Day 1 – The Fear of the Lord: Foundation of Wisdom

Day 1 – The Fear of the Lord: Foundation of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Devotional Reflection:

  • You can’t build a life of wisdom on a foundation of self. And yet, that’s where many of us start chasing answers, strategies, and insight while quietly resisting surrender.
  • Proverbs begins by telling us that real wisdom doesn’t come from experience, books, or good intentions. It begins with the fear of the Lord a deep, reverent awe that reshapes how we see God, ourselves, and everything in between. It’s the moment we stop trying to be our own guide and acknowledge that true understanding only flows from the One who made us.
  • Think of it like this: building a life without the fear of God is like assembling a skyscraper on sand. You might get a few floors up, but eventually, the whole thing tilts. That’s what Proverbs calls foolish not because the person lacks intelligence, but because they reject the foundation.
  • Sometimes, if I’m honest, I want God’s guidance without giving Him full authority. I want the blessing, but still want to call the shots. But Proverbs won’t let me do that. It demands a holy starting point.
  • If you want to be wise, don’t just gather information submit to revelation. The fear of the Lord is not the end of your spiritual journey; it’s the place everything meaningful begins.

Personal Application:

  • Am I truly letting God shape my decisions, or just asking Him to bless them.
  • Where in my life have I placed self-reliance over surrender?
  • Take a moment today to reposition your heart in awe. Wisdom doesn’t begin with knowing it begins with kneeling.

Prayer: God, I acknowledge that You alone are worthy of my reverence. I want to live in holy fear not fear that pushes me away, but fear that draws me close in surrender. Expose where I’ve trusted in myself, and lead me into the kind of wisdom that can only be found at Your feet. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Wisdom doesn’t begin with having answers it begins with giving God your yes.”