the fear of the Lord...

PSALM 111:1-10

When we lack wisdom, the storms of life can be devastating. When we find our life is in pieces, we may realize that we have acted unwisely and want to change, but where do we start?

“Fear of the LORD,” the psalmist wrote, “is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). God has given us clear instructions for our life in his Word. When we fear God and are willing to accept his instructions as the basis for all of our decisions, we have a good starting point.

Jesus said, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on bedrock” (Matthew 7:24-25). Listening to what the Bible says is the next step toward walking in wisdom. Filling our mind with God’s instructions will help lead us to follow them. This will also help us turn away from the things forbidden by God. The book of Job tells us, “The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding” (Job 28:28).

Turning our life over to God is a wise move! Like most aspects of recovery, walking in wisdom is a process that we grow into. These three elements are the groundwork: reverence for God, listening to his instructions and following them.