“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all who practice it. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 11:10)

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments.” (Psalm 112:1)

Fear of the Lord centers our lives. When we are centered in God with appropriate fear of the Lord, we are at the same time not centered in anything else, whether our joys or troubles, our desires or trials. The Lord is the One who reigns on the throne of all creation and He is the center of all things.

When we live in right reverence of and holy wonder before the Lord, the other things that try to be the center or those things we tend to put at the center are rearranged and put in their place. The fear of people, circumstances, the future, or the unknown often comes naturally to us.But we must practice letting that god, laying it down into God’s hands, and leaving it there continually. In its place, as Psalm 11:10 says, we must practice the fear of the Lord for this will truly lead us into the way of wisdom.

So join me today in a simply practice of prayer. First, take some time to lay down before the Lord all the things or people or desires that strive to be central in our lives; those things that take the place of the Lord. Perhaps you can be still and simply pray like this: Lord, I lay this ______ at Your feet today. I admit that I have given it/them a place that it doesn’t deserve in my life. Please help me to continually release it into Your care.

Second, follow that time of releasing prayer with an invitation to God to be at the center of Your life. If we do not choose to put God on the throne of our lives, something or someone else will take God’s place. Be still and pray something like this: Lord, I want You to truly be the Lord of my life. I lay myself down before You. I am Your servant and child through Jesus’ saving work at the Cross. May I walk worthy of that calling and find my identity and meaning from You. As I continue in this day, please live as the centerpoint of who I am and keep me in appropriate reverence of you all day.