Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 7 Gift of the Fear of the Lord.

 Come Holy Spirit Series.

Come Holy Spirit.

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 7 — The Gift of Fear of the Lord

“The Awe That Opens the Heart”

Here we are—Week 7 of our Come Holy Spirit series.

We have explored six beautiful gifts of the Spirit, and now we arrive at the final gift listed. This gift is often misunderstood and sometimes avoided. However, it is so very essential.

Fear of the Lord is not about being frightened of God.
It is about being so deeply in love with Him, so aware of His majesty and mercy, that we never want to stray from His heart. Imagine how our lives would be so different if we never want to stray from His Heart. Let us pause right here and name one area of our life that could change if this is our constant perspective.

It is the awe that opens the soul.  It is the reverence that steadies the mind. It is the humility that makes room for all the other gifts.

 

What Does the Catechism Say About Fear of the Lord?

Q. 389. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (CCC 1830–1831)

 

What Is the Gift of Fear of the Lord?

Fear of the Lord is the gift that:

• Fills us with reverence and awe for God’s greatness.
• Helps us tremble—not in fear—but in love at the thought of hurting or offending Him.
• Keeps us rooted in humility and wonder, even as we grow close to Him.

It is the gift that makes us say:

“You are God… and I am not.
You are holy… and yet You invite me in.
I want to walk lightly in Your presence, with awe, with joy, with trust.”

Fear of the Lord is not the fear of punishment, father it is the fear of fear of losing intimacy with God who loves us so much.

 

Why Do We Need Fear of the Lord?

We need the gift of fear of the Lord because we live in a world that often forgets who God is. We need all the gifts but especially fear of the Lord because:

Fear of the Lord keeps us anchored when:

• Pride creeps in.
• We grow too casual with holy things.
• We rely too much on ourselves.
• We forget to be amazed.

It is a corrective lens that restores our sense of wonder, reverence, and perspective. The Holy Spirit gives us this gift to help us see God from His expansive lens not our own narrow lens.

 

How Can We Renew and Use the Gift of Fear of the Lord?

1. Gaze at the greatness of God.
Look at the stars. Read the Psalms. Sit in silence. Let your soul expand in wonder.

2. Be mindful of God’s presence.
God is everywhere. We can be more mindful of His presence in church.  We can genuflect being more mindful of Jesus in the tabernacle. God is in every room we walk into and in every person including ourselves.  Pause, honour Him there.

3. Keep your heart tender.
Let your love for God keep you alert to sin, not out of fear, but out of love for God.

4. Enter worship with reverence.
Let Mass, prayer, and Scripture stir our soul