The Fear of the Lord Testimony

March 1, 2024

Proverbs 9:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

 and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Obedience needs to be 100% to be true obedience to the LORD; 99% obedience is still disobedience.

Back in May 2023, I was told by the Lord to do something hard and required me to give away something.  I loved this thing dearly, and it had helped me get through some hard times. It, however, was a sore spot in my marriage.  So in my foolishness, I figured out a way in my mind to still be "obedient" to the LORD and keep the thing he was asking me to give away.  I laid it at my husband's feet, saying that I valued him more than the thing I wanted to keep. He just had to say the word, and I would give it away. My husband didn't want to hurt me and wouldn't have asked me to give this thing away.  This was not what the LORD had asked me to do.  In my foolishness, I thought I could check off the box as doing what he wanted and say that I had been obedient.

  Time went on, and as much as I love that thing that I kept, it was hurting my marriage deeply. It was like an infection in a wound, preventing the wound from healing. I lived with this until Feb. Where I came to understand the cost of disobedience was great and not just for myself.  The worst part was that this could have been avoided if I had listened back in May.  My eyes were open to my foolishness, and a new fear of the LORD was planted in my heart.

Luke 6:46-49

 Building on a Solid Foundation

 46“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

  The LORD has been gracious and is close to the broken-hearted. He has been so close to me, and I feel so loved by him. He has shown up in mighty ways surrounding me.  One of the ways he did this was by giving me a vision the day after giving up that thing to him. The vision ended with my husband being restored to the LORD through a path of intercession. Once this happens, we will be walking in unity with the LORD.

  Last week, the LORD led me to Revelation 21. The old heaven, old earth, and old sea had disappeared as I was reading about the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  Verse 21  was highlighted.  There were many amazing and beautiful things about the new Jerusalem, but I had a rush of understanding when I read this;

Rev 21:21

“21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.”

We often associate wisdom with pearls, and they are one of Earth's most precious treasures. Unlike diamonds, rubies, emeralds and more, pearls require no cutting or polishing before use and are simply stunning the way they naturally form. Pearls are rare; only one in several million shellfish yields a pearl. It is the only gemstone that comes from a living creature. True wisdom comes from the only living God.

 So, as valuable as pearls are, wisdom is still more valuable. Nothing on earth can compare to it.

Job 28:18 ESV “No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.”

We find wisdom in the Living God, for the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Without the fear of the LORD, we will be unable to stay with him in heaven. Lucifer was the most powerful angel and stood in the Lord's council. He had everything but the fear of the LORD, and that is the reason why he fell from grace. Any angel that did not fear the LORD  was cast down to earth with him—the lack of reverence for the LORD allowed pride to take root in the heart.

  The new Jerusalem had peals at all her gates symbolizing her fear of the LORD. It is important that this is at her gates. Gates are entry points and are used to guard the city. That wisdom that fear of the LORD will protect her from falling. Later on in the chapter, it mentions this.

 Rev21:25-27

25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of the day because there is no night there.

26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honour into the city.

27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

We are called to guard our hearts, and part of that is guarding our gates to our minds.

Proverbs 4:20-27

20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words.

21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,

22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.

25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.

27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

In closing, let us hold captive any thought that is not of the LORD and think of instead whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Obedience is more important than sacrifice. It's not about how much we are willing to do but how much we are willing to obey. Through obedience comes the sacrifice. I pray that we will be living sacrifices pleasing to the Lord, giving Him all our hearts. May the fear of the LORD guard the gates to our heart and mind so we can live blamelessly in this perverse generation.

September 9, 2025 Update

More pruning has happened in my life since the time of writing this. My marriage is healing and more peaceful. I see the Lord at work in my family. Through the pruning, it helped my husband and me draw closer together, and it has softened his heart. There is more to come for us as long as we don't give up and remain in the Lord. All Glory, Honour, and praise to Jesus, amen.