How to Fear the Lord by Following Godly Impulse
I laid down to take a nap, but then realized I wasn’t really tired. I was unmotivated. As I processed all the different things I could do, I found nothing appealing. As a result, I wondered if I was bored with my life. Have you ever lived in a space where you knew life is good, and yet you felt unsettled, unsatisfied, and/or unhappy?
We have finally entered the month of November. Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks and Christmas is on the horizon. Many of us are consumed with the holidays and creating the ideal moment to remember. Consequently, we spend copious amounts of time on Pinterest, Amazon, Etsy, and Instagram. Each of us search for the best ideas, the cutest decorations, and the most original gifts.
We see our lives; we know we are blessed, however, we want perfection. Life is good, and yet we still long for something else.
Instructions for a King
Early in October, I listened to a Bible Project podcast. In the podcast, Tim Mackey and John Collins were discussing the middle portion of the book of Deuteronomy. There’s a section of scripture in Deuteronomy 17, where Moses discusses what Israel should do when they decide they want a king after possessing the Promised Land. He describes the kind of king they should choose and what the king should be focused upon.
“When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes.”
Deuteronomy 17:18-19, CSB
In Moses’ instructions we discover the king is to be more concerned with learning to fear God then ruling the people. As I contemplated that idea, I thought of how I have a consistent quiet time, ordering my life to keep God first. I considered the fact I attend church at least twice each week, choosing to be involved in helping others worship and follow Jesus. I wondered if I was holding to the concepts that Moses was basing his instructions on. I wondered if I was truly fearing God.
Fear God
In the podcast, John Collins offered a definition of fearing God that I have returned to again and again. I’ve written it multiple times in my journal, pondering not only its deeper meaning, but also how to live it out in practical ways.
“The fear of Yahweh is actually an impulse to draw near to Him and to actually be afraid of making a decision without that close relationship.”
John Collins
That afternoon as I lay on my bed, scrolling through social media because I couldn’t sleep, God nudged me. He called me to look at my thoughts and feelings differently. I experienced an impulse to draw near Him.
The Impulse to Draw Near
The word “impulse,” according to Dictionary.com, means “the influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc.; sudden involuntary inclination prompting to action; an instinctual urge; an impelling action of force, driving onward or inducing motion.”
When we fear God, we live with a constant urging to be as close to God as we can be. In addition, we fret and anguish over choosing something that would cause even the slightest barrier between God and ourselves. Moreover, we follow every whim that whispers an opportunity to know Jesus better.
As I attempted a brief snooze that afternoon, God prodded me to be near Him. In that moment, I received the opportunity to delve into the fear of God. I began to consider; God blessed me with the feeling of boredom as a gift of His goodness. In addition, God revealed truth to me; we find genuine satisfaction in life in eternal things, not in temporary enticements.
Process With God
There is nothing wrong with a good nap. We all know there are days when a siesta is what we need to get through. God prompted me to recognize I attempted to appease my unsettledness without processing with Him first. I chose the best way to spend my time based on my definition of good, which came down to what was easiest and convenient.
God created us to be in relationship with Him. The Gospel story is based on the truth that God longs to be our God. He desires to provide for us, lead us, love us, and bless us with the life He created us to live. He sent Jesus to earth, to cleanse us of our sin and thereby qualify us to enter the holy presence of Almighty God.
God is worthy. Our perfect response is to fear Him. However, we don’t need to be afraid of Him. Instead, we must pursue the impulse to draw close to Him. All because we can’t create our best life without His wisdom, presence, and love in our lives.
Train, Intercede, Seek ~ Find
As you enter this holiday season, draw near. Follow every impulse to sit with Christ. Pray, worship, read His Word, go to church, fellowship with other believers, and make God the priority. Ask Him how you should spend those extra moments. Consider what Jesus might like to do with a free evening. Contemplate how God wants you to be generous to your coworkers, neighbors, friends, and family. Search for ways to realize the blessings God has already given you and celebrate His grace to you. Lay your unsettled thoughts and feelings at His feet and allow Him to minister to you with His presence.
“So train your heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment – then pass it on to your sons and daughters. Yes, cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight. For if you keep seeking it like a man would seek for sterling silver, searching in hidden places for cherished treasure, then you will discover the fear of the Lord and find the true knowledge of God.”
Proverbs 2:2-5, TPT
Live this holiday season in the fear of the Lord.
Holiday Table Photo by Libby Penner on Unsplash
