Releasing Righteous Retribution through Reverential Regard, Part 2

(If you didn’t catch yesterday’s devo, you’ll want to read it first, before proceeding 🙂 )

There were many moments during that time in which I felt so downtrodden that I could barely take another step forward.

Holy Spirit came to rescue me. He truly does not waste anything. He used those difficult circumstances as a training ground for me. He revealed to me that the time had come to learn, in depth, what it really meant to fear Him and Him alone. “The LORD ALMIGHTY is the ONLY one you are to fear!” was His crucial message to me.

When I was a child growing up in church, the phrase “the fear of the Lord” seemed strange and hard to grasp. Wasn’t God a loving Daddy? Why fear? The Sunday School teachers would attempt to clear this up by asserting that it didn’t mean to be afraid of Him, but to be respectful of Him. I accepted this explanation, but the idea still felt remote.

Fast forward back to this distressing period of my life as an adult. Over and over again, my Comforter took me back to Isaiah 8:12-14. He faithfully, repeatedly insisted, “Don’t be afraid, My love. I am right here with you. Don’t let dread rule. Don’t give credence to the demonic mutterings of conspiracy sent into your ears. No one can snatch you out of My hand. I’ve got you, and I AM your sanctuary!”

I needed a specific battle strategy with which to fight the attack that was lambasting me. He gave me one, as I continued to meditate on these verses. What is the opposite of giving weight and attention to the enemy’s threats and imaginary scenarios of chaos and sadness? Filling up your inner space instead with praise for the Holy One!

He went on to illuminate for me the words, “He is the One you are to fear.” With His help, this is what I began to fathom:

To fear Him is…

• to be impressed with Him to the very core of who you are…
• to see Him for who He is in all of His splendor and glory and ENORMOUSNESS…
• to be in awe of how infinitely powerful He is…
• to understand deep in your being that He really did already vanquish whatever enemy you are facing at the cross…
• to SEE with the eyes of your heart Him sitting on His throne, reigning in indestructible might and ultimate supremacy over every force that exists in all of creation…
• to be stunned by His majesty…
• and to worship Him with absolutely everything that’s inside of you.

“The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom…” (Prov. 9:10, AMPC). The truly wise will tell you — you can actually exercise your fear of the Lord. Put it to work on your behalf. War with it! Chase the enemy off with it, along with his sorry conspiracy theories about your future!

Don’t miss the last installment of this series, coming tomorrow!

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What does the fear of the Lord mean to you, in your own journey with Him? How have you seen it bring blessing and help to your life?