First Encounter - "The Fear of the Lord"

This morning when I woke up I was thinking about the Fear of the Lord, and I was reminded of why I journal and spend time in prayer every morning, which was an encounter where I first experienced the Fear of the Lord!  

Back when I was in college, I had my real conversion encounter, and immediately plugged into some on-campus ministries and meetings that encouraged me in my pursuit of the Lord.  I started reading through the Bible and journaling during my prayer time.  I was taking time in the morning and evening, and it was a wonderful time of revelation and learning from the Lord, and others.  I started praying up to an hour a day… and was growing quickly in my understanding and love of the Lord.   

Over the next couple of years, I think my amount of journalling was slowing down, as was my “hearing from the Lord” which for me was often related to the different things I would read that seemed to be related to exactly what I was going through at the time.  I was still learning to hear his voice for myself, but I had some experience.  

There was one day that I came to realize it had been a bit since I had heard anything new, and I was asking/complaining to the Lord, wondering why I wasn’t hearing from Him any more?  At that moment I definitely heard His voice (not audibly, but in my heart and mind) say something like, “Well you don’t take what I say seriously, you have stopped writing it down so you will remember it, so why should I tell you anything new?”

My whole being was instantly hit by “The Fear of the Lord” and I was overcome with a desperation!  I cried out in a silent wail, “No Lord, don’t stop speaking to me!!! I will journal! I will take what You say seriously! I will never stop!”

Now, I am not saying this is the case for anyone else, but it was a clear message to me from the Lord, and I have tried to embrace that promise and pursue the Lord every day of my life since!  I journal most everyday, and its rarely more than 2 days in a row where I don’t sit down for time with the Lord. My time with Him and His word to me is the greatest treasure in my life (Or at least I try to keep it that way).

Yesterday at a prayer meeting with others, we were talking about learning to value the Lord, learning to be in His presence, and pursuing a time of encounter with Him.  I was reminded of a verse that one is my MO (modus operandus) - Matthew 13:45-46 NIV:  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

My day almost always starts with time alone with the Lord.  In the eyes of the world, it might look like I am wasting time, but I know the treasure this time is!  If I wake up earlier than planned I am excited that I can spend more time with the Lord before starting my day!  I don’t begrudgingly sit down out of duty, instead my quiet time with Him is full of life, encounter, wisdom from Heaven, new ideas, and intimate moments where I know that He is speaking to me!  I look forward every morning to this time, and actually hunger for more time than I normally take.

I remember early on in my life with the Lord, I heard a priest talking about how he spends the first 2 hours of everyday in prayer, and I was so surprised that someone could or would take that amount of time to be in prayer, and really couldn’t understand how anyone could pray that long!  I now know the answer, for often my prayer time just flys by!  Each day is an adventure in His Word, and a new encounter with Him.

I am reminded of a few more short verses - 

Isaiah 55:6 NIV; “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Jeremiah 29:12-14a NIV: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you,” declares the LORD….”

The Lord is waiting to meet those who are willing to seek Him!  He is the great treasure!  My prayer is that we all might encounter Him in the place of prayer, and learn to value time with Him alone!  Let us learn to love and be loved by Him!  

Amen and Amen!