True fear of God...

Window in the coach house of the "Kropff-Federath'sche Stiftung" with the blessing “WARE GOTTESFORCHT ALLEIN BRINGET GLÜCK und SEGEN HEREIN AMEN” ("TRUE FEAR OF GOD BRINGS HAPPINESS AND BLESSINGS AMEN")

August 2021 (@chris)

#Olsberg #KropffFederathscheStiftung #Kropff #Federath #Rutsche #obererHof #Coachhouse #Window #Blessing #FearOfGod #Halftimbered #Decoration #FensterFreitag #Kutscherhaus #Fenster #Segensspruch #Gottesfurcht #Fachwerk #Verzierung

Power That Walks With You, Not Fear That Paralyzes You

A Day in the Life

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7

When I read Paul’s words to Timothy, I cannot help but imagine a quiet morning in Timothy’s life—waking with responsibility pressing heavily on his chest. He was young, naturally timid, physically fragile, and surrounded by opposition. Ministry was not theoretical for him; it carried real consequences. And yet, Paul does not tell him to toughen up, nor does he minimize the dangers ahead. Instead, he gently but firmly re-centers Timothy’s identity. Fear, Paul says, is not a gift from God. What God gives is power, love, and a sound mind. As I walk with you through this truth today, I want us to hear this not as rebuke, but as reassurance meant to steady us for faithful obedience.

The only fear Scripture commends is the fear of God—a reverent awareness of His holiness, authority, and final judgment. Paul speaks of this when he writes, “Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade others” (2 Corinthians 5:11). This kind of fear does not shrink us; it clarifies us. It orders our loves and realigns our priorities. Fear of people, on the other hand, disperses our energy. It causes us to manage impressions rather than steward obedience. I have learned that when I fear people more than God, I begin negotiating faithfulness—softening convictions, delaying obedience, or staying silent when clarity is required. Proverbs captures this soberly: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe” (Proverbs 29:25). The snare is subtle, but it is real.

Timothy knew fear not because he lacked faith, but because he understood the cost of faith. He watched Paul endure imprisonment, rejection, and violence. He knew that faithfulness could lead him down the same road. Fear often intensifies not in ignorance, but in awareness. Most fear is fear of the unknown—what lies ahead if we obey fully. Left unchecked, our imagination becomes an adversary, magnifying obstacles until they appear insurmountable. John Calvin observed, “Fear is the false apprehension of danger when there is none, or an excessive dread when danger is present.” This is where Paul introduces the gift of a sound mind. The Greek word sōphronismos implies disciplined, self-controlled thinking—seeing reality through God’s perspective rather than our anxieties.

Jesus modeled this clarity repeatedly in His own daily walk. He did not ignore danger, but neither was He governed by it. When opposition rose, He remained resolute, grounded in the Father’s will. In moments of threat, He withdrew—not in fear, but in discernment. In moments of confrontation, He spoke truth—not recklessly, but courageously. His confidence flowed from intimacy with the Father and reliance on the Spirit. That same Spirit now dwells in us. Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit enables us to see as God sees, not as fear imagines. As A.W. Tozer wrote, “Faith is seeing the invisible, but fear is believing the false.” The Spirit anchors us in truth when fear distorts reality.

Fear is never an excuse for disobedience. That may sound strong, but it is deeply freeing. If fear dictated faithfulness, obedience would always be optional. Christ came not only to forgive sin, but to liberate us from bondage—and fear is a form of bondage. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). When fear dominates, love is diminished; when love is restored, fear loses its grip. This does not mean the absence of trembling moments, but the presence of courage that moves forward anyway. As we ask God to expose and release our fears, He does not shame us; He strengthens us. He replaces fear’s paralysis with power, fear’s isolation with love, and fear’s confusion with a sound mind.

As I move through my own day, I am learning to pause and ask: Am I acting from fear or from trust? Am I trying to appease people, or am I seeking to please God? When obedience feels costly, I remind myself that the Spirit within me is not weak, uncertain, or hesitant. He is the very presence of God, equipping me to walk forward faithfully. And He does the same for you today—quietly, steadily, and faithfully.

For further reflection, see this article from Desiring God on overcoming fear through faith:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-fear-is-defeated

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When Holy Awe Becomes Daily Faith

DID YOU KNOW

The Bible speaks often about fearing God, yet the kind of fear Scripture invites us into is not terror, but reverent awe. In Ecclesiastes 5:1–2, we are reminded, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God… for God is in heaven and you are on earth.” The Hebrew word for fear, יִרְאָה (yirah), describes a posture of deep respect, humility, and awareness of God’s greatness. It is the kind of fear that draws us closer rather than pushing us away. In a world that treats God casually or even as a spiritual accessory, Scripture calls us to rediscover holy awe—the kind of reverence that reshapes how we pray, worship, and live.

