To cultivate the fear of the Lord each day, we must understand what the fear of the Lord is. King Solomon speaks of the fear of the Lord:
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. ~Proverbs 1:7a NASB
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. ~Proverbs 9:10 NASB
- He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord. ~Proverbs 14:2 AMPC
To King Solomon, the fear of the Lord is the first step in gaining wisdom and knowledge of God. Job echoes his sentiments, “Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord – that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”1
David spoke of the fear of the Lord in his Book of Psalms:
- Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him]; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. ~Psalm 33:8 AMPC
- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. ~Psalm 111:10 NASB
- Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. ~Psalm 112:1 NASB
- Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience], who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. ~Psalm 128:1 AMP
David enlightens us in how to cultivate the fear of the Lord – we must worship Him, reverence Him, and stand in awe of Him; while we delight in, live according to, and do His commandments.
The Apostle Peter spoke of Cornelius the Roman Centurion, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears [God] and does what is right is welcome to Him.”2 Whether a Christian or non-Christian, God responds to those who fear and reverence Him.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, prophesied while Jesus was still in the womb. “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior…and His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him.”3 The fear of the Lord brings blessings to us and to our family for generations. The fear of the Lord changes our family’s trajectory.
Isaiah points to Jesus Christ, “And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”4 To be like Jesus, we need to cultivate the spirit of the fear of the Lord. When we cultivate the fear of the Lord, we grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. And we gain His counsel and strength.
Toward the end of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon shares this insight, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”5
Let us choose to cultivate the fear of the Lord and to seek to obey His Word. The Lord is Faithful and True, and He will strongly support us. “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”6
Will you join me in cultivating the fear of the Lord?
Recommendations
How to Stand Amazed in God’s Presence – Strength with Dignity
How to Find God – Strength with Dignity
How to Examine the Soil of Our Hearts – Strength with Dignity
References
1 Job 28:28 AMPC
2 Acts 10:34 NASB
3 Luke 1:46, 50 NASB
4 Isaiah 11:2 NASB
5 Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NASB
6 2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
I am a Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
14 thoughts on “How to Cultivate the Fear of the Lord Daily”
Lisa, that word DAILY immediately jumped out at me. Our faith is not a one and done. It’s a sacred relationship worth cherishing, cultivating, and nurturing. Everything and everyone else needs to come in second. Your reminder is needed. Thank you.
Our relationship with the Lord is worth cherishing, cultivating, and nurturing, Linda.
Thank you for this beautiful and thorough blog. It’s an important topic. I was raised with the idea that fearing God means having fear of Him and that God is primarily an angry judge. Only later did I realize that the true meaning was different, as you describe it. So, I’m grateful for your blog.
Groetjes,
Aritha
I’m so glad God isn’t an angry judge waiting to punish us, Aritha. He is the Lover of our Souls that woos us to Himself that we might get to know Him.
Thank you, Lisa for reminding us of what true fear of the Lord really is. I believe we honor Him when we choose to fear Him and grow in the knowledge and wisdom of his word.
I agree, Donna, I think it honors Him when we choose to cultivate and grow in the fear of the Lord.
The passage you quote of Mary’s prophecy about the birth of Jesus has long been one of my favorites. So many beautiful songs have been written with those words as well. Mary was indeed cultivating her fear of the Lord for generations to come.
Mary is an inspirational lady, Lisa.
Relationships require regular attention and work. It’s got to be a daily thing!
So true, Michele!
Yes, joining you in cultivating the fear of the Lord. I love how you brought this all together. The words you weaved are so encouraging.
Thanks so very much for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
May the Lord enable us to continue to cultivate the fear of the Lord that we might reflect His nature.
The biblical use of “fear” has been a hard word for me – because why would any father want their child to fear them. God is not the evil King in The Lord of the Rings – where loyalty was born out of terror. Yet, when fear is defined through “reverential awe or worshipful respect” – I can wrap my heart and head around that – and understand a mighty love, a mighty shepherding, and even a mighty discipline through that definitive prism. Having grown up in an environment of conditional love – and being a literalist – at times the “fear” scriptures have been a mine-field that I had trouble maneuvering through.
I think the fear of the Lord is one of the most misunderstood aspects of His nature, Maryleigh. I’m thankful for the heart healing and mind renewing that He so kindly brings to us so that we experience His kindness and His freedom.