Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge - Prov 1:7

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. (Prov. 24:3-4).

There are aspects of our experience that transcend our human understanding, that don't fit into nice logical formulae. At those times when we pause to reflect on "how then can anyone understand their own way?" Wisdom would answer that "A person's steps are directed by the Lord" (Prov 20:24).

There are times in life when it is challenging to distinguish truth from falsehood and we need words of insight. There are times when we need understanding – when we need to see what God sees, and we need the knowledge that God only possesses. Then there are those occasions when we need wisdom just to be aware of the fact that we require insight and understanding.

The one who bought us with the blood of his son, the one who redeemed us, the one who is wisdom, freely offers to provide us with his wisdom. God's wisdom sees the events that our happening in our life and this world in the context of eternity. His wisdom will show us just what we need for this moment in time.

God freely offers us words of insight. God freely offers us instruction so that we can control our natural inclination to sin. God has established absolutes of righteousness, justice and fairness which flow out of his character so that we can stay on the straight path and not turn off to the right or the left. The knowledge that God offers us will bring honor (14:18), strength (Prov 24:5); and protection (Prov 22:12), but not necessarily as the world defines these. God freely offers to teach us discretion so that we can make plans to formulate the best course of action towards our calling to live holy lives as his sons and daughters.

Ask the Lord out of his infinite wisdom to show you where you need insight, understanding, knowledge and / or discretion. Then humbly trust, obey and repeat.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov 1:7).

Trusting the Lord

Your journey toward your goals takes place in God’s world, where God reigns supreme. The Lord has created you, the Lord has blessed you not only with the abilities to make your plans, but also has created and blessed you with exactly the right resources you need, and has surrounded you with just the right people so that you can move forward with your plans.

God is at your right hand during every moment of every day as you carry out our plans. The perils along the path may be unknown, but your security is certain. God is not distant during your successes and failures. As you are working on each of the tasks of your plans, place your trust in God’s infinite wisdom and loving, protective care. Then you won’t have to worry about slip-sliding down “slippery slopes”, or tripping along the rocky paths.

God never sleeps and never slumbers; so rest with delight, assurance, joy and peace. Fear Not! Keep your eyes focused on our Lord and Savior, the Maker of heaven and earth!  Know with certainty that “the Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night” (Psalm 121:5 NIV). 

Beginning a new year

As a new year begins, what are your thoughts dwelling on? Is your heart, mind and soul filled with praise to God? Not just praise to God for this moment, but praise that wells up in your soul continuously, throughout the joys, routine and stress of life.

Once you were dead in your sins, broken, trapped, hungering and thirsting for more. Through faith in Jesus, God out of his great love for you has transformed you. Now you are forgiven, healed, rescued, loved, and satisfied. You are God’s child! As you go about your daily routine, may your heart be overwhelmed with the goodness of God. At those times when life becomes so difficult that praise seems impossible, cry out in utter honesty to God, and tell him that it is too hard to praise him and ask him to remind you of his loving kindness. As you turn your eyes upon Jesus, as you look full in His wonderful face, if there are things that are overwhelming you, or things that are stressing you out, they will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace

May remembering what God has done for you, and praising God be your focus today and every day. May your life be enriched with love and thankfulness!

Even as your heart and soul are filled with praise to God consider the people who work for you and with you. How can you live your life in such a way that these people know your soul is constantly filled with praise to God? How can you lead these people so that they know that the Lord works righteousness and justice for the oppressed, that the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love?