Tag Archives: Fear

The Fear of The Lord

February 13, 2025 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

What does it mean to fear the Lord? Yesterday I posted my own thoughts on fear and today I was blessed by a friend who read my blog and directed me to Ligonier Ministries, where they have daily discipleship resources. Under the section renewing your mind they have been discussing Fear of the Lord. Wow! How blessed are we when the Lord lays something on your heart for over a week and then He blesses with affirmation of your studies reminding how relevant and important His lessons are. I have now listened to all of them on fear from February 10, 2025 to today’s. I will continue to listen and learn and I hope that you will follow along.

There is a great deal to consider and a great deal to repent over in our sins. Understand your fear, understand your relationship with God, understand your obligation (which should come naturally when you have proper fear of God) so that you can properly worship, grow in your faith, have the peace you seek, and if you are dealing with a hardened heart you may be blessed with softness, compassion and joy. Standing before God, calling Him alone father is something that we all need to remind ourselves to do as we all will be judged according to His will.

I would be curious to know if you find yourself to be a rhino or a deer? What does your fear reveal? What are your priorities? Where does your security lie? Do you fear being a sinner or being exposed as a sinner? What is the state of your heart? Are you a hypocrite? Are you puffed up after studying theology? Do you pride yourselve on knowledge and power because we think we know more than others? Are you a theological thug? Do you have true knowledge of yourself? Things to ponder as you listen.

Praying that you find this to be a blessing in your walk through life. Be enriched by the Word dear one.

https://www.renewingyourmind.org/?utm_source=ligonier&utm_medium=homepage

Following in Faith

No Fear

February 12, 2025 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

There are so many things in life to be afraid of, loss, loneliness, criticism, uncertainties, future, past haunts, temptations, judgements, and losing ones voice. I often sit back and consider my own concerns or fears and remind myself that there truly is nothing in this world I need to fear if I am in Christ. Reminding myself that He gave me the breath of life, He brought me into this world, He guides my paths, He has chosen me to be a daughter, a granddaughter, a wife, a mother and a friend. He has chosen my path in this life and I just need to be patient, be encouraged, be hopeful, and faithful in knowing that nothing in the path I walk is a mistake in God’s plan. It may look different than I had hoped for or expected, yet it is His perfect plan and I will not fight against it.

I have been thinking lately about Christian liberty and moral self righteousness in the context of righteous anger. It’s an interesting concept, and when you really think about it, there is a temptation into thinking that one is acting with indignation to a cause in support of what they deem to be the moral high ground in their faith. Curiously I ask if it really is? I mean, what is the path taken to get the end result of what one expects? Is it a path of destruction, character assasinations and broken hearts? Is it a path of bitterness, anger, pride and stiff necks? Oh the pondering I do to try to explain that which I witness, and experience in witnessing others behaviors. It seems that in each situation, the main culprits of sin include and are not limited to gossip, resentments, hatred, self pity, bitterness, self righteousness, pride, broken hearts, and one of the biggest is fear. I just keep thinking that fear is one of the biggest issues humanity deals with. That being said, if one is claiming to live for Christ and in the Word, how can they blast through life leaving a path of destruction being led by fear? Living with a heart full of love and compassion, being in the Word daily and living a prayerful life, one would assume that fear would be abated. Yet, fear is offering gratification of self preservation for one’s own prideful nature. Oh Lord help us….

Many years ago I mentioned to a family member that with humility I feared God most of all. I was taken aback when their response was that I should never fear God, that God is love. I remember quieting myself and praying for them at that moment asking the Lord to open their heart to His truth and to know Him completely. Our society, through a great deal of media interference I may add, has taken God out of the picture and created an environment where many no longer fear God, they fear man and humanity. They fear for themselves that their own identity or their own personal desires will not be met. They take on the fear they feel others should have in life, they fear that salvation will not be theirs or that of other loved ones. Fear mongering as we would call it is running rampant in our culture along with self preservation. Goodness gracious I often ponder and ask the Lord if He is weeping over creation and over the evil that has begotten so many. Non believers and believers alike share in fear. Our churches are falling apart at the seems in this generation of self seeking prideful dispositions that believe authority is old fashioned and part of a tradition they do want to take part in. Little do they realize, authority came from their creator and from their beloved Lord who gave them the breath of life. I hope you caught that, self seeking prideful dispositions. After all, isn’t that what pride is? Self seeking feeling as though one is better than another, that one has more wisdom than another? Trust me, out of want to clear the air and make things (which I truly have no control over) right for peace, I myself feel the taste of a prideful heart that is self seeking. I am also reminded that it is out of fear of the Lord that squashes that taste and the sweetness of the Lords words overtake the bitter taste of a self serving moral high ground.

