January 8th

Knowing the Heart of God

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10 KJV)

Many people misunderstand the phrase "the fear of the Lord." They imagine it means being terrified of God. In Scripture, however, it speaks primarily of honoring Him with deep reverence, respect, and awe. It is recognizing God for who He truly is and giving Him His rightful place in our hearts.

The Bible says this is the beginning of wisdom. Before we can rightly understand wisdom, we must first have a correct understanding of God. When we see His greatness, His holiness, and His authority, our priorities begin to change. We become more interested in pleasing Him than in doing things our own way.

A person who honors God will naturally seek His counsel before making important decisions. He will be sure to enquire of the Lord before stepping out on his own plans. He or she will trust God's Word above their own natural thinking, because they know God's wisdom is correct and right.

The more we honor the Lord, the wiser our decisions become. True wisdom does not begin with greater knowledge. It begins with greater reverence for the Lord. It begins with the fear of the Lord.

Take time today to magnify the Lord in your own heart and recognize His greatness. Enquire of Him in prayer. Do not lean on and rely on your own understanding. Take time to find out what His wisdom is telling you to do. Wait upon the Lord for His wisdom. As your view of Him grows larger, wisdom follows and will steadily grow.