12   What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.    13   His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.    14   The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. ~ PSALM 25:12-14

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Talk about fear of God is often used to frighten people into doing something they don’t want to. It tries to picture God as a giant ogre ready to send you to hell. Fear, whether it is fear of God or fear of the dark, while carrying in it the feeling of anxiety, actually means to respect or reverence. Fear, I believe, is the most powerful weapon that the enemy has. We will often say we have no fear, yet even that helpless feeling you get when you face unknown circumstances, is fear. Perfect love casts out all fear (I John 4:18), yet there should still be a respect and honor due to the will of God and that He is in control of every situation. We do not fear the consequences, but we respect the Author.