So how does one overcome the fear in life? How do good stewards of the Lord feed the masses with God’s manna for their own survival? Honestly, after a great deal of pondering, praying, seeking wisdom through God’s Word, I have come to the conclusion that through stillness and quietness in one’s own mind is best. Remembering that fear is of Satan, not of God. That alone should be key, yet sometimes humility is so far under the radar that one cannot see that a humble spirit is Godly. Humility and being meek and quiet in spirit often concludes with recognition of God’s blessings for salvation of a soul and also of God’s retribution toward the wicked. God does not allow anything to go wasted, not a prayer, not a thought, not a conviction of heart. Seeing a blessing through the thicket of the brush is something that does not come easy when there is pride, closed mindedness, selfishness, bitterness, anger, blindness, lack of faith, loss of hope …. The list goes on…..

What is my surety that fear is NOT of the Lord? Here are just a few of my reminders, hope they will also be yours:

The Lord is my shield (Genesis 15:1b) The Lord hears my voice where I am at in my journey of life (Genesis 21:17b) The Lord is with me at all times (Genesis 26:24) The Lord blesses those who have faith without fear (Deut. 1:21). The Lord fights for believers in Him (Deut. 3:22). Keeping Gods commandments brings blessings (Deut. 6:2). God makes it clear that It is the Lord God that should be feared (Deut. 8:6) Being courageous and valiant without fear is of the Lord (2 Samuel 9:7). Prosperity in life comes with the fear of the Lord acknowledged and pursued (2 Chronicles 26:5). The knowledge of God comes through fearing the Lord (Proverbs 2:5). Fear of the Lord is hatred of evil, pride and arrogance. (Proverbs 8:13). The fear of the Lord is wisdom and insight. (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of the Lord prolongs life. (Proverbs 10:27). Fearing the Lord allows for uprightness and strong confidence. (Proverbs 14) The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27). Instruction in wisdom and humility rather than honor (Proverbs 15:33).

There are so many more; 365 fear not statements in scripture, one for each day. Necessary for encouragement to the heart and mind of a Christian. A believer that has humility and fears the Lord will be blessed with safety, life and wisdom in truth.

Friend, where are you in this mire of a life? Are you stirred by self righteousness which you use as a religious crutch to build yourself up? Are you caught up in bitterness and anger that swells the hatred against others? Are you seeking the truth through humility and fear of the Lord so that you are given wisdom to know better? We are all sinners and we all have wrinkles that we need to seek ironing out. I encourage you as well as myself in great humility to stay focused on the Word, glorify the most holy of holiness, study and remind yourself that fear is not of God and that being alive means having no fear. Trust in Him, in His will for your life, in His leading and guiding without fear. Pray when that beast of pride begins to knock on the door of your consciousness and remind yourself that you are no better than anyone else on this earth, you are a sinner, you are not more important than the Lord our God, and that every time you allow yourself judgement on others you unsurp the glory of God off his throne. There is one judge and jury and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. So fear the Lord, know who He is wholly and completely, and live having no fear other than that of the Lord!

God bless you.

Following in Faith

Finding Hope in the midst of Fear and Despair

November 14, 2016 A Labour of Love 2 Comments

It seems that the world is falling apart. People are rioting in the streets due to the freedom of an election, there is death for the lost, friends that are ill, persecution of the saints and it’s getting colder with winter on it’s way. I know that last part isn’t a reflection of the world falling apart, yet it reflects the desperation of my prayers. For warmth and for my hope to become attainable! Warmth in the kindness people could show one another, warmth in healing, warmth in the sun and warmth in the gentle arms of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope in the protection of His wing when the wind blows fierce enough to try to knock me or those whom I love over.

