Today's Verse: Psalm 34:9

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
— Psalm 34:9
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Fear of the Lord" is one of the great themes of the Bible. The phrase is particularly hard to translate, especially in light of the repeated message of the Bible to "do not fear" (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31; Revelation 2:10) and John's reminder that "perfect love casts out all fear" (1 John 4:18-19). Fearing God means more than "holding God in reverence." Generally, "fear of the Lord" means that we remember our place in the order of things, especially with regard to who we are in God's presence. We know we are deeply loved by our holy Father in heaven, whom we call Abba Father. We also recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison to God, and that we 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 in holiness and importance before God. We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him. The 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 (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, please forgive me for my sins and empower me to be a person of integrity and grace, to your glory. 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 — Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

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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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