Astonished Reverence

In my own being, I could not exist very long as a Christian without the inner consciousness of the presence and nearness of God! I can only keep right by keeping the fear of God on my soul and delighting in the fascinating rapture of worship. I am sorry that the powerful sense of godly fear is a missing quality in churches today. The fear of God is that “astonished reverence” of which the saintly Faber wrote. I would say that it may grade anywhere from its basic element—the terror of the guilty soul before a holy God—to the fascinated rapture of the worshiping saint. There are few unqualified things in our lives, but I believe that the reverential fear of God, mixed with love and fascination and astonishment and adoration, is the most enjoyable state and the most purifying emotion the human soul can know. A true fear of God is a beautiful thing, for it is worship; it is love; it is veneration. It is a high moral happiness because God is!

Verse

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. Psalm 66:16

Thought

I am sorry that the powerful sense of godly fear is a missing quality in churches today.

Prayer

Lord, You said that the fear of You is the beginning of wisdom. I want to be wise. I will fear You even as I adore and worship You.