Fear only God

What does it mean to fear God?

This is something I really wanted to know; to straighten out any misconceptions and such that I may have had, from teachings of various religious groups in my past.

The following links have answered my search for the answer, and they give me a beautiful new view of what it means to "fear" God.  If you are really wanting to know, click on the links (or copy and paste to your browser) to find out:

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1057346/jewish/Awe-of-G-d.htm

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3216875/jewish/Whats-Up-With-Fear-of-Gd.htm

Something else we need to do, is open up God's Word and see what He says about fear.

Who's the Captain of Your Life?

As my family and I went on a boat ride, the ocean was a bit rough.  As I experienced this ride, I looked out at the sea from the front cabin and then from the back of the boat.  I'd like to share what the LORD put in my mind concerning our spiritual walk with Him:


First, let me explain what I went through from looking at the ocean from both views of the boat.  From the front, as I saw the waves coming at us, splashing up, the boat going over the waves and, at times, crashing down when there were big ones. I was filled with fear, wanted to stop & just be delivered back to shore, wanted to tell the captain what to do, etc.  It was not a place I wanted to stay.

Then, because I just couldn't take seeing all that, I went to the back of the boat.  I was so much calmer for all I saw were the seas after we'd passed over each wave.  I saw how far we'd come, rather than how far we still had to go to reach our destination.

Spiritual application:

We need to ask ourselves: "Am I a person who likes to be at the front of the boat where all the action is but living in fear, anxiety, telling the Captain (God) how to direct the boat (our lives) as I argue about or disagreeing with what/how He's doing things, telling Him where I want to go? Or am I a person who would rather just go for the ride, resting in assurance that the Captain (God) has everything under control, fully trusting in Him to direct the boat (our lives) through whatever life brings, and thus safely bringing me to the destination He has planned for me, for HIS GLORY?

Though it's hard sometimes, I find myself much happier sitting in the back of the boat, trusting the Captain.  I don't want to be in the front, filled with fear, telling the Captain how to do His "job", etc.