“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it.” (Psalm 111:10)
We understand the gift of the fear of the Lord as the first of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. When we practice it, our lives take on a clear and unmistakable direction. We examine our actions in the presence of God to see whether they might offend our Heavenly Father. This is a profound turning point in life, and thus the healing power of the Holy Spirit can unfold radiantly in our souls. At first, this gift may be accompanied more by a holy fear of doing even the slightest thing that might displease God. The memory of what might happen as a consequence if we stray from the path is also very vivid.
Yet over time, this initial tension gives way to a more natural relationship of love, as brought about by the gift of piety. We strive more to do what is pleasing to our Father and are filled with this desire.
However, the gift of the fear of God will always serve to keep us from becoming careless in our relationship with our Father and will correct us when we are not vigilant enough and feel too secure. It is the wisdom of our Father, who gives us the Holy Spirit so that He may transform our inner life according to His will. Our Father knows very well how easily we can stray from the path of salvation. So He leaves us with the fear of God so that our spiritual journey remains spiritually healthy and any kind of false security or arrogance can be corrected by Him.