If you knew what you were doing, it sure would make things easier, wouldn’t it? Like for real, wouldn’t some divine wisdom come in handy about right now? Wouldn’t a definite destination with turn by turn GPS instructions really help a girl out? But we don’t know, do we? We’re not sure what we’re doing, what’s coming next, or how it’s all going to work out. And that can either drive you crazy, or release you to live in freedom.

What we’re all seeking here is wisdom. Wisdom to know what to do and what not to do. Wisdom to see things from a higher perspective. And how exactly do you gain this wisdom?

Proverbs 9:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” So, there’s our answer. But honestly, that answer is even more confusing than the original question, because doesn’t the bible tell us like 365 times to not fear, like fear is a bad thing, but we are to fear the Lord and this is the beginning of wisdom for us?

We must dig deeper. We all would do better with some divine wisdom making our decisions, so let’s figure out what it means to fear the Lord.

Are we talking about a worrisome kind of fear? Like a fright? A terror? A crippling feeling that makes us hide in dark places? Is that how we’re supposed to feel about God? This takes me back to my earlier years of viewing God as some grouchy old gray haired man with a long beard and a big stick sitting on a throne, always ready to strike me for my next wrong move. I was shameful and hiding from him. No way I was approaching that throne to be hit with his big stick.

Oh, that’s who our enemy would have us believe our God is. An unapproachable God. An unforgiving God. A perpetually angry, vengeful God. But that’s not at all who he is. Who he is can be described in one act. He is the God who loved you, his girl, so very much that he couldn’t stand to watch you struggle and stray, so he sent his son Jesus to save you. He paid a price you couldn’t afford to pay, and he made that exchange non-refundable. You can never take back what has been done for you, nor can you screw it up. You’ve been bought. You’ve been redeemed. YOU ARE SECURELY HIS.

So, how exactly do we fear him?

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The original Hebrew word used in this scripture is yireh (yer-ha) which is translated to both fear and awe. Awe of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Awe to the point of trembling. It’s literally awestruck, hardly able to contain who he is and what he does.

You see, when we are reverently aware of God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s providence over every detail of our lives, we are changed. We see ordinary events in extraordinary ways because we are seeking God’s presence in them. We live in awe over the Almighty’s interaction with us individually, and this creates a deeper understanding we couldn’t have otherwise. What is this understanding we’re gaining as we begin to seek and find God in our everyday lives? WISDOM!

Yireh (yer-ha) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

If you want to know what to do here, look for the presence of God here. Be in awe of how he is working in every detail on your behalf. Jesus promises when we seek, we will find. And when you find how God is working here, you will find the wisdom you desire. Next steps will be made clear right in front of you. Ways will be made that were never there before. The wrong doors will be closed and the right doors will be opened. You will be supernaturally guided along the way.

This is wisdom. How did it begin? Awestruck reverence of the Almighty God, seeking and finding his presence, his power and his providence over every detail of your life.

As God was formulating this revelation in my spirit this morning and I was putting these pieces together, I clicked on my BIG Life Mornings Spotify playlist for a random song to play. God often confirms his word to me through song. Y’all I kid you not, the very first song to play was “Renew My Mind” by Allen Froese. I’m not sure I’ve ever even heard this song, nor do I know how exactly I added it to my playlist, but the opening words say “Pathways of thought are formed as I think of you.”

Did you get that? Pathways of thought are formed as I think of you. Ding ding ding. As I think of God, as I seek where he’s working in this situation in my life, as I open my eyes to his creation all around me and in me and get caught up in awe, pathways of thought are being formed. And guess where those pathways of thought lead … to the right place! To the next right thing to do! To clarity! THIS IS WISDOM!

But here’s the problem … what we typically do when we’re uncertain and overwhelmed, is we think negative thoughts. We turn our attention to all that is wrong and could go even wrong-er. (I know that’s not a word, but that’s exactly what we are in the habit of doing. This right here is wrong, now let me think about the even wrong-er, worse-er, badder, harder version of this.) And those thoughts create pathways of thoughts that lead us to no where good. They lead us to confusion. They lead us to desperation. They lead us to depression, anxiety, overwhelm and defeat.

We lack wisdom because our negative thoughts have created pathways of confusion. And do you know who thrives in confusion? Could it be Satan? Jesus spoke very clearly about Satan in John 8:44 “The devil has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

We have a very real enemy in this world. His goal is to steal, kill and destroy. One of his greatest weapons is confusion. When we stop seeking God in reverent and obedient awe, we lack wisdom and we are struck with confusion.

Could this be why women are confused about their value and worth? Husband’s are confused about their continued love for their wives? Our children are confused about their identity and who they were created to be? We’re suddenly confused about who our neighbor is that we’re supposed to love, and instead we’re battling them because we’re so darn focused on our differences. God never told me to change you, he told me to love you. If there’s changing to be done, God will do the changing and he will do it best through my love, not my hate.

Confusion is everywhere. And in this confusion, the enemy plays. As he plays, he keeps our thoughts focused on all that is wrong, all that could go wrong next, how bad things are, and how much worse it’s getting. Those thoughts create a pathway. Where does that pathway lead? NO WHERE GOOD.

But thoughts centered on the awe of God, seeking to find where he is working and how he is moving, those thoughts create pathways that lead somewhere totally different. These thoughts lead to wisdom.

Proverbs 2: 2-5 MSG “Set your heart on a life of Understanding. If you make Insight your priority, and won’t take no for an answer, Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold, like an adventurer on a treasure hunt … before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours; you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.”

Girls, today you are an adventurer on a treasure hunt. You are searching for how God is working, where he is moving, how he is aligning every detail to guide you. You were brought here to this very time and place for a purpose. Are you seeking that purpose? Set your mind on noticing his presence. Fine tune your senses to find his power. Seek his providence around every corner. And as you do, pathways will be created. Pathways that lead to wisdom. Pathways that clear up the confusion and guide you back to truth.

Ahhh yes, this is how you know what to do next here. Be totally awestruck by the Almighty today!

That’s who you are – you are an Awestruck Adventurer of the Almighty. You’re the Triple A threat to the enemy today and his confusion doesn’t stand a chance here!

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