A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for the Fear of the Lord

by Christina Fox

Fear
It's something we are all familiar with and have experienced at some point in our lives. We've all feared harm of some kind. Many of us know what it is to fear the unknown future. We may even know the fear of man. Such fears can rule our hearts and direct our choices. They can consume us and steal our joy.

The Bible frequently cautions us against such fears. In fact, 'do not fear' is the most frequent command found in Scripture. But there's another type of fear the Bible mentions that is different from our other fears. And it also contains a command: 'fear the Lord.' We find the command throughout the Old and New Testaments. It is an essential component to our faith. Our Savior had a fear of the Lord. Since we are so familiar with fear and the terror we sometimes feel in the face of our fears, we can often misunderstand what it means to fear the Lord.

A Holy Fear unpacks what the 'fear of the Lord' means and what it looks like in our lives. It will show examples of such fear in Scripture. It will explore the fruits of fearing the Lord as well as the promises of God to those who fear. And because the Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord disarms and weakens our lesser fears, A Holy Fear will help the reader apply what they are learning to their own heart, helping them turn from their lesser fears to a fear of the Lord.

Table of Contents:
1. A Fear-Filled Life
2. Fear the Lord
3. Fear the Lord for Who He Is
4. Fear the Lord for What He Has Done
5. Growing in the Fear of the Lord
6. The Fruit of Holy Fear
7. From Fear to Fear
8. God's Promises to the Fearful
Conclusion: A Life of Holy Fear

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Non Fiction, Faith, Christian Living

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

Christina Fox is a blogger at where she chronicles her faith journey. She writes for a number of Christian ministries and publications including Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition. She lives with her husband and two sons in sunny South Florida.

Reviews

[Jenelle Arkills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on replacing our fears with walking in God’s truth and wisdom. Study questions in the back are great for individual use or with a group!

[Ashley Hoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gift to the church. I started reading it just a few days before my husband would be admitted to the hospital after having excruciating stomach pains from what ended up being pancreatitis and an inflamed gallbladder. Over the course of 8 days in the hospital, I read A Holy Fear and a few other books with copious amounts of time on my hand.

I’ve always struggled with what it means to “fear the Lord.” When I think of things I’m afraid of, that relationship just does not feel appropriate for how we, as believers, interact with God. So, I really appreciated Christina starting with a foundation of what it means to fear God and the differences between servile and filial fear (good example in this quote):

“Sinclair Ferguson describes two different kinds of fear in the Bible: filial fear and servile fear. Servile fear is like the fear slaves have for their cruel master or that of prisoners for their jailer. Slaves or prisoners obey out of fear of harm because they know the master or jailer could hurt them at the slightest infraction. The only motivation for obeying is fear of harm. With servile fear, slaves or prisoners obey only to the extent that such obedience will keep them out of trouble. It is this kind of fear the unregenerate have for God and the kind of fear we have before coming to know Christ. It is true terror of God.”

and then later:

“Filial fear, on the other hand, is the fear children have for their father. The word filial comes from the Latin, meaning “son.” Children who know they are loved by their father obey him because they don’t want to disappoint him or let him down. It is a respectful fear, a fear that honors. It is not a fear of terror, but a fear born out of love.”

By far, my favorite chapter was chapter 3 (aptly titled Fear God for Who He Is), it is full of the richness of who God is and really provides a basis for why we should fear God and what that looks like. Those that know me know that the law gospel distinction has been a theological paradigm that I cherish and ch 3 is where we see a solid look at the gospel and the 3rd use of the law (obeying God out of gratitude) coming together in a beautiful way. A quote that best exemplifies that is here:

“When we read Scripture, we clearly see that He does not overlook sin; rather, He intervenes to rescue us from it. God’s love doesn’t leave us as we are; He changes us to become what we were created to be. His love is active, redeeming, and sacrificial. God is also more than just love. As we’ve studied so far, He is also eternal, transcendent, holy, righteous, and good. God’s love for us is what changes servile fear to filial fear. Because He loved us and made us His own, we don’t fear Him as those outside of Christ would; we fear Him with a holy fear—a fear that is awed and filled with wonder at His love for us; a fear that responds with gratitude and love of our own; a fear that exalts and praises His great name.”

