Fear is defined as: to expect or worry about (something bad or unpleasant).

Innate fears vs acquired fears:

We are born with two fears: fear of falling and fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned. We are taught to fear or we have experienced something in our lives that created fear. Fear is said to be an acronym for false evidence appearing real. One study found that sixty percent of things feared never take place. Ninety percent of things feared are considered insignificant issues. Six million three hundred thousand Americans have a diagnosed fear. God says He has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (NLT).

Godly fear: 

There is another fear that is healthy — it’s the beginning of wisdom. That is the fear of the Lord. This fear is not being afraid; it’s not fear of His wrath or a fear of eternal damnation. It is an affection for God — a reverence of Him. This is a healthy fear which is consistent with strong faith, great joy, and true courage. It’s an awesome dread of displeasing God — a deep respect of God.

Choosing your fear: 

People today believe they can become wise by life experience and academic knowledge alone. You get to choose your fear. One choice leads to the fear or fears the world brings: fear of flying, fear of failure, fear of death, fear of the dark, etc. There are so many of them. We can and will overcome our fears when we submit to the fear of God, when we serve Him because He is good and we respect Him enough to purpose to live by His word. The fear of the Lord is given to us when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The fear of the Lord has no bad consequences with it — only hope.

So, let’s choose the fear that will bring blessing to our lives — the fear of the Lord.

Just a thought,

PSS

Some things in life are an acquired taste. Coffee, black licorice, sushi — the more you experience them, the more you begin to appreciate their richness. Our walk with God is the same. The more we trust Him, the more we see His goodness. “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” David wrote. You can’t know His sweetness until you experience Him for yourself.

Generosity is the same; it’s an acquired taste. We’re born with a taste to take, but when we’re born again, we’re reborn with a taste to give. In the Hebrew, the word generous means “of noble birth and noble character.” That means when you’re born into God’s family, generosity isn’t just something you do — it’s who you are. Noble people act differently. They rise above pettiness, overlook insult, and live openhandedly, knowing everything they have came from God.

When you live with that kind of noble spirit, you begin to experience the goodness of God on a deeper level. Life becomes richer. Your heart lighter. Your faith stronger. Because every time you trust, obey, and give, you’re tasting more of who God is — and finding out that His goodness never runs out.

Just a thought,

PSS

There’s a way that seems right to a person, but it ends in death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Those aren’t just words of warning — they’re flashing lights from God saying, “Slow down, you’re heading the wrong direction.” In Hebrew, the word “way” means a road or course of life. It’s not about one decision; it’s about the path we choose to live on. Pride tells us, “You have this figured out.” But humility says, “God, I need You to show me the way” (Proverbs 3:5–6).

We live in a world where everyone does what seems right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). People follow their feelings, redefine truth, and call it freedom — but God calls it deception (Jeremiah 17:9). The problem isn’t that the path looks wrong; the problem is that it seems right. That’s why so many end up hurt, lost, or far from God — because they trusted their feelings more than His Word (Psalm 119:105).

The answer isn’t to follow your heart — it’s to follow God’s direction. His Word is the only map that never changes (Isaiah 40:8). When we walk His way, it leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6). But when we follow our own, it leads to frustration and destruction (Matthew 7:13–14). The way that seems right may feel good now, but only God’s way ends good.

Just a Thought. 

      — PSS

Life is full of storms — some big, some small. In Matthew 14, Peter stepped out of the boat and actually walked on water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was safe. But the moment he focused on the wind and waves, he began to sink. Isn’t that just like us? When we keep our eyes on Christ, we find peace, but when we let fear or distraction take over, we feel overwhelmed.

The truth is, storms will always come. But the storms aren’t the real danger — losing sight of Jesus is. Problems will rise up, challenges will come, and distractions will try to steal our focus. Yet Jesus never moves. He is steady, faithful, and strong. All He asks is that we keep our eyes fixed on Him, not the chaos around us.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” The safest place you’ll ever be is not inside the boat, not even on dry land — the safest place is walking toward Jesus. No matter what storms you face, don’t take your eyes off Him.

Just a thought.

                              – PSS

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” The word “groan” in Hebrew is anach, meaning to sigh deeply, to mourn, to cry out in distress. That’s what happens when ungodly leaders rise — people feel the weight of their decisions. And in our nation, where we get to choose who leads us, that truth is even more sobering.

But when righteousness increases, joy follows. A godly parent creates peace in a home. A righteous leader brings stability to a nation. A faithful believer brings hope to their community. Leadership always sets the tone — and the fruit of it is either rejoicing or groaning.

The answer is always the same: return to God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” His Word anchors us in truth, steadies us in chaos, and gives vision when the world is blind. The world doesn’t need more noise — it needs God’s Word, lived out boldly and faithfully.

Just a thought.

                              — PSS