“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

— Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)

Questions:

What is the fear of the Lord?

The Hebrew word yirah means awe or reverence. In simpler terms, it’s a deep respect for God—seeing Him as greater than yourself and living in a way that honors His holiness.

What is wisdom?

Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Simply put, it’s putting godly knowledge into action.

Truths:

• When you fear the Lord, you are so in awe of who He is that you dread being separated from His goodness, kindness, and guidance.

• This holy fear draws you to learn more about God and His character (knowledge).

• From that knowledge, you must choose either to apply it in daily life (wisdom) or, like a fool, to ignore it.

• Living with wisdom requires discipline—continually aligning your actions with the truths you’ve received from Scripture.

Application:

Take a moment today to reflect on how you relate to God.

• Do you treat Him like a genie—calling only when you need something?

• Do you neglect the teachings of the Bible and live by your own “truths”?

• Are you truly in awe of who God is?

Let’s step back and consider God’s greatness. The Bible overflows with promises and commands that reveal His kindness and goodness. Learn more about His character today and put that knowledge into practice.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for today. I boldly come before Your throne and ask for a renewed, reverent fear of You. Open my eyes to see Your character more clearly, and help me live out Your Word with discipline and love. I praise You and I love You. Amen.