The Fear of God Is a Good Thing!

"Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."  - Psalm 31:24 (KJV)

There seems to be no shortage of fear these days. Although, frustration, confusion, and ignorance fuels a good deal of it. Some of the concern is actually legitimate and justifiable. Whatever the reason, fear can be seen, felt, and heard in nearly every corner of the globe.

Thankfully, Scripture provides us with some insight on fear to help calm scared and anxious hearts. The Bible talks about something called the "fear of the Lord," which may be misunderstood as being "afraid" of the Lord. However, it's actually quite the opposite.

What it really means is that we should look upon God with reverence and respect. We should recognize God for who He is and what He is capable of. Fear of the Lord bestows us with many benefits and blessings, is the beginning of wisdom, and guides us to sound judgement, among many things (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 19:23; 14:26, 27).

Clearly, the fear of the Lord is a good thing, and should be encouraged. But, there is another type of fear that is mentioned which is unprofitable and even detrimental. I am referring to the times we are overcome by the "spirit of fear" or afraid. Though, this "spirit of fear" is not received from God at all (2 Timothy 1:7).

The only way we can master or defeat this fear is to love and trust in God unconditionally. Fear is part of our human composition. If we had no fear, then we would be perfect; which is impossible. God is perfectly aware of this; generously dispersing hope and support from cover to cover in the Bible (1 John 4:18).

In conclusion, there are undoubtedly plenty of things to fear in life. To overcome our spirit of fear we must place our complete trust in God. Our trust is made possible through the knowledge of God and His goodness. By doing this, we make a statement that we refuse to surrender to fear. And that God will guide us through it.

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 10:31; Psalm 56:11; Job 13:15; Psalm 5:11

Prayer: Dear Lord, in my darkest hours, and days of trouble, I know that You are with me; protecting and encouraging me with Your strong hand, and merciful heart. Amen

May God bless you always!

Brandi