Stepping Out In Faith 2026!
Psalms 34
KJV
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8+ O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10+ The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
The welcoming atmosphere of the new year is over, and the task ahead has just begun. All shops and offices are back to work. Every activity is back to normal, and preparations for a new beginning are what you’ll see everywhere you visit
From the passages above may we continue to “fear” God since this is the basis on which we shall receive the promises made.
He has promised us divine protection throughout the year if we will fear Him.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
A 24/7 Divine presence and protection are promised to all who will “fear” Him.
The second most important thing in life is meeting our needs! Here again, He has assured us of this if we will “fear” Him.
Read it;
Psalm 34:9
NIV
[9] Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
To sum up, His presence, divine protection, and meeting our needs can only be possible if we “fear” Him. So make the “fear” of the Lord your end goal this year.
But one may ask “What does it mean to fear God?” It’s a question with varying answers as there are believers!
Beloved, regardless of what your definition is, the following is what it means to “fear” God! Read it carefully it will help transform your understanding of how you relate to God!
To “fear “ in the context simply means to love, respect, honour, obey, do what is right and acceptable, be humble, etc. Unfortunately, these are opposites and contrary to the definition of fear that the majority have come to know and believe.
To the majority , (which includes you! ) God is a tyrant, a dictator, a cane -wielding person ready to cane us for the least mistake. This picture is what the word “fear “ paints of God and how we’ve understood the word. .
This definition is so widely held that when God is described as kind, loving, merciful, gracious, forgiving etc many find it difficult to believe.
Let us be honest, the majority of us serve God out of fear and not out of love which is wrong! We should walk with God not because we fear but because we love Him!
1 John 4:18
NIV
[18] There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
“The one who fears is not made “perfect “ in love “. Substitute the word “ perfect “ with “ mature “ and you’ll get the import of what John meant.
The Greek word used is “ teloi (telos) “ which means “ mature “. Anyone who fears is not “matured”! If you fear me then your love for me is not mature! If I fear you then my love for you is not perfect!
I don’t “fear” people I love!
I once heard a former Head of State said “ he doesn’t fear God but loves God” and the media and society went crazy!
Is it not true that if we love someone we don’t fear them? Do you see how you talk, chat, laugh etc with him/her? Do you notice how you talk to people you fear? There is a difference
Read what Jesus said;
John 14
KJV
15+ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
He didn’t say “If you fear me keep my commitments” which unfortunately is what we practice, we keep His commandments because we fear Him!
Read this also
John 14
KJV
23+ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Again He didn’t say “ if a man fear me he will keep my words “ which unfortunately is what we do!
Beloved, the reason why we sin or break His commandments is that we keep them out of fear and not out of love; and it gets to a point where we get tired and are fed up with having to fear!
On the contrary, no one ever gets tired of obeying or doing something for someone he/she loves. Ever heard someone say to you “Your wish is my command?” It means that the person loves you no matter what it costs. Anyone who fears you will never say this to you!
It is love and not fear that binds us genuinely to each other and to God. Read how Jesus described how love binds him to the Father and to us ( disciples)
John 15
KJV
9+ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10+ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Please examine your walk with God is it out of fear or out of love? How do you understand the word fear, or the expression “ fear God?”
Please go over what you’ve read again till you get the explanation/meaning clear. This year walk with God not out of fear but out of love. Serve God not out of fear but out of love
Whatever you do whether in deed or word do so because you love not because you fear God!
This 👇 is what He said!
John 14
KJV
15+ If ye love me, keep my commandments.