Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.

Proverbs 28:13-14 tells us:

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God...”

This kind of trembling isn’t fear in the horror-movie sense. It’s a reverent awe—respecting God’s holiness, justice, and overwhelming love.

Reverence softens our hearts to correction and wisdom. A hardened heart, by contrast, grows indifferent, defensive, and resistant to change.

This truth echoes through Scripture. I’m especially reminded of two passages:

Hebrews 4:12-13 reminds us that God’s Word exposes even our secret motives. That sounds terrifying… but Hebrews 4:14-16 quickly offers comfort:

We have a High Priest—Jesus—who understands our weaknesses. Because of Him, we can approach God's throne with boldness, to find grace in our time of need.

1 John 3 and 4 say God is greater than our condemning hearts. His perfect love drives out fear, not with punishment, but with forgiveness and mercy.

We don’t need to hide our sins from God. In fact, confession brings healing. James 5:16 even encourages us to confess to one another so we may be healed. I’ve often felt Jesus's love most deeply through confession with a trusted friend.

Are you living with reverence? Is your heart soft and responsive to God’s correction?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me live with reverence and awe. Keep my heart soft and teachable. Remind me of Your grace and mercy every day. Amen.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.