fountain of life”. Wow! Isn’t that what we all want?
It makes it hard for me to live with integrity when I just forget who is in charge. When I forget the Lord cares for me. I need to continually keep him in my thoughts and become a more prayer-full woman so I can remember that he is in every detail.
Amen.
Continuing to pray for your home construction
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Yes! Amen!
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