For the rest of the book, Christina shows what it looks like to fear God and reminds us that there is promises for those of us that fear him. This book is a comfort for anyone who is hurting (which I know is a lot of us in 2020) and calls us to godliness in the midst of so many things battling for our attention. Throughout A Holy Fear, Christina takes care to support each statement she makes with scripture, so I can heartily recommend it to read by yourself or as part of a group (there is discussion questions in the back of the book that can help facilitate this).

Just a heads up, I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Amber Thiessen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you experienced fear in your life? This book is for you. Here's my summary:

Scripture talks about a few specific kinds of fear:
The fear of man, either fear because of what they will do to us, or what they think of us.
The fear of harm, also known as natural fear, like the disciples in the boat when a storm hit.
The fear of the future, the uncertainty of what could happen, and all the “what if” scenarios.
“The Bible doesn’t teach that we are to not have any cares or worries at all…It’s when those cares become excessive to the point that we don’t trust God for tomorrow’s needs, that our worries and fears become sinful.”

When talking about the fear of God, she contrasts two different kinds of fear: filial fear, and servile fear. Servile fear is “like the fear slaves have for their cruel master or that of prisoners for their jailer,” this would be doing things because we are afraid of harm if we don’t. Then we have filial fear, which is the type of fear children have for their father, it is motivated not by terror, but love.

So, outside of Christ our fear of God would be a servile fear, but when we are in Christ, we are adopted as His children and are invited to a filial fear of Him. This type of fear encompasses awe and wonder, reverence, worship, love and adoration. God has loved us with an extravagant and everlasting love, and we return that love with a holy fear of who He is. As we learn to recognize His goodness, sovereignty, His love and holiness, our understanding of Him grows. We begin to see all that God has done for us in the Gospel, we learn that we can trust Him.

Beginning to grow in our fear of the Lord means adjusting “the posture of your heart in the face of life’s fearful situations,” by applying gospel truths to our lives, immersing ourselves in the spiritual disciplines of reading and studying the word, prayer and worship. It means we participate actively in our sanctification, putting off idolatry, self-righteousness and the things of this world.

See, as we pursue growth in our knowledge of God, gaining ground in who He is making us to be, God promises us that the fruit will come; our wisdom will grow, our obedience solidifies, trust deepens and humility rises. Spending time with Him requires our effort, but it is returned to us in the fruit that He promises us, and although we will continue to face fears in this life, of a vast and wide variety, we know that His promises toward us will stand, and our fear of Him will grow.

The topic of fear is an important word for us today. If we’re totally honest, anxieties are present, worry trickles in and our identities are somewhat shaken. For some of us, this may have never been a struggle, but this year of 2020 is challenging all of us. Christina's book is a timely reminder, that in spite our fears, we can trade them, in Christ, for a holy fear of the one, true God.

We remember that, “our fears can govern our choices, shape the direction of our days, and rule over our hearts.” Trading our fears means we choose to respond different.

What will you chose to fear?

*received a free copy as part of the launch team, in exchange for an honest review
**see full blog post here; https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/on...

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book could be more accurately titled solid Theology 101. But I completely agree with the author’s premise that the more we understand who God is and his power and sovereignty over every little detail of our lives, the more we can rest with trust and not fear.

I love these ideas she gives at the end to strive for a life of Holy Fear…..
· Read and meditate on the following passages on a regular basis to remind yourself how great and mighty your God is: Psalm 139, Isaiah 6, Revelation 5.
· Study the meanings of God’s various names throughout the Bible, including those of Jesus Christ.
· Study God’s character and attributes.
· Read books on the doctrine of God.
· Study and learn about the persons of the Trinity.
· Make it a daily habit to think through and appropriate the gospel in your life. Praise the Lord for what he has done for you in Christ. Use passages such as these to preach the gospel to yourself: John 1:12, Romans 4:23-25, 8:1, 1Corinthians 15:3-4, 2Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:4-5.
· Take time to be outside in God’s creation and exalt him for what you learn of Him through His wondrous handiwork.
· Read the Pslams…she wrote a book, “A Heart Set Free” on how to write our own Psalms of our fears and trust in our great God.
· Keep track of your prayers and God’s answers to those prayers and refer to them often to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.
· Memorize Scripture that reminds you that God is your refuge and strength in the face of fear.
· Listen to hymns and praise songs that remind you of who God is and what He has done.
· Worship each Lord’s Day at church with God’s people and take time to honor, exalt and praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done.

