No More Running From Fear

Gwen SmithBlog, Control, Faith, Fear, Wisdom 7 Comments

Proverbs 1:7 tells us, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be afraid.

Case in point. I was a tween with pimples; long, lanky limbs; and an attitude the summer our family went to Ohio to visit friends of my parents who lived on a farm. I didn’t much care if these people were nice. I didn’t much care what we would eat for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner. It wasn’t the beach, and I wasn’t overly thrilled to be in Ohio for a vacation. (No offense, Ohio people.) But I had heard they had horses, and that calmed my grump a good bit because, truth be told, I was giddy to ride one.

I just knew I was born to ride! My cousin Beth had horses, but up to that point, she hadn’t had the chance to teach me the ropes. Finally I would have my chance.

The sun danced with a summer breeze the morning we journeyed past the barn out into the pasture for our horse adventure. It was beautiful. A perfect day for an eager girl to do something new and exciting.

I got a quick bit of instructions, and then I mounted the saddled creature, grabbed the reins, and ventured out into the grassy fields. All by my big-tween-girl self.

Freedom met me in the tall grass as Butterscotch and I became fast friends.

We walked. We cantered. We even galloped! I was so good at this!

And then I turned him around, back toward his owner and the barn, and Butterscotch got his run on in a fierce way.

Scared. Me. To. Death.

I didn’t know what to do. I screamed, dropped the reins, and held on to the horn of the saddle for dear life. The owner was waving her hands trying to tell me what to do, but she sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher, and the moment was blurry mayhem.

Then when I was sure we would crash into the barn, causing me to meet Jesus way too young, Butterscotch came to a halt.

And I went inside to change my pants. (Joking.)

I was so scared that I collapsed into an ugly cry. Couldn’t even control my emotions. And on that day, one thing became crystal clear to me: I do not like to be afraid.

Seriously.

If I see a snake, a mouse, or a spider (generally anything with more or fewer legs than I have), chances are I’m going to run the other way screaming louder than a middle-school girl at a Taylor Swift concert. Why? Because those creatures freak me out. It’s an unsettling kind of fear. And remember? I don’t like to be afraid.

Yet the Bible says we are to fear the Lord. Come again? How does this make sense?

I’ve come to understand that the fear of the Lord is a good kind of fear; it’s a righteous fear. The best kind. When God says we are to fear Him, He’s saying we are to be in awe of Him, to revere Him as the One who dwells in unapproachable light. To recognize Him as the eternal eminence who sits on the throne of grace and lovingly welcomes us to encounter Him intimately as we worship.

I fear God when I reflect on His greatness, when I whisper, “Good job on that flower, God!” when I trace the jawline of my sleeping, whiskered man-child and give thanks to the loving Creator who created him.

I fear God by giving Him the honor, esteem, and adoration due Him. In good times and bad.

I fear God by recognizing that He is God and I am not.

I fear God by understanding that all of the power in heaven and on earth is His. And in doing so, I’m ushered into a fresh beginning. To the greatest resource of power. To a starting gate that opens wide to knowledge, wisdom, and instruction—all of which are worth far more than any understanding this world offers.

Straight up: The world is a faction of fools who laugh at godly wisdom. It whispers venom to our souls …

“You don’t have to pay attention to God.”

“Do things your way.”

“More! You need more!”

“It’s okay to watch that raunchy movie or read that trashy novel.”

Blah. Blah. Blah…

No thank you, world. I’ve got a mad crush on my God, and I don’t need your misguided direction. The fear of the Lord leads me to wisdom in a beautifully sacred way. And that’s a fear worth running toward full force.

Dear Lord,
You are holy, and powerful, and full of grace. Please forgive me of my independence, indifference and stubbornness that keeps me from Your best. Please lead me in wisdom, knowledge and depth today.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE

How intense is your fear of the Lord? How often do you prioritize Him, honor Him, reflect on His attributes, worship in spirit and in truth, fall before Him in awe of His God-ness?

Read Psalm 112:1-4. Write out a prayer of response in your journal or click here to write a prayer response on the wall of my blog.

Love you tons, friend.

