The Gift of Holy Awe
Reverence for God is the light that steadies us amid the weight of His sovereign power.
Devotional Credit: Immeasurably More by Ray Stedman
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Ray Stedman reminds us of the tragic reality that unfolded in the days of Jeremiah. When the words of God were read to King Jehoiakim and his court, they showed no reverence, no trembling, and no sorrow. Instead, the king defiantly burned the scroll, exposing not only his arrogance but also the deeper problem of a heart void of the fear of God. To lose that holy awe is to set oneself on the road to destruction. For the fear of God is not terror, but the sober recognition that His authority governs all of life.
Stedman then points us to a principle that runs through Scripture, history, and even nature itself: the law of retribution. Just as disobedience to natural laws, like the laws of electricity, carries unavoidable consequences, so rebellion against God’s ways brings inevitable results. No one escapes this. Even those who deny God are forced to acknowledge that life contains built-in consequences that point to a sovereign moral order.
He illustrates this with Napoleon, who once arrogantly claimed that God was on the side with the heaviest artillery. But defeat at Waterloo proved otherwise. Later in exile, Napoleon admitted the humbling truth: man proposes, but God disposes. History continually testifies that God’s sovereignty cannot be ignored. Every person, every nation, is accountable before Him.
The message is plain. To begin life wisely is to begin with the fear of God. Not a fear that drives us away, but a reverent recognition that His will prevails, His ways are right, and His hand governs all things. To live apart from that is to live in foolishness and denial. To live in it is to walk in wisdom, humility, and safety.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My child, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Do not think of fear as dread or distance, for you are My beloved, but as reverence, awe, and recognition that I am sovereign over all. When you honor Me as Lord of heaven and earth, your heart finds its true alignment.
I have shown in history that My counsel will stand. Kings rise and fall, nations flourish and fade, but I remain unshaken. Those who walk in pride are humbled, but those who humble themselves under My hand are lifted up. The fear of the Lord keeps you from folly, for it teaches you that I am not mocked. Whatever is sown will also be reaped.
You are not left in uncertainty, for My Spirit in you bears witness that you are Mine. The awe you carry in your heart is not meant to crush you, but to anchor you. It is the holy awareness that I am God and there is no other. When you live in this reverence, you will not be careless with sin, nor arrogant in your ways, but steady, humble, and secure in Me.
Scripture References: Proverbs 1:7, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Galatians 6:7, Daniel 4:34-37, Psalm 33:8-11, Isaiah 46:9-10, Philippians 2:9-11, Romans 11:33-36, 1 Peter 5:6-7.
Real-Life Analogy
Think of standing at a crosswalk where the light is red. You may not see any cars approaching, but you still wait, because you know the rules of traffic are not yours to rewrite. To step out against that red light is to risk danger, no matter how quiet the road looks. In the same way, God’s order in life is not arbitrary. To ignore His ways is to invite ruin, even when it seems harmless in the moment.
Today, when I am tempted to minimize the seriousness of disobedience, I can pause and say, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me in this moment, with a heart that honors Your authority.” This allows me to walk in reverence that leads to life, rather than folly that leads to harm.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You for the holy awe You have placed in my heart. You are sovereign, and Your counsel will always stand. I rejoice that in Jesus I am not crushed by fear, but steadied by reverence. I live today in gratitude, knowing that You rule over the affairs of men, and that in You, I am safe. I trust You to keep me walking humbly, wisely, and reverently in every step I take.