This transcript was generated by whisper.ai.

I want to welcome you to Daily Drive Time Devotions. We're in Proverbs chapter 9
today and are studying together through the book of Proverbs. We are looking
together at the verse we're going to focus on.

It's Proverbs chapter 9 verse 10. Because Proverbs is a book that's all about
wisdom, Proverbs 9, 10 is to many the most important verse in the book. It's a
verse that tells what the whole book is about and it's hard to disagree with
that.

Let me read for you Proverbs 9, 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. This verse tells me
where the starting line is.

To even begin to have wisdom, I have to have something called the fear of the
Lord. That's the beginning of wisdom. Now that phrase, the fear of the Lord,
it's difficult for a lot of people to understand because these words come with a
lot of emotional baggage attached.

The first picture that most of us see is not at all what this verse is talking
about. For a lot of people when they hear the fear of the Lord, it conjures up
images of anger, of punishment, of a God who is distant, who is threatening.
That's not what these verses are about at all.

What do these words really mean, the fear of the Lord? If I had to sum it up in
one word, the word would be awe. The awe that we have in God's presence.

The best way I know how to picture what this phrase is all about is with the
picture of electrical power. I love what electricity does. I love the benefits
that it brings.

But I would be very careful about sticking my finger into a light socket. I have
a healthy and deep respect for electrical power. You take that attitude and you
add in the fact that God is all-powerful and you multiply it by the truth that
he personally cares for us each moment of every day and you begin to approach
what this phrase, the fear of the Lord, really means.

It's this deep respect for the power of God. It's this decision that I'm not
going to take the power of God for granted or flaunt it. Instead, I'm going to
rejoice in it.

I'm going to lean on it. The more respect I develop for God's power and God's
person, the more I open the door to wisdom in my life. So where do you start?

What's the starting line of wisdom? It's hard to tell yourself. I've got to feel
awe towards God today.

I mean, how do you conjure that feeling up? One of the best ways that I know to
invite an attitude of awe into your life is to focus on what God has created.
When I give him full credit for what he has made, he gives me a fuller
appreciation for how great he really is.

So today, throughout the day, give that a try. Just tell him, thanks, really
thanks, as you see his creation, as you see a person that he's created, as you
see a blue sky that he's created, as you see the stars in the sky that he has
created, as you see even a tree or a flower that he's created, recognize that
the power of God created what you see, everything that you see. And let a sense
of worship, of gratitude, flow into your heart.

In fact, right now, as we talk to him, let's express our gratitude to him.
Father, as we look at what you've made, it does give us a sense of awe. It gives
us a sense of your greatness.

You personally and powerfully created everything that I see, and you personally
and powerfully want to work in my life today. The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom. God, forgive me for those times when I've taken your power
for granted, when I've acted as if my way is better than your way, or my selfish
idea is higher than your direction for my life, or even worse, God, I've just
ignored you.

God, instead, I want the fear of the Lord to mark my life. I respect for God, I
respect for your power, that throughout the day helps me to recognize that I'm
not alone, that I don't have to do it by myself, that God, you will direct me,
that you will give me the wisdom that I need to live the life that you've made
me to live. Help me to live in that confidence today, not based on
self-confidence, but based on my confidence in your power and who you are.

Pray this Father in your name. Amen.