Today's Verse: Psalm 34:9 (KJV)

Tuesday, October 9, 2001

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
— Psalm 34:9 (KJV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Fear of the Lord" is one of the great themes of the Old Testament. The phrase is particularly hard to translate, especially in light of the repeated message of the Bible to "fear not" and John's reminder that "perfect love casts out all fear." It means more than "hold God in reverence." Generally, "fear of the Lord" means that we remember our place in the order of things. We know we are deeply loved by our holy Father in heaven. We recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison and are saved by God's mercy and grace. We acknowledge that his majesty and holiness are far beyond us and that we pale in significance before God. We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him. The incredible reality is that when we approach God with this sense of awe and profound respect, he in turn welcomes us with open arms and brings us close. (See Isaiah 57:15)

My Prayer...

Holy and Righteous Father, God Almighty, thank you for your mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Thank you for your love, faithfulness, and justice. I come to you on my knees, recognizing that you are holy, majestic, awesome in power, and righteous in all that you do. Without your grace and the gift of your Spirit, I know I could not come into your presence with such boldness. Righteous Father, forgive me for my sins and empower me to be a person of integrity and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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2 Related Resources by Heartlight

Fear the Lord
Illustration of Psalm 34:9
Inspirational illustration of Psalm 34:9 -- Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
Fearing God
Article by Tim Archer
Should I be afraid of God? There's a difference between fearing God and being afraid of God. One has to do with reverence; the other is a lack of love.

Illustration

Illustration of Psalm 34:9 (KJV) — O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, October 9, 2001

Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'This Kind of Fruit!' (Ga. 5:22-23)
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There...."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Failure to Do What You Know Is Right Is Sin'
"So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Adopted' (Ga. 4:1-7)
"Dear Father, Thank you for delivering us from slavery and immaturity. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ at just the right time, in just the right..."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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