The word “fear” has a totally different definition in the Bible than we see in common usage today. It doesn’t mean to be afraid of God in the normal sense but rather to look upon God with “awe and reverence.” All through the Bible we are told to “fear” the Lord which means it’s important, It’s foundational in our relationship with God. We must never lose sight of the fact we are dealing with the all-powerful Creator of the universe.
Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the Lord prolongs life.
Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the Lord is a foundation of life.
Psalm 2:11 – Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Job 6:14 – He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Once Jesus is Lord of our life our entire life should be devoted to love, worship and obedience to God. “Fear” of the Lord is essential for us to receive spiritual knowledge, understanding and wisdom. In order to deepen our relationship with God we need to cultivate an attitude of “fearing” God. Meditate about the attributes of God to increase your fear. Use your prayer time to stoke you awe of God. To “fear” God is to be in a right relationship with Him.