How To Use Fear As A Tool In Your Life

(00:00): A strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. That is the definition of fear. And there is so much of it in our world today. Believe me, I've experienced it as well, but what about this definition? A profound reverence and awe, especially toward God. How can those two definitions be so beautifully different? Well, we're going to tell you why today as we talk about how beautiful the fear of God is and what it can mean in your life today, stay tuned. Welcome to episode 40 of the well-versed woman podcast. I'm Renee teller and I'm Theresa Morgan. You see Renee and I are two perfectly imperfect women who have a heart to share a life's journeys in our face with you. See our journey has been about a relationship with God growing closer and closer and deeper with him every single day. And we want to share that with you as well.

(01:16): We know a few stay tuned. You're going to grow a relationship with God. And that fierce thing is going to change the way you think about it. But we get started the same way every single week. We actually plug in to our creator. We plug into that power source so that we can understand what he's saying to us today. We take 20 seconds, close our eyes and actually invite God to come and be right here with us today. As we open our eyes to see our ears, to hear, and most importantly, our hearts to love that 20 seconds begins right now.

(02:21): [inaudible]

(02:21): That's it that's 20 seconds. And if you don't get anything else out of this episode today, I want to encourage you this year in 2021, to develop a practice of stillness, that was 20 seconds. I'd encourage you to grow that to a whole five minutes by the end of the year, and your life will be different. But back to this idea of fear, Theresa, we've been spending the last several weeks talking about wisdom and how important wisdom is. And we know that the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And they're talking about this reverence or off for God, right? Theresa

(03:07): That's that's right, Renee. You know, we've looked at some scriptures in Proverbs and we're going to go to the, the book of wisdom. Once again, today, you know, we can see in Proverbs chapter nine, verses 10 to 11, the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. In the knowledge of the Holy one is understanding for, by me wisdom. Your days will be multiplied in years of life will be added to you. Wow, Renee we're actually, when we employ wisdom, wow, years of life are added to us. I also love Proverbs chapter one, verse seven. It says, again, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. I love that if we take it apart a little bit, we can see that a full despises, the wisdom and instruction of God. So I guess we could say, you know, don't be foolish in walk in despising what God has to say, but on the contrary, be wise and really contemplate and look, and study to see what the Lord says.

(04:18): So again, if we look at this word, fear, Rene in the Bible, it's a reference. It's a, when you hold someone high in highest esteem, you're going to consider what they have to say. You're going to consider who they are. You're going to consider their ways. And we know that the Bible is a book of patterns and principles. And we know that when we consider the instruction in the word of God in walk by bed instruction, it will bring us blessing and it will bring us stability in life. And isn't that really what we all need, no matter, uh, if the storms are raging or if peace and calm are attending to our ways.

(05:04): So true. I used to read that and say, why does God want us to be afraid of him? And the answer is exactly what you said that it's wise to fear him where we're talking about being in awe or reverencing him. So if that's the beginning of wisdom to fear God, we learn most about God in this book, which you're talking about. And so often it reminds me Theresa about people who maybe don't understand that don't understand the Bible, or haven't even looked in it to see what God is all about. That have something to say about it and have a almost criticism about the fear of the God of God is the beginning of wisdom. So I love the idea of the fact that we should be in reverence and in awe of God. And if we begin to understand what this good book says about God, Oh my gosh, I should be, I should be in awe. And in reverence of him, if we can understand the bigness of God and how powerful he is, and just the fact Theresa that he can change every aspect of our life. If I can be reminded of that, Oh my gosh, it changes my ability to spend time with them every single day. It changes everything. If we can reverence God in this way, which is the beginning of wisdom it's wise like, well, it's one big circle to me.

(06:41): That's absolutely true in the Bible over and over in. So many places talks about being humble, do not be arrogant, do not be prideful. And it's interesting because, you know, I think one of the definition of fools is someone who is arrogant, who is prideful, who thinks they know it all. If you will. The Hebrew words rendered fool in the Proverbs is often described as someone who's morally deficient who doesn't have a character that says, you know, I don't know at all, and I need some good instruction. So again, we're going to look at some other scriptures that further describe what that fear of the Lord is. Renee. You know, if we look at Proverbs chapter eight, verse 13, the Bible says the fear of the Lord is to hate evil pride in arrogance and the evil way in the perverse mouth. I hate. So this is some great instruction and we can pull it apart.