GWEN


Did you ever start a Bible Study and not finish? Yeah, me too. It’s normal and it happens to all of us. But studying the Bible is important to helps us know God more, and to equip us with His power, perspective and peace.

Don’t let the unfinished studies in your desk keep you from going after what you truly know your heart and soul needs. JOIN me for an inductive online Bible study that can be done in the comfort of your home and in a timeframe that fits with your personal schedule. Our next 4-week Psalm Adventure begins on September 8, 2019.

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Comments 7

  1. Dear Lord, I pray that my fear of you will be evidence by my worship and obedience to you. I want to be in right standing with you to be open to receiving your blessings and that my inner light may shine. That it’s brightness may draw others near who want to experience the peace, mercy and goodness that comes from knowing you personally.

  2. I love all your articles some really hit home for me.
    I see all the beautiful things the lord has given me & feel blessed.
    My husband of 38 years has been diagnosed with cancer & my world has been shaken to the core.
    My faith is like a mustard seed right now but know he is able.
    Please pray for Randy.F. Healing!

  3. Father God I thank You and I praise You for life, unconditional love, and peace. I thank You that I can come to you boldly and request all that I need. You are my source, you are my strength, you are everything, I fear you in the fact that I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are with me always, Lord God I reverence you because all things are possible through you, I reverence you because you have my back in every situation, I reverence you because you loved me before I even was a twinkle in my parents eye. I thank you for allowing me to be on this Earth to share your love, to show your love, to be your hands and feet. I thank you and I praise you in Jesus name Amen

  4. Merry Christmas in July!!
    Awesome Story,Thanks for Y’all’s Blogs Very Inspiring & Upbeat with God’s Wisdom & Spices.

    Lol Sounds like Butterscotch Was Ready for Pay-Back for Giving him That Un-Manly Name..Headed Straight For his Ownner. Glad You Came out All-Right.

    Fear of The Lord was Such a Big Bummer for Us Growing Up EveryTime Trying to Read Psalms or Proverbs We Could Never Enjoy reading cause Fear the Lord Your God ;Made God Seem Like Un-Loveable to us…I felt Like Really How can You Get To Know or Love Anybody if You FEAR them Finally Years later Somebody Explained That Special Meaning to us & A Light bulb went off. …F.alse.Evidence.Appearing.Real. Once Being Baptized & Saved while in “Fishers of Men” Classes…the Evangelist Explained What Fear really was & Is it a Sin to “Worry & Have Fear”? Like Y’all Teach The Fear of the Lord is to Have RESPECT & Being in AWE of His “Awesomeness”. The Preacher told us to Just Read Psalms 119 Aloud Few Times a Week when Stressed & Guess what ? …After Reading the Whole 20-Minutes Power Chapter You See What the Fear of The Lord Really is.

    BTW what Do Y’all Think about this Year’s Miss Alabama’s Bachelorette & her New “Jesus 💜’s Me Anyways” Vs Mr Luke Christian P..views on the Fantasy Suites? Would Love to Hear or See a Few Blogs On What Is Acceptable Entertainment for A Family of Faith ?? (TV,Radio,Netflix,Prime,Movies,Music,etc)

    Have a Blessed Week!!

    Cheers

  5. Lord God, I respect You above all else. You are my Abba Father! I respect & revere You. And I tremble with fear when I think about the amazing things You have done! You created this whole world and everything on it. You created me! And You made everything without flaws! That is so AWESOME! YOU are an AWESOME GOD! There is no one like You! Thank You for creating me! Forgive me when I look at myself and feel like I am so imperfect, so flawed, so much of a mess! If YOU created me, then I must be flawless! YOU sent YOUR only SON, JESUS CHRIST, to this earth to die on the cross for me. He suffered so much on that cross & during his human life, and HE DID IT ALL FOR ME! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! Amen.

  6. I know the Lord love me. He is good, kept me. He is Holy, there is none like Him. No one you can trust but Him

  7. Fearing God is beneficial to the believer. It shows our adoration and love for Him and the things he does and provides. Fear of God results in a love like no other and blessing from above. Obeying his commands is what he requires. Do not be conformed to this world but trust and obey our Heavenly Father.

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