[Lauri Hogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonder that this book was released at the height of a global pandemic, with fear and anxiety pervading nearly every interaction and communication. This book helps us make a pivot! Christina walked alongside me as she traveled into Biblical understanding of who God is, balancing this magnificent wonder with my fears that crop up when I face trials. She offered many practical ideas to believers who desire to grow in trusting Him in the midst of scary or challenging situations. Christina filled her book with the living and active Word of God, speaking to our hearts with teaching and honest questions to help us face our fears with Truth. It is gentle and honest. Christina continually points us to the One who helps us to trust Him in a life of holy fear rather than a life shaped by debilitating fears. I highly recommend it to anyone experiencing anxiety from this world's pervasive fears. My copy is highlighted, with notes, and it will be a helpful resource for years to come.

[Elizabeth Turnage · Rating 5 out of 5]

If fear disrupts your sleep or hampers your freedom, this is the book for you. Christina gently addresses our inordinate fears and graciously guides us to see how “a holy fear” of the Lord brings us relief. Christina guides us into the deeper meaning of the command to “fear the Lord” — reminding us of how powerful, holy, and good he really is. As we begin to live into this “holy fear,” our anxieties about the “what-if’s” of this world subside, and our enjoyment and hope in the Lord increase.

[Beth Salesky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by Christina Fox. I found her other book (Idol's of a Mother's Heart) to be well rooted in theology and the gospel, and this book was no different.  

What an appropriate topic this is for the strange times we are living!  This book takes a different, but excellent, approach to the topic of fear/anxiety.  Fox starts by defining fear and the many natural causes of as well as our reaction to fear.  She suggests that instead of dwelling on these fears, that we replace them with a fear of the Lord. She goes on to discuss exactly what fearing the Lord means, differentiating between servial fear and filial fear (as in the parent/child relationship).  Once that definition is established, she provides great Biblical explanation for why we should fear the Lord - because of who He is and what He has done. 

The chapter I found the most helpful was the chapter about growing in the fear of the Lord. I really really appreciated that she stated "the fear of the Lord is not like a formula you apply to your fearful situations; it's not a magic potion". She wisely posits that just like growing any skill, growing in the fear of the Lord takes practice and time and is also "A work of God's grace in and through us".  And I was encouraged by her honest statement that "fearing the Lord doesn't mean you will never again feel any fearful emotions in the face of troubling circumstances.  Rather, the fear of the Lord is the posture of your heart in the face of life's fearful situations." 

She closes with two chapters about the fruit of being faithful and God's promises to the faithful - so encouraging! I also really enjoyed the brief conclusion with a list of suggested practices to help you grow in the fear of the Lord. This list was even more specific and easily applicable than the earlier chapter. As an accountant, I appreciate clear ideas for applying the ideas of a book. 
In summary, though this book is not long, it is packed with solid theology, challenging ideas, encouragement, and practical application.  Highly recommended for any Christian.

Note: I received an advanced copy of the book as part of the launch team but all opinions expressed here are my own. 

[Renee Masterson Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is making its way to my top 5 all-time book list. What a breath of fresh air this book is! 👏🏽Christina Fox winsomely and biblically shows what it means to fear the Lord—and as a result, all lesser fears are minimized. This book should go to the 🔝 of every woman’s reading list—particularly if you are prone to ✅intrusive thoughts and worst case scenarios; ✅have ever been met with unforeseen circumstances or on the brink of a looming diagnosis; ✅or have ever found yourself spiraling from one bad thing to the next.

Fox magnifies the goodness and sovereignty of the Lord throughout this book, articulates how God sanctifies in challenging situations, provides practical steps on growing in fear of the Lord, and comforts the reader with relatable and common circumstances. And from a writing perspective and not content—I cannot overlook the reality that Fox writes with poetic ease, varied sentence structure to keep the reader engaged, and with a friendly and discipling disposition. I absolutely INHALED this book. I could not put it down.

❌🙈❌My only regret reading this book is that I wait until now to read it—it’s been on my shelf for nearly 5 years (and honestly, the only reason I waited so long to read it is because the cover art just really puts me off—is that ridiculously vain of me? Yes, it probably is. Shame. But come on.) 🫠At last though, I read it, and I only have myself to kick in regret.


