A Reverent Worshipper

Proverbs 31:30-31

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.

What is fear? Is it merely being afraid, the internal emotion initiated by something intimidating? The Proverbs 31 woman is a reverent worshipper because she fears the Lord. I know you may be asking, how so? Let me explain.

God began to deal with my heart concerning fear and how it directly relates to worship. The fear of the Lord is a good thing because fear breeds reverence. To understand this, I will explain it by looking at how fear can negatively affect people. We know that fear that is not unto the Lord is sin (Rev 21:8). So, does God punish us for feelings? No. He judges us according to our works. Understanding this, we can conclude that the fear of the Lord has to be more than a feeling; it is an action.

Being afraid is different from fear. When we are afraid, it is the emotion birthed from intimidation. But, when we fear, it is the act of submission to the thing that has caused us to be afraid. Recall David, who said, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee”(Psalm 56:3). Although he was afraid, he did not fear. He trusted in his God.

The reason why things make us afraid is to pressure us into submission. But the Lord never forces anyone into submission. He draws us through love, and it is through His love that we worship. When we fear a thing, we have acknowledged its ability to be stronger, more powerful, and greater than us.

So what is worship? Is it the waving of the hand or a song that moves us? According to Google, worship is the expression of reverence. So you see, fear and worship go hand in hand. Fear births reverence, and worship is the expression of that reverence.

The beauty of expression is that everyone can see it. It is an outward demonstration of what is internal. As Warrior Women, we must be reverent worshippers. We must allow the fear of the Lord to be seen by the world. Worship can be expressed in every part of our life. Our walk, talk, choices, song, writing, dress, work, fruit, eyes, and even our face can radiate the fear of the Lord that resonates on the inside.

Under the old covenant, the children of Israel would worship by building an altar and sacrificing to the Lord. Because of Jesus, our worship is in the Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24). Our hearts are now the altar, and our lives are the sacrifice.

Being a Warrior Woman is more than a confession, but a demonstration like the Proverbs 31 woman. She is more than vanishing beauty but a reflection of the God she worships. She is the living and breathing reverence of God for all to see.