Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
Tell God all that is on your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and its pain, to a dear friend. Tell him your troubles, that he may comfort you; tell him your joys, that he may sober them; tell him your longings, that he may purify them; tell him your dislikes, that he may help you to conquer them; talk to him of your temptations, that he may shield you from them; show him the wounds of your heart, that he may heal them;
The sermon he preached that day to our church, meeting in a high school auditorium at that time, was not about storms but about the One who gives us confidence in the storm. We don’t have to live in fear—even when the storm comes—the Lord is our confidence. He is all we need. He is all we will ever need.
The name of the Lord describes his person, character, and works. God—all he is and all he does—is a strong tower. We run to him, embrace him, and cling to him. He provides safety and security. Like a child hanging on to his father, we cling to him, and he upholds us with his powerful right hand (Ps. 63:8).
But the “eyes of the Lord are in every place” (Prov. 15:3). He does not distinguish between “on stage” or “backstage.” He puts our hearts on his scale to reveal if our pretending outweighs our commitment to him. When we turn our hearts wholly to him, the playacting is over.
Fearing the Lord is not living in terror and dread of him. That’s what Martin Luther called servile fear—a prisoner waiting to be tortured or executed. Rather, fearing God is a filial fear (filial in Latin means family). This fear is love, awe, and respect for the One who provides us with security and fills us with significance.
Until then, we live in awe and respect God—in fear of the Lord—for his sovereign work in the world and our lives—even when we don’t understand.
So, when we read in Scripture that we should live in fear of the Lord, it means that we are to live in awe and respect for our heavenly Father, who demonstrated his great love to us by sending his Son to die for our sins. We live in awe of his love, his greatness, and his power.
Whether rich or poor, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Whether rich or poor, we all need a Savior. Whether rich or poor, the question is, “Have you trusted in Christ alone to forgive your sins and place you in a relationship with the living God?”
Prosperity does not come from material things but from the spiritual discipline of following God’s instruction. Blessing does not come from anything the world can offer but from a deep trust in the sovereign Lord.
God’s sovereignty is the basis for faith. He not only works out everything for his own ends, but he promises to work them out for our good (Romans 8:28). Thank God for his sovereignty. Without it, our faith is baseless.
The original readers of this passage did not see a flippant formula. They understood that offering plans to Yahweh was a distinct act of worship and faith. They did so prayerfully and humbly. Let’s do the same.
Whether in marriage or parenting, whether in the workplace or in relationships with friends, the believer is committed to a higher standard. People of integrity always keep their word.