Read this book. 💯Look to Jesus. 🤩Be filled with the fear of our very good and sovereign God.🔥

[Dcm · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Christina's previous excellent book ("Closer than a Sister") on the much neglected truth of Union with Christ, I was looking forward to reading her new book.
"A Holy Fear" has not disappointed.
Fear of the Lord is another much misunderstood and ignored Biblical characteristic of true godliness and knowledge of the Lord. So to help Christ's followers, Christina has written a book which is both incredibly readable and immensely practical throughout.
I particularly enjoyed her discussion contrasting "filial fear" and "servile fear." Missing this vital difference is a big reason why many Christians get confused about Fearing the Lord and miss it's true beauty and power in the ups and downs of everyday life. Hence as Christina points out, we "need filial fear to drive out servile fear."
I really liked her lovely definition of filial fear of the Lord as "including awe, wonder, reverence, worship, adoration, gratitude, love, obedience."
I would highly recommend this excellent book to anyone who wants to know the God of the Bible better.

[Jenn Shoppell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the vast majority of this book! She makes some profound statements that shifted the way I thought of and applied the fear of the Lord, as well as clearly addressing how to deal with anxiety and fear of harm. She walks through dozens and dozens of very applicable scriptures, and does an excellent job of building a doctrinal basis for understanding and responding to the fear of the Lord.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a 5-star rating is that I can’t recommend it freely. I didn’t love how she emphasized NOT needing to believe for God’s promises. I think she was partially right, partially wrong. But my concern is that her words could cause some people to become apathetic, thinking God will automatically do everything on their behalf, instead of engaging their faith to cooperate with God’s work and promises.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fear is a word we often live in light of no matter where we live and who we are. Christina Fox tackles this prevalent emotion with Biblical clarity and gospel hope in her book “A Holy Fear”. She not only defines what fear means along with its various applications but draws your heart to look at Who God is and What He has done as a place to frame your fears. I not only grew in my understanding of approaching fear in a Biblical way but found the encouragement I need to view it in light of Jesus and my relationship with Him because of the gospel. It is a timely book that will be referenced again and again as I encounter fear in my life as well as walking along side others in theirs.
I received an advanced readers copy for my honest review.

[Lis Candelier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a long-time fan of Christina Fox. Her books are saturated with gospel truth and contain many scriptures to both back up what she writes and for your further study. This book did not disappoint. I have never studied, nor sadly even given much thought to, the topic of fear of the Lord. It is easy for me to believe the lie that I am not a fearful person. But reading through this book highlights some common anxieties people share. More importantly, it tells you how to give those cares to God and rather have reverence for Him alone. This book to me is a study, but I am grateful for tips provided and the authors personal anecdotes that helped me in a practical way. I highly recommend this book for personal or group study!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books on fear and anxiety, and this is a brand new take on the subject. Instead of giving us practical tips to combat our fear, Christina Fox points us to the God who we should fear more than anything else. She tells us how to fear the Lord in a healthy way and in the way that he deserves. She does give some more practical practices toward the end of the book, but not until she has explained why God is holy and we should fear him above all. She leads us into awe and worship of the God who cares for us and loves us in the midst of our fear. So refreshing and biblically grounded! I highly recommend for the believer struggling to fear the right things.

[Marilyn Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

We live in a fear-filled world. A fear of man or circumstances.
That fear is not entirely a bad thing. It warns us of danger, to be cautious. It also shows us how weak we are which can lead to anxiousness.The trouble is when we let that fear control us and consume us. However, there is another fear. A GREATER fear. The fear of awe and reverence before a holy God. A fear that causes us to trust Him in all our ways because that fear weakens our lesser fears. This book is so timely and encouraging with everything going on in our world and in our hearts. Biblically solid and full of wisdom. It would make a great gift or addition to your arsenal. I highly recommend it!

[Shea Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sure that I am not the only one that struggles with fear and anxiety, especially during this time of pandemic. Christina Fox’s “A Holy Fear” shows that the answer to fear, worry, and doubt is not to fear less, but to fear more - a correct fear of the Lord. I have never been more thankful for the highlighter feature on my Kindle, as I highlighted passage after passage about who God is, what He has done, and growing in the fear of the Lord. I was so encouraged by Christina’s consistent pointing to scripture to give us a bigger picture of the Lord, so we can trust Him and His promises and fight against fear with faith. Highly recommend!

