|

What Does the Fear of the Lord Mean? (Proverbs 31)

ByMyrna Mirelix Updated

Have you ever found yourself hearing terms in church that you recognize but struggle to explain? “The fear of the Lord” or “the fear of Jehovah” is one of those terms we might know how to identify but don’t always fully understand.

In this lesson from the Smiling at the Future Series, we’ll focus on how this concept of the fear of the Lord is the principle that provides fertile ground in our hearts and lives to live a full and abundant life, aligned with the teachings of Proverbs 31 about the virtuous woman.

This publication contains affiliate links, that means if you make a purchase using one of the links, we will receive a commission that will help us to keep and develop or blog, to continue serving you and reaching more women. Read our Affiliate Disclosure for more details.

What is the Fear of the Lord?

We often associate the word “fear” with irrational fright, but “the fear of the Lord” is completely different.

It’s about reverent fear based on knowledge of who God is and who we are in relationship to Him.

As we grow in our understanding of God’s holiness and majesty, we begin to live with deep respect that compels us to follow His ways.

Verses in Proverbs about the Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is one of the themes in the book of Proverbs. Here’s a list of verses you can meditate on during your devotional time to learn more about the fear of the Lord.

These verses not only reveal the importance of this principle but also show us the positive effects it has on our lives.

I encourage you to take a moment to read and meditate on them:

  • Proverbs 1:7
  • Proverbs 1:29
  • Proverbs 2:5
  • Proverbs 8:13
  • Proverbs 9:10
  • Proverbs 10:27
  • Proverbs 14:26-27
  • Proverbs 15:16
  • Proverbs 15:33
  • Proverbs 16:6
  • Proverbs 19:23
  • Proverbs 22:4
  • Proverbs 23:17

The Effect of the Fear of the Lord on Our Lives

When we have fear of the Lord, our lives will be transformed in various ways, but we can summarize that we’ll see three main effects:

Love: By recognizing God’s greatness and love, we’ll respond in love toward Him and others. (Matthew 22:37-38)

Trust and Peace: Resting in God’s sovereignty gives us unshakeable confidence to face any challenge, assuring us that our security is in Him and our needs will be supplied by Him. (Psalm 112)

Obedience: Reverent fear motivates us to obey God wholeheartedly, listening and responding to His call in our lives. (Luke 6:46-47)

Living Under the Fear of the Lord

Practically speaking, living under the fear of the Lord means we’re conscious that we live in God’s presence. (Psalm 56) This is more than knowing that God is omniscient and omnipotent.

It’s actively recognizing that we’re in God’s presence so that it can become a reality in our lives that everything we do, we do for His glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

By recognizing this truth, the way we act and handle our other roles and responsibilities will change. This will lead us to live consecrated to the Lord, longing to grow increasingly in holiness.

Living under the fear of the Lord, our greatest desire will be that our actions and thoughts be pleasing to Him. As Paul told the Corinthians:

Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Growing in the Fear of the Lord

Now that we better understand what the fear of the Lord means, the next question is: How can I grow in the fear of the Lord?

Upon believing, this fear begins to be formed in us, but we need to strengthen it, and we can do this by engaging in spiritual disciplines, as these act as means of grace that remind us of the Word of Truth and keep us focused.

Spiritual Disciplines

Here are key spiritual disciplines that help us grow in the fear of the Lord:

  • Meditating on the Word
  • Prayer and Biblical Fasting
  • Biblical Worship of the Lord
  • Congregating
  • Serving Others
  • Evangelizing

Looking at this list, honestly evaluate your spiritual life using a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being where you need the most help and 5 being where you’re strongest.

After your evaluation, develop a plan to strengthen the areas you need, seek support from sisters in your local church, and explore resources that help you grow in the disciplines you need.

Here are some books you can read about spiritual disciplines:

We Will Be Praised

The fear of the Lord is the foundation upon which we can build a strong and balanced Christian life. It’s not just an abstract idea but a reality that transforms our daily lives and guides us toward a future full of hope and purpose.

Just like the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, we will be praised not for completing our task list or maintaining an organized house, but because it can be identified in our lives that we fear the Lord.

Let’s live each day in the fear of the Lord, and thus we’ll be able to smile at the future with complete confidence in His eternal love and care.

Leave a Reply