This theme runs through Genesis, the Gospels, and the wisdom literature alike. From Abraham’s covenant dealings in Genesis 21 to Jesus’ confrontation of hollow religiosity in Matthew 15, God consistently calls His people to approach Him with hearts that are surrendered rather than self-directed. Ecclesiastes captures this beautifully by reminding us that God’s infinite perspective stands in contrast to our limited human vision. When we grasp even a small part of this reality, our relationship with God becomes not only deeper but more honest.

Did You Know… God invites us to listen more than to speak when we come into His presence?

Ecclesiastes 5:1 tells us to come to God ready to listen rather than rush to speak. This challenges a common pattern in modern prayer, where we often treat God like a suggestion box for our worries, dreams, and frustrations. The Hebrew word for “listen” here is שָׁמַע (shama), which means to hear with the intent to obey. God is not merely asking for our attention; He is inviting us into a posture of trust. When we listen first, we allow His wisdom to shape our requests, rather than forcing our desires onto Him.

Jesus echoed this same principle in Matthew 15 when He confronted religious leaders who honored God with their lips but not their hearts. Their words were plentiful, but their listening was absent. True reverence is not loud; it is attentive. When we quiet our hearts before God, we begin to recognize that His guidance is often more insightful than our plans. Listening transforms prayer from a monologue into a relationship.

Did You Know… God’s holiness is not meant to distance us but to draw us into deeper humility?

Ecclesiastes 5 reminds us that God is in heaven while we are on earth, highlighting the vast difference between His nature and ours. This is not meant to shame us, but to orient us. Isaiah had a similar reaction when he saw the Lord, crying out, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5). Yet it was in that moment of holy awareness that God purified and commissioned him. Holy awe does not push us away; it prepares us for transformation.

This is why fearing God actually leads to spiritual intimacy. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” When we acknowledge God’s greatness, we stop pretending we are in control. That humility opens the door for God to work within us. Reverence is not spiritual distance; it is the doorway to genuine closeness.

Did You Know… we sometimes use God to justify our desires instead of seeking His wisdom?

The story of Rachel and Leah in Genesis 30 shows how even sincere people can manipulate spiritual language to pursue personal agendas. They spoke of God, but often in ways that supported their rivalry rather than surrendered trust. This pattern still exists today. We can easily wrap our ambitions, fears, and preferences in religious language without truly seeking God’s will.

Ecclesiastes warns us against this “sacrifice of fools,” where words are offered without thoughtful submission. God desires honesty, not performance. When we approach Him with humility, He reshapes our desires to align with His purpose. That is when prayer becomes transformative rather than transactional.

Did You Know… the God who is infinitely beyond us has chosen to live within us?

This is perhaps the most astonishing truth of all. The God who reigns over the universe, who commands galaxies and time itself, has chosen to dwell in human hearts through His Spirit. Jesus affirmed this miracle when He promised that the Spirit of God would live in His followers (John 14:17). The same God we approach with awe is the God who walks with us daily.

This reality transforms how we understand reverence. Fear of God is not about distance; it is about honoring the sacred presence within us. When we live with holy awareness, every moment becomes an opportunity to reflect His glory. The God of heaven is not far away; He is near, shaping our lives from the inside out.

As you reflect on these truths, consider your own posture toward God. Do you come to Him rushed, distracted, or self-focused? Or do you approach Him with reverent openness and a listening heart? Fear of God is not about anxiety; it is about awe that leads to trust. When we rediscover that holy wonder, our faith becomes not only deeper but more alive. Let today be a moment when you pause, listen, and honor the God who is both above you and within you.

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Pharaoh’s False Repentance: When “I Have Sinned” Isn’t True Repentance

Pharaoh said all the right words — “I have sinned” — but his heart never changed. His story in Exodus reminds us that confession without obedience is empty.

👉 Read the full post: https://www.scottlapierre.org/pharaoh-false-repentance/

#PharaohFalseRepentance #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #Repentance #Obedience #FearOfGod #ScottLaPierreMinistries

For the

#MusicWomenWednesday

I would like to introduce you to this incredible female fronted band called Fear Of God.
Their debut album "Within The Veil" is one of the most intense and darkest discs in the metal circus.
I love this sound… 🤘

#FearOfGod #ThrashMetal

Playing Tip:
The hole fucking album
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzYe5RbYwtA

#SandraTorres, a #Presidential #frontrunner in #Guatemala vows to keep #samesexmarriage #illegal and #run country with ‘#fearofGod’

Torres, who leads the #Fascist #NationalUnityofHope #party, has moved sharply to the right in recent months.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #CentralAmerica #Guatemala #Politics #Conservatives #Extremism #Fascism #Religion #Hate #Bigotry #Discrimination #WomensRights #Homophobia #Transphobia #EmptyThePews

https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/14/guatemalan-presidential-campaign-candidate-sandra-torres/

Adorn your heads with the garlands of #trustworthiness and #fidelity, your hearts with the attire of the #FearofGod, your tongues with absolute #truthfulness, your bodies with the vesture of #courtesy. These are in truth seemly adornings unto the temple of the cord of servitude unto God, the True One, for thereby your stations shall be made manifest, …

Bahá’u’lláh
Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 24
#bahai #quotes