Devotionals from my Bible app: The Place to Start (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7, NKJV

The Place to Start


There are so many places that we can go to learn about something new and grow in knowledge. Books are full of free access to learn anything you can dream up. The internet is packed full of content and ways to learn about any subject imaginable.


While those are great places to start when building knowledge, Scripture tells us that the beginning of all knowledge is fear of God. This means that while we can learn things from anyone, the beginning of true knowledge begins with God.


What does it mean to fear God? One thing it means is that we should live our lives in awe of Him. We do this first by recognizing who He is. He is the creator and source of all things. He is all-powerful and all-knowledgeable. God’s Word says He holds the power of life and death in His hands. These are certainly attributes that should cause us to be in awe of God.


Scripture also tells us that God is loving, gracious, and merciful. Even though we, His own creation, previously abandoned Him and rebelled against Him, God graciously gave us access back to Himself through His Son, Jesus. The God who created the universe loves each and every one of us.


Knowing God rightly and being in awe of who He is and what He has done is the beginning of all knowledge.


We would be foolish to turn away from such a powerful and gracious God. While we can learn a lot about many different things through a book or the internet, the most essential and important knowledge begins with God, His Word, and how we view Him.


Spend some time with God in prayer, thanking Him for who He is and what He’s done for you. Begin a habit of reading Scripture regularly so that you can come to know Him more and more.

Note after sharing the devotional: Sometimes, I just have to start over. This devotional seems very apropos for New Year's Day, which is why I'm posting this today (among other reasons). But it arrived in my inbox back on Friday, just a couple days after Christmas. Although this year has had its highlights, namely getting married and successfully completing a year-long Bible reading plan, if I'm honest it has also been a rough year spiritually. I've spilled a lot of virtual ink regarding some of the key difficulties, but the main point is the question of whether I'm right with God or not. We can try to justify ourselves regarding certain deeds or behaviors or thoughts, but at the end of the day only God gets to really judge. Sometimes, the only way to get out of this is to reset and return to the beginning. The fear of the Lord (reverential awe and deep respect) - and only the fear of the Lord - is the correct starting point. After all, one day everyone in existence, alive in the flesh or passed on into history, saved or unsaved, will bow the knee to Jesus, either willingly or under compulsion. 

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:10-11, NKJV

In other words, I might as well reset and bow the knee willingly. (You too, by the way.)

I have begun putting together a framework for better success in 2025. I've already begun another yearlong Bible reading program. I've reached out to one of my friends with whom we called roughly monthly to check in on life and our respective goals. Now that my wife and I are married, the requisite energy that was allocated to wedding planning and prep can now be moved elsewhere. As for prayer, I'm readjusting my goal from keeping my streak alive on my Bible app (which depended on me spending time with God by myself often at the expense of doing so with my wife) to developing a regular prayer and devotional habit with her (even if it comes at the expense of me "checking the box" of completing this task on a daily basis. (After all, the separate Bible-reading plan will take care of that! Plus, I do need to spend time with God 1:1 still, even in addition to along with my wife.)

Devotional Prayer: God, thank You for being the source of wisdom and knowledge. Please teach me more about You each day so I can know and understand You better. Guide my actions and decision-making so that I can live a life that honors You. In Jesus's name, Amen.