The fear of the Lord is a wholesome terror of displeasing God which creates in us a wholehearted obedience. It is a spiritual experience resulting from personal encounter with a holy God. His judgments no longer seem distant or mechanical, but very personal and moral. The Holy Spirit works within us an intense desire to gain God’s approval, whatever the cost to us. At the same time, we become keenly aware of those things in our own lives which displease Him. This results in radical change.  

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).  

 The fear of the Lord is not the same thing as timidity or cowardice. The Greek use three different words for fear. The one used to describe the fear of the Lord means reverential awe and healthy dread of displeasing Him. The fear of the Lord becomes a controlling motive in our lives for holiness. It is significant that Church history tells us that this fear of the Lord was present in an unusual degree during every major revival.