(07:43): So fearing the Lord is yes, reverencing him in, it's also despising or hating what he hates. So let's look at these things to hate something is to detest it, turn against intensely. I like to look at it as a verb, an action word, where you see something in, literally you turn from it, you turn away in the things we're supposed to turn from, run from, turn away from our evil and pride and arrogance, an evil way, a perverse mouth. So these are some of the things that as we walk with God, and as we follow him, when we're in situations and we see any of these five things, if you will, that we need to run from, we consider in the wonderful thing about Christianity is that we have the Holy spirit living inside of us as a Christian. So he is always leading and guiding.

(08:51): As we've described in other episodes, he's helping to properly ascertain Lord, is this something I need to run from right now? Is this something I need to start taking some steps back from is how, how, how long shall I maybe be in this situation? Because you're trying to bring the light, your light to this spotlight, but then I'm to step away from it. So it's so valuable to know that the Holy spirit will be in us some 30, two, eight. He instructs and teaches us in the way we shall go. He guides us with his eye. So timing is crucial with God and walking alongside and, uh, always corroborating and praying with him to be led off him is how we walk in the wisdom of God.

(09:45): Absolutely. When, when I listened to you talk about those five things, evil, pride, arrogance, evil ways, perverse mouth, right away, you say, well, of course, I mean, I do all those things. So I must be wise. And I fear the Lord. I, of course I detest evil. Of course I detest evil ways, but let's spend a minute on pride and arrogance, right? I can't tell you how many times I have to stop myself in my tracks when I'm trying to do things in my own power, in my own might I think that I'm trying to make things happen or get it all done or accomplished something. And I have to stop and say, wait a minute, Renee, where are you crossing the line? Where is your pride getting in the way you are not God, you're not God Renee. When did he put you in charge of this or that or whatever the thing is because we tend to get caught up. I do in my work or in my performance or in my accolades, it seems like it's not a big deal, but it really is to work on that, to turn away from that and remind myself constantly Theresa, that exactly what you said. It's the Holy spirit. It's the power of God that lives in me that is able to do and perform and to be love in this world. It's not me.

(11:23): Yeah, that's absolutely right. I love, you know, I'm thinking of Renee, Romans five chapter five, the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by Christ Jesus. We're supposed to be that conduit for his love, for his wisdom, for his direction, and to apply it in discretionary ways, as he shows us, you know, I'm going to go back to Proverbs chapter eight and let's look at verse 12. Now, uh, one verse, uh, ahead of the verse 13, we looked at, it says wisdom. I dwell with prudence and find out knowledge and discretion. So it's really interesting, you know, as I was planning for this episode, I said, okay, great. Now let's put Proverbs chapter eight, verses 12 and 13 together. And it really says the beginning of wisdom, the fear of the Lord is to turn away from evil, pride, arrogance, an evil way, the perverse way, and to turn to prudence knowledge indiscretion, again, it's a turning away from and a turning to.

(12:31): And isn't that what salvation really is all about that we're turning from something from the darkness that we used to walk in and we're turning toward God in the marvelous light that depicts his direction, his instruction, his wisdom that he has for us, you know, God is a God of purpose. He loves, he loves to see us grow. He loves to see us mature because in the growth and in the maturation of our character, in of our soul, the love that's in us that is stored in us in that annointing, he's placed in us can grow and it can affect people's lives in the most wonderful of ways. But, but what it does take on a daily basis is turning from situations that are evil, that are arrogant, that are prideful in constantly continuing to turn to him. I look at it, I look at it as water.

(13:41): You know, I don't take a sip of water, right? Renee, we don't, you don't drink water, you know, on a Tuesday by Friday we say, Oh, w we don't, I guess we need to sip water again. But from Tuesday to Friday, we don't need it. Now we need God's direction and interference if you will. But, but for me, it's, it's, it's a welcome to welcome interference in my life because when he interjects his wisdom, when he puts me on that good path, I know that great things are going to happen for me, not only for me, but for those who are in my path,

(14:19): I love that you say daily basis. You know, we talk a lot about this, that what we focus on is what becomes reality. And so whatever I need to do to make something happen on a daily basis, switch, you know, posted notes. I think God created post-it notes because I have to put it on a post-it note and remind myself until it becomes second nature, like water tracer. So this idea to turn away, you know, if I just wrote those two words on the post-it note, I would remember that every time I came to something turn away, I need to fear God in this way. I need to turn from this, to this. It's so important. I love that, that you emphasize, it's like drinking water and it's the beginning of wisdom.

