Six Things God-Fearing People Do

Six Things God-Fearing People Do -christyfitzwater.com

I had my friend on speaker phone the other day, while I was ironing Matt’s preachin’ shirts. One sleeve was giving me grief. I ironed one side smooth and flat, only to turn over the sleeve and see a new wrinkle I had accidentally ironed in on the other side.

“This is my life,” I told my friend. “Trying to live well and do good, only to discover a wrinkle in character pressed in firmly on another side of me.” (It had been a week of apologizing for a handful of offenses, and I was sliding into despair that I might never become a better person.)

Into these thoughts came my morning Bible reading of Psalm 36:1-4 (NIV):

I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.

David sings this message concerning the wicked, but what I hear is God’s message to me about the righteous. So I’ve flipped David’s statements, to create a clear checklist of what it looks like to follow God.

Six Things God-Fearing People Do

  1. We focus our eyes on God and fear him.
  2. We detect our sin.
  3. We hate our sin. It grieves us.
  4. We refuse to flatter ourselves (although wouldn’t that be a lovely analgesic?)
  5. We lie in bed at night plotting ways to live well.
  6. We commit ourselves to a good course.

I watched the video testimony of a Jewish man named Ze’ev. His father survived the holocaust but lost everyone in his family. He believed there was no God. Ze’ev grew up as an atheist but then came to put his faith in Yeshua (Jesus). He described what it was like trusting in Jesus and said, “It’s like I had a broken conscience and it was replaced –I received a new conscience.”

Which takes me back to the ironing board and how I can spot every wrinkle in a shirt. In the same way, I can detect my sin. This is a sign that God is giving me a new, highly sensitive conscience. It reminds me that he cares about my life.

So I pray, “I see the wrinkles, Lord. Bring the steam and the heat.”

8 Comments

  1. I was so hoping you would write on this, Christy! My ironing experience will never quite be the same. 🙂
    And yes, bring on the steam and heat!

  2. Charlotte Catlett says:

    I love how you reference things in everyday life with our walk with Jesus. I love your blog and your happy family life. You make me want to do better in everything and you always give God the praise.. Thank you.

    1. What kind words for my heart this morning. Thank you for this sweet encouragement!

  3. Esther Williamson says:

    This has been a common frustration with me lately. I feel like Paul in Romans 7, trying to keep from sinning but failing time and time again. I must continue to repent from the heart and ask God to cleanse me and make me new.

    1. But the reason we know we are sinning is because of the gracious presence of Jesus in our hearts. That is the encouraging part I keep forgetting!

      1. Esther Williamson says:

        Yes! God’s work and Grace in my life is apparent if I only choose to look!

  4. Lori Poling says:

    You speak directly to my soul with each post. Thank you Christy!

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