Have you ever truly pondered what it means to fear the Lord? We talked about it at length when discussing Proverbs with Eric Floyd, Dr. George Cope, and Nyiesha Harrington on a special video cast of Where Grace Abounds.

We just have to look around to find worldly reasons to be afraid. We're dealing with the pressure of business, P&Ls, retaining employees, growing clients, inflation, the stock market, and so on. Sometimes we have to let it all go.

I decided to take a full two-day weekend off the grid, and I was met with some powerful insight.

As I decreased, I asked God to increase. While I was not working, we hit our highest number of members since I have been president of the Chamber—303 members and growing! We sold out of our $599 exhibit floor booths for the expo and a number of people purchased tickets to the expo and our upcoming Relationship Building Lunch featuring Buck Jacobs.

As small business owners, we spend a large amount of time in the grind of running our businesses. The amount of pressure that goes with running a business in the flesh is exhausting. We can easily get caught up thinking we are the ones holding things together, making it happen, pulling the levers.

This weekend I stood quietly, watching the ocean obey God with every wave. The Lord said ...

I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. (Jeremiah 5:22, NIV)

I was reminded that the more time I spend with God, marveling in awe and reverence of Him and His infinite wisdom, power, and authority over all things, the more I know that it is through Him that all things are possible. The more I understand that the fear of God equals peace.

Without God, nothing exists, including peace and rest.

God is the answer even when the things of this world are screaming for our attention. Taking daily action to put God at the forefront of everything is the only way to experience the peace that passes all understanding.

You are going to see the power of putting God first at our August 11 Relationship Building Lunch featuring the founder of C12, Buck Jacobs.

Listen in as Buck talks about his life's number one difference-maker. God is more available than you know. Take the journey of intimacy with Christ and see how your life and business can be different.

This week's new thing to try is to Spotlight Kingdom Commerce. How has being a part of the chamber helped you grow your business spiritually, personally, or professionally? Add your story and help us tell others what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ doing business in the marketplace.

Christian Chamber member Emmy Zumwalt breaks down the Chamber news in a few minutes or less.

Check out David's member to member deal listed on the members only section of our website (log in to see it).