16 Ways I’ve Found to Fear the Lord
How can I fear the Lord? Fearing the Lord is not walking around being afraid you’re going to give account of all your past sins at the end of your days. You will do this if you haven’t asked Him to forgive you in this life. But if you are washed, sanctified, and justified – which you are when you have Jesus as Lord of your life (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)- you’re only going to give account for your works, not your forgiven sin.
So how do I fear the Lord? I’ve found 16 ways. Please don’t take this as a checklist to complete but also know you can’t pick and choose what you want to do. Psalm 19:9 says Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. (New Living Translation) We can’t be “a little pregnant” and we can’t fear God “a little.”
1. Be open to the Instruction of the Lord…
Psalm 25:12 (New Living Translation)
Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
Proverbs 15:33 (New Living Translation)
Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom;
humility precedes honor.
2. Find Delight His Commands….
Psalm 112:1 (New Living Translation)
Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
3. Trust in the Lord…
Psalm 115:11 (New Living Translation)
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
4. Hope in His Unfailing Love….
Psalm 33:18 (New Living Translation)
But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
5. Serve Him with Reverential Joy…
Psalm 2:11 (New Living Translation)
Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
6. Seek an Undivided Heart…
Psalm 86:11 (New International Version)
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
7. Praise the Lord…
Psalm 135:20 (New Living Translation)
O Levites, praise the Lord!
All you who fear the Lord, praise the Lord!
Psalm 96:4 (New Living Translation)
Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be feared above all gods.
8. Honor Him and Show Him Reverence…
Psalm 22:23 (New Living Translation)
Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
9. Experience His Glory…
Psalm 102:15 (New International Version)
The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
10. Be In Awe of Him…
Psalm 33:8 (New Living Translation)
Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
11. Hate Evil…
Proverbs 8:13 (New International Version)
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
12. Perfect your holiness…
2 Corinthians 7:1 (New International Version)
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
13. Work to Reconcile others…
2 Corinthians 5:11 (New International Version)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
14. Work out your Salvation…
Philippians 2:12 (New International Version)
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
15. Search out wisdom…
Proverbs 2:1-9 (New Living Translation)
My child, listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
16. Obey His Commandments…
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (New International Version)
Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
Do you know any other Scriptures telling us how to fear the Lord? I appreciate them in the comments.
We’ll start the next post asking why “doing what’s right” is part of fearing the Lord…I don’t think I’ll get to my answer, but I want you to take note of that now.
Thanks again for a wonderful post. I hope you don’t think so many comments from me are spam. Feel free to delete the same ones I use time and time and time again.
I did. I take off links from people who use the same comments over and over again.