(15:22): It, it re it really is Renee. Oh, again, you know, when preparing and reading in the book of Proverbs, you know, for wisdom, I mean, I thought I knew what was stone was, but wow. You know, preparing for this episode have, has given me a whole new understanding, a whole new appreciation. I mean, in Proverbs chapter eight, verses 14 through 18, the Bible says, counsel is mine in sound wisdom. I am understanding I have strength by me, Kings reign and rulers decree justice by me, princes rule and Nobles, all the judges of the earth. I love those who love me in those who seek me diligently will find me riches and honor are with me in during riches and righteousness. Wow. You know, the Bible that right there is talking about wisdom, right? It's the personification of wisdom. Proverbs four verses five through eight, again, get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget and return away from the words of my mouth.

(16:27): There's that turn again? Right? Do not forsake her wisdom. She will preserve. You love her. And she will keep you wisdom is the principal thing. Therefore get wisdom and all you're getting, get understanding, exalt her. She will promote you. She will bring you on, or when you embrace her. So again, the, you know, as I flipped through the pages of Proverbs everywhere, I looked there were those action words. You get it, go to her, do not forsake her, love her. Wow. And so I've come to a new place in my loving for wisdom. I feel like I now have a new flashlight with me and I'm shining that light onto all the situations I find myself in. And boy, you can be sure every morning, I try without fail to sit up and say, Lord, I pray that I have your wisdom today. I love fathered the wisdom that truly only you can impart in, in that way in doing that. Renee I'm humbling myself before God. I am saying father, I don't have what I need in my own strength and in my own intellect. But I know you too. And I know that you love to dispense wisdom, right? Like a good pharmacist that loves to dispense good medication that is going to affect the sickness in the body. God loves to dispense his wisdom, but it really does take putting pride away from us in saying, Hey, I don't have it all, but I know you do in, I want to walk humbly with my God.

(18:19): Hmm. It's so great. Uh, I'm reminded of a couple of things. This month was the third anniversary of Billy Graham going to heaven. And I've been watching some of the shows about his life and his ministry. And I think what you just said is exactly what he exuded Theresa, that humbleness, that idea that as much as he accomplished in his ministry and how big his ministry grew, he never lost that idea of being humble and that it wasn't him. He never, ever took credit that it was anything, but God working through him. And we might say, well, of course, because I mean, he was a, he was a preacher. He was, he was a man of God, but all of us need to embrace that same kind of humbleness in everything we do, even though we may not be preachers. We are working in some capacity.

(19:26): We are accomplishing things in some capacity. And it's so easy. I think about the real brainiacs, like a Steve jobs or an Elon Musk, like, wow, it must be really hard for them to, to admit that God is where all their wisdom, where all their intellect comes from. Because in our humanness, we want to take ownership of that. And the reverence and awe of God is the beginning of wisdom, the reverence and awe that he is the source. He is what we plug into. He is our creator. No human has ever been able to replicate a human being the human brain. When we think about God and how big he is, all the great men of our time, can't replicate something like the human brain. I mean, I'm just trying to put it in perspective because at the end of the day, it all comes from that power source that we plug into every single episode,

(20:32): Renee. And I love it today that we're talking about the fear of the Lord and referencing him. I love we're talking about being humble because some of the scriptures that talk about pride are actually very frightening. Proverbs chapter 16, verse 18 says pride goes before destruction or pride cometh before the fall. Wow. So to be humble is really to keep ourselves from destruction from a fall. The book of James, I love what the book of James chapter four verses five through seven says it says, or do you think that the scripture says in vain, the spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously, but he gives more grace. Therefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God there again. There's that action verb writes. Submitting is an action verb, submit to God, resist the devil. And he will flee from you resist being proud.

(21:39): Like the devil is how I can see that. And we know the devil had a great fall. So I look at humbleness and I say, thank you, Lord, it's a safety net. It keeps me from pride and arrogance. It keeps me humble. It keeps me on my knees. If you will, literally and figuratively sometimes. And it keeps me referencing you. And when that takes place, I have seen things in my life move and change B I believe in part, because God says, you know what? You're, you're working the keys of humbleness. And now we're going to put it in the ignition of my grace and my power in now we're going to travel together, but guess what? The minute should I veer off the road? And I go into pride in arrogance, he'll take the keys away. My car and my car will come to a dead stop. And when that happens, Renee, we're going no place. Literally.

