SPEAKER_00: Hi everyone, it's Nancy with your Wednesday Daily Walk.
SPEAKER_00: This past Sunday, as we continued studying Nehemiah, we considered what it means to fear God.
SPEAKER_00: Different from the fear we can have about people or circumstances or what we think might happen in the future.
SPEAKER_00: Nehemiah knew what it meant to fear God, to have a deep respect, a reverence, to be in awe of his holiness, his power, his provision, his protection.
SPEAKER_00: Nehemiah was aware of his circumstances, the threats, the accusations, the wrong being done, the possibilities of what others might do to him.
SPEAKER_00: And yet he kept first and foremost in his mind his fear of God, his understanding of God's love for him and God's guidance and protection in his life, his trust of God.
SPEAKER_00: He saw what was happening through that spiritual filter.
SPEAKER_00: Those thoughts took me to Psalm 111, verse 10.
SPEAKER_00: Listen as I read.
SPEAKER_00: Those who practice the fear of God develop good understanding.
SPEAKER_00: And I don't know about you, but I need good understanding.
SPEAKER_00: The fear of the Lord isn't just knowledge, it's an active, lived experience that produces practical wisdom.
SPEAKER_00: And I want the practical wisdom that God gives me as I draw close and listen to his guidance.
SPEAKER_00: I need for him to show me how to view my circumstances, not from my own perspective, but rather as he would want me to, and how to respond in a way that honors him.
SPEAKER_00: In Isaiah 41:10, God tells us, Fear not, for I am with you.
SPEAKER_00: Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
SPEAKER_00: I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
SPEAKER_00: What I really appreciate in the Psalm 111 passage is how verse 10 closes.
SPEAKER_00: It links this reverent fear of the Lord to worshiping Him.
SPEAKER_00: It shows us how true wisdom that comes from the Lord naturally flows into praise.
SPEAKER_00: I want to close with this quote I came across, and may it be a challenge to us.
SPEAKER_00: The more you understand God's character, his goodness, faithfulness, and power, the easier it becomes to rest in Him even when life feels uncertain.
SPEAKER_00: And I will add, and we can praise Him even in the storm.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.