To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 8:13 NIV
When we think about our fears, our minds and bodies almost always tense. Whether it’s a fear of heights, spiders, public speaking, failure, or being alone, everyone has fears. In fact, it’s considered perfectly natural to avoid what we fear.
Why does the Bible say we should “fear” God? In reality, to fear God is not the same as fearing the creepy-crawly spider inching up the living room wall. Instead, we have a healthy fear God when we have a deep respect and reverence for Him.
Imagine that the president of the United States was paying your home a visit. The house would be extra clean, the laundry would be washed and put away, and you’d instruct your children to be on their best behavior. Why? Because the visitor deserves respect.
Our lives should reflect a similar reverence for our heavenly Father every day—our souls scrubbed extra clean, sin eliminated, and love for our Creator bursting forth in joy. God wants speech and actions to match. Take time today to stand in awe of the One who deserves our greatest respect and love.
Lord, help my daily actions and speech to reflect my respect for You. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2013 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Kate E. Schmelzer.