Finding hope in a lost world can be a daunting task. Looking around, there is so much more to be in despair about. Hope seems to be something one has to convince himself/herself of, not knowing if hope is that which is to be attained. Hope in healing, hope in kindness, hope in warmth, hope in love and hope in freedom. Is it to be? How can one be sure that hope is going to become reality? Truth of the matter is one cannot be sure of a great deal. For many, uncertainty becomes an unknown reality of which doesn’t deserve the time or effort of hope. Hope seems too far in the reaching in a world which thrives in strife. Sometimes it seems that by getting hopes up, one will only have a dashed spirit when the outcome is not what was hoped for. Completely understandable since disappointment is the human natural reaction to a crushing blow . Yet, for a Christian, this thought process seems unacceptable or improbable. Is it really? Unacceptable? Improbable? That sounds a bit irrational! After all, human nature and the human spirit do not differentiate between that of a Christian and non Christian. Right?

Wrong! The definition of human nature tells us it’s the nature of humans; especially : the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans (Websters). Yet, for a Christian, there is something else to consider. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, hence the reaction of the human spirit. The human spirit that experiences a knowledge in which human nature cannot compete with. It’s the truth and knowledge that there is something much greater than ourselves at work. Something revealed by the grace of the Lord which is more powerful than that of human nature. For a Christian, this knowledge is the understanding and acceptance that the will of man and the will of God are not always in sync. That God always has a plan, that His will is perfect and that His timing is exactly that…His! Knowing that although we are living in a world of continual unholy drama, we have trust and faith in that which we cannot control. During illness, a Christian has hope that healing will come. If healing is not to come, a Christian has the hope of eternal salvation that is yet to come. If persecuted, a Christian knows that God’s plan is perfect and there is hope in knowing that all things work for His Glory! In watching the destruction of the fallen world, a Christian has the knowledge that this is not the end, only the beginning.

(I need to pause here with a sidebar…I stopped at this point to take care of some family needs. While I was waiting at an appointment I was unable to find my phone, which I usually take a look at during such times, so I picked up the book I had also brought. It was my book that was to be finished by tonights book study with a friend. As I was reading, I was once again struck with praise to the Lord for His care over my spiritual life. Here I was, writing my blog prior to leaving the house and then I was reading the chapter that fit so well with the above. I did not know this was going to be the case when I started writing, God knew. He knew I would not need my phone as much as I needed to read that next chapter before continuing on. Praises of Thanksgiving!)

Does this mean that we as Christians just have hope and go along in our daily lives not worrying about anything or doing anything about concerns that creep up? Not at all. What we do however, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, is become driven to find resolve in the Word and through prayer. We don’t sit by and say “there’s so much more, God has this covered, I just need to sit by and watch”. Christians actively seek out and try to stay focused. It’s not an easy thing for many.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

I mentioned how my reading of my book study was so compelling as an argument for what I’m trying to say here, that I just have to share the following notes from the book. (Book: The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung; my notes and some of the quotes below are in italics.)

A question in the book asks, “how does the spirit work in us to make us to make us holy?” Through various paragraphs my notes are such:

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Ephesians 3:14-16 ESV)

Wisdom from the Spirit

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. ( 1 Cor. 2:6-16)

The Spirit is power and light!

We can try to say all the right things to ourselves about how it will work out, yet are we going further to directly and actively seek the gospel truth in order to obtain the hope needed in persecution, illness, and fear?

“But in the pursuit of holiness we need to look at more than the past acts of redemption. We have to look forward and trust in future grace.”

Because of the future promises of blessings, our passion for hope is fueled by the power and light of the Holy spirit.

In closing, I may look crazy, sound like I’m not a realist (which happens quite often) , yet I am hopeful for a future blessing amongst the chaos that goes on around me. I am not always happy, I am not always positive, yet I strive to do my best in such times of despair to seek the council of the Lord and to trust in the wisdom that He chooses to impart my way. Am I always naturally secure in my hope? In all honesty no. However, that being said, my hope does not come through my own power of will, but through that of the Holy Spirit which gives me the strength to be secure. To locate the hope of the future blessings that He has yet to reveal. I pray that any and all adversities that I experience will be used for the greater good of sharing the gospel truth with those who may be in need. In closing, the book mentioned a quote from Martyn Lloyd -Jones which I want to share:

The New Testament calls upon us to take action; it does not tell us that the work of sanctification is going to be done for us…We are in the ‘good fight of faith’, and we have to do the fighting. But, thank God, we are enabled to do it; for the moment we believed and are justified by faith, and are born again of the Spirit of God, we have the ability. So the New Testament method of sanctification is to remind us of that; and having reminded us of it, it says, ‘Now then, go and do it’. (Marty Lloyd-Jones, Romans: Exposition of Chapter 6: The new Man)

Be well dear reader and go forth seeking hope for that which is yet to come.