How can we conquer fear? Only by replacing it with a bigger fear. God is bigger than all of our fears. Oswald Chambers said “When you fear God you fear nothing else, when you do not fear God you fear everything else.”
The interesting thing about fearing God is that it is unlike any other fear. Rather than causing apprehension and doubt, it goes hand in hand with joy. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2: 11.
So what does fearig God mean? First, fear of the Lord means we are in awe of His power. When Jesus performed miracles, the people who witnessed it were in awe. In Luke, chapter 7, Jesus raised a young man from the dead. The reaction of the townspeople? “Then fear came upon them, and they all glorified God, saying ‘A great prophet has arisen among us.’ and ‘God has visited His people'”
Secondly, we respect and fear the wrath of God. In our part of the country, we understand this very well. Storms pop up and God’s power is on display, with no creation made by man safe from destruction. We should fear God, not man. Proverbs 29: 25 says “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”
Fear on the Lord also means that we trust His unconditional love for us. David, the shepherd boy turned king understood this very well. In Psalms 130, verse 3, he says ” If you, Lord should mark iniquities,O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” Awe, respect, trust. Fear of the Lord can replace all of our fears.
All references are NKJV.
photo credit: Charles Patrick Ewing <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/132033298@N04/36185896164″>Sunset Explosion</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>(license)</a>
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