As it is written, the fear of the Lord is an integral aspect of the Christian faith. This fear is quite literally the foundation of wisdom. Through these teachings, believers are encouraged to cultivate a fear of the Lord in their hearts, which ultimately draws them closer to God and fosters a life that glorifies Him first. The fear of the Lord is introduced in the Old Testament as the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. See Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This verse underscores the importance of fearing God as a foundational step in understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are several really great resources on the fear of the Lord across the web, including our own exploration of the topic, as well as this great article by Michael Reeves on Ligonier Ministries.
It’s in this spirit that our editors compiled this list of the best books on the fear of the Lord. These titles are the most popular currently available on the topic.
Note: We only included the best books on the fear of the Lord with a 4.5 stars or better ranking and a minimum of 100 reviews.
The Best Books on the Fear of the Lord
Most Popular: Fear of the Lord
Author/Publisher: Bevere
From the publisher: “It is time to give God His due honor and reverence in a way that will revolutionize your life in your worship, prayers, and personal life.”
Top-Rated: The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life
Author/Publisher: John Bevere
From the publisher: “In The Awe of God, John Bevere invites you to take a fresh look at what it means to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. This healthy, holy, and largely forgotten virtue is the uncommon path to a more fulfilled and fruitful spiritual life.”
Best Value: What Does it Mean to Fear the Lord?
Author/Publisher: Michael Reeves
From the publisher: “In this book, Michael Reeves explains that the fear of God is not a gloomy fear marked by anxiety but a heartfelt and happy enjoyment of God as Creator and Redeemer. As we learn more about the surprising good news of the fear of the Lord, we will discover the vital role we play in displaying to the world the awesomeness of our God.”
Popular Classic: Humility
Author/Publisher: Andrew Murray
From the publisher: “Is your walk with God stale? Are the same old things just not working as you seek intimacy and God’s power for your life? In this classic text by faith-great Andrew Murray, you will find refreshment for your spiritual journey and learn that humble dependence on God is the basis of all genuine blessing.”
The Joy of Fearing God
Author/Publisher: Jerry Bridges
From the publisher: “You’ll make the startling discovery that the fear of the Lord, far from being something to avoid, is the key to joyful, fulfilling, and genuine intimacy with God. It can change your relationship with God and change your life! Discover the surprising Joy of Fearing God!”
Intimate Friendship with God: Through Understanding the Fear of the Lord
Author/Publisher: Joy Dawson
From the publisher: “With personal examples and biblical truths, Dawson invites readers on a fascinating adventure into a place of intimate friendship with almighty God. This 20th anniversary edition includes fresh illustrations and a new foreword from Jack Hayford.”
Sound Doctrine: Teaching that Leads to True Fear of the Lord
Author/Publisher: Torben Sondergaard
From the publisher: “According to the Bible, sound doctrine creates true fear of the Lord. If this fear of the Lord is missing in our churches, as it seems to be, it must be a sign that we do not preach the true Word of God and sound doctrine. Teaching sound doctrine should cause us to see a need to surrender everything to God and to live in the light.”
Scary God: Introducing the Fear of the Lord to the Postmodern Church
Author/Publisher: Mattie Montgomery
From the publisher: “Discover the great wonder and wild freedom the fear of the Lord can bring. God’s character is like a mighty diamond—a glorious convergence of respect, awe, reverence, adoration, thanksgiving, and yes, fear. As Mattie teaches, it is simply a continual awareness of Jesus, our mighty Warrior King. Fans of Jefferson Bethke, John Bevere, and Brian Head Welch, will love the straight-talk in Scary God.”
A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for the Fear of the Lord
Author/Publisher: Christina Fox
From the publisher: “Believers are to fear the Lord. But what does that mean? In A Holy Fear, Christina Fox unpacks what the ‘fear of the Lord’ means and what it looks like in our lives. By giving examples of such fear in the Bible, exploring the fruits of that fear in our lives, and uncovering God’s promises to those who fear Him, this book will help you disarm your lesser fears, applying what you learn to your heart and turning to a fear of the Lord.”
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