(22:43): I love that Teresa. And I love again, if you're listening and you don't know where to start, I would suggest understanding this concept about how big God is, how omniscient, how omnipotent, how omnipresent he is and allow that fear, that reverence and awe of that bigness direct you. If I can be reminded constantly every morning about the definition and almost Teresa of who God is, it puts it all right in perspective. And it's very easy to be humble. So that makes sense,

(23:27): You know, perfect sense. It's so true, Renee. And again, when we, when yes, when we do understand, right, that he's all mighty, all powerful exists in time. You know, all at one time when we realized in that he is loved, right? God is love. He has all of these wonderful attributes and characteristics perfectly housed, and he will perfectly dispense all of them in that is the beauty of God. That is the beauty of a perfect, perfect creator in person. And when he get, he get to walk with him, but again, we have to be so careful that we continue to walk humbly. You know, we can look in, in another book where Peter says in first Peter chapter five, verses five through six, six, likewise, you younger people submit yourselves to your elders. Yes. All of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility.

(24:31): I love that for God, resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. Isn't that beautiful. He, God wants to bring you from one place to the next, uh, in the Bible it's called. He wants to bring you from glory to glory, to everlasting glory, but he can't do it. If your character is not strong and sturdy, because he, you know, it says in the Bible, you will always tumble to the level of your character in your soul. So God will give you the keys to the car can take you places with that car when you are ready. And in the years I've walked with the Lord. Boy, he's headed, do some cleaning out of me of, of areas where I could get a little bit prideful. Rene.

(25:29): I could get a little bit Hottie and in my own right thinking maybe you know who I am or the abilities I have, but no, no, no. God has said to remind me where Theresa, where do you think those abilities come from? Or, Hey, let's try it this way, this time. And thank God that I Revere it love him. And I have a Holy fear of the Lord just in a reverential way. Yes, he's daddy. I call him daddy. You know, I jumped metaphorically. Uh, I jump on his lap all the time and figuratively, right? Because he's not here in the flesh, but I do have that connection with him. But yet I know he's God. And I know who I serve.

(26:16): Well, it's not unlike when you talk about jumping in his lap. If we have good relationships or you've had a good relationship with your parents, you know exactly what it means to fear them, right. To fear our parents. Well now multiply that guy by a gazillion, whatever, whatever number we can't even say. And that is God. So it's a great analogy, Theresa. And I, I love that because I think our family dynamic is the best example we have of how God wants to be with us. And that's a perfect, perfect exist.

(26:58): That's right. Renee and I, I liked that you brought the parents in because God's not our buddy. And I think that's one of the downfalls that sometimes I see, you know, the parents try to be a buddy to their children. And that I think diminishes the role of respect because yes, we should be friends, but we should never falter or dilute the relationship of where he stands in relationship to us. He is father, but boy don't ever lose the honor and respect that. He is also God.

(27:38): And just like with our parents, that relationship changed over time as we grow. And it's the same with our relationship with God, as we mature in him, it does become different, but we never ever crossed that line. Just like I would never do with my mom or dad Theresa.

(27:59): That's absolutely correct. And you know, again, I, I love to express and say over and over because, you know, I needed to that. We're not on this walk alone. I mean the spirit of God that dwells in us, I love what the book of John says, chapter 14, verse 26, Renee. But the helper, I love that the Holy spirit is our helper to help her, the Holy spirit whom the father will send in my name. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance, all things that I said to you in John chapter 16, verse 13. However, when he, the spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth for, he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak and he will tell you things to come. So when we submit to the authority of the Holy spirit follow, where he leads with the faith that we have, our journey, we'll be blessed beyond our wildest dreams. You know, the verses that I just read to you were from the mouth of Jesus. And he was talking about the Holy spirit that he was going to send once he died. And, uh, his redemptive work on the cross was finished. So we're in that timeframe. Isn't that wonderful Renee worked in that timeframe, walking in the power of the Holy spirit who resides within us.

(29:22): Um, we're so blessed to be living in this time where we do have that access Theresa, because generations before us did not have the access to the Holy spirit that came once Jesus died. And that assists us with our trace, which again, that faith is the action verb that makes this whole podcast come together. We have our favorite foundational scripture. We shared through Renee Romans 10 verse 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Thank you for listening. Bye.

(30:03): Yeah.

(30:05): So glad you were here today and we have a journal, a free journal. We'll send you in the mail. If you want to subscribe, rate and review this channel, just go through the show notes in your favorite podcast platform. And there'll be instructions on how to do that. Also in the show notes, you can have access to download and even print out today's scriptures to help remind you of what we talked about today. I love the ability to do that. And lastly, we have a Facebook community. We can't do this alone. We can't remember all the things that God teaches us every single week. So if you want to join that Facebook community, just ask to join the well-versed woman. And we'll be sure to approve you. We'll talk to you next week.

(30:59): Bye-bye.