In our I.S.O.W. class on Wed. nights, we've been searching out the scriptures I.n S.earch O.f W.isdom. Today as I was hanging out with a beautiful friend and servant of God, we were doing our bible study together and she asked me a simple question about Prov. 9:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Her question was simply what does it mean when it says "fear"? An even more common question is, does that mean that i should be afraid of God? 

The answer is simply no. God is not trying to scare us into loving Him and getting to know Him. This verse is simply stating that when we begin to understand the Holy One, we will then begin to behave with a wisdom that surpasses the understanding of the world.

We'll begin to get to know Him and be reverent of Him with such "awe" and amazement, we'll start to behave like Him. 

Let me give you an example, if the chief of police were to come to your house tonight, would you be inclined to break into a bank? Probably not. And why not? Because you know and understand the nature of a policeman. They are enforcers of the law. Therefore the chief of police will have to enforce the law and arrest you for stealing. So when you understand the nature of a policeman, you know the type of attitude and actions that would keep you in good standing with the chief of police.

The same goes for God. The better you get to know who God is through His word and a personal relationship with Him, the better you'll know what His standards for living really are.

At that point, when you stand in His presence in prayer, you will have a reverence for His ways. You'll want to be Holy as He is Holy, because you understand how He sees things and how He wants us to come before Him.

That kind of understanding of who God is, brings reverence and wisdom, not fear.   

Remember, God loves you, the church needs you, and you're beautiful inside and out!