[Coalición por el Evangelio]

En su libro «Un temor santo: Cómo el temor del Señor te proporciona gozo, seguridad y paz» (Editorial Portavoz, 2021), la escritora en ministerios cristianos como Desiring God, True Woman y TGC, Christina Fox, explica por medio de distintos textos bíblicos en qué consiste temer al Señor. Además, explica la importancia de aquellas promesas cumplidas en Cristo a favor de los creyentes para convertir las almas llenas de miedos en corazones seguros en el temor del Señor.

Lee la reseña completa en Coalición por el Evangelio.

[Desiré · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all experience the effects of the Fall every day and often, they lead to anxiety of what’s ahead. We can’t always undo pain and evil, but Fox’s book will help you frame your fears rightly. She says:

“While the fears of this world will always exist—until Christ returns—your fear of the great I AM will weaken those lesser fears. Their grip on your heart will loosen. These fears may linger on the sidelines of your life and remind you they are there, but their power will fade in the face of your glorious God.”

I highly recommend this timely book!

[Megan Malone]

I had the blessing of being on the launch team of this book. In a year with so much uncertainty for so many people, this book truly could not have come at a better time. Ms. Fox did an excellent job of painting a picture with words to show the difference between the different types of fear, God's sovereignty, and many of His wonderful, faithful attributes that can easily be forgotten in this crazy year.

One of my favorite quotes (I have many!) is "It is a comfort to know that an event that catches us by surprise is not a surprise to God"

I recommend this book to everyone

[Susan Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know most of the earthly things we fear are rooted in what our heart (rightly or wrongly) treasures, and can consume us and steal our joy? I didn’t ever think about that before! Christina so gently and wisely points us to the One we can give our fears to, and in the process of giving them to the Lord, we learn how to fear Him! It is so encouraging to read about how to trade these earthly fears for the fear of the Lord, and what that looks like in my daily living.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will have a prominent place on my shelf for easy referral. What a timely and important message about the greater fear of the Lord versus our weaker tendencies. Christina Fox has unpacked some important truths about what it means to fear the Lord, and how to walk in that truth daily. It's not a self-help message but a Biblical one that we all need. Highly recommend.

[Rachel Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for learning what fearing the Lord looks like. Christina Fox goes deeper and explains different ways we are called to fear God and what it looks like.
This was a very refreshing book to read and will help people understand what it means to fear the Lord.

I graciously received an advance e-copy for review for Reformation Heritage Books. All opinions are my own.

[Katie Mroz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A theologically robust and worshipful examination of the grounds for reverent fear of the Lord, contrasted with self-protecting fear. The author outlines the spiritual fruit and peace produced in the child of God with holy fear of Him and connects the concepts to practical scenarios. Would be a great group book study

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Holy Fear has been a blessing to read in a time of worldwide fear. Christina reminds us that we should not fear the things of this world, but to have a holy reverence/fear of the Lord. "(God) promises to use all the situations and circumstances of our life for our ultimate good. Sometimes it will be for our good that He heals us from sickness; other times it may be for our good that He does not. Sometimes it is for our good that He blesses us with good jobs and financial compensation; other times it is for our good that we go with less so that we would trust in Him to provide for our needs. Whatever God gives us, He will use it to sanctify our Hearts, draw us near to Him, show us our need for Christ, and bring Him glory." This book will make an excellent gift this year!

[Leah Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my top reads for this year! The author does a fabulous job pointing to God and His glory which causes all of what we fear to pale in comparison. A must read for anyone desiring to grow in their knowledge of God.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was wonderful in addressing how we should give our fears to the Lord. I struggle with anxiety sometimes, and this book was helpful. We don't have anything to fear, because God is always with us.

[Ali Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a Biblical and helpful approach to this topic.

[Brianna Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good walk through the character of God, the fear of the Lord, the gospel, and his promises to hold on to in the face of our fears.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and encouraging with some practical suggestions for how to rehearse biblical truth.

[Tiffany]

Good for individual or group use. Our women's Bible study liked it as a change of pace from our usual studies and it was good for discussion. Always a timely topic.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid offering on the fear of the Lord, written primarily with women in mind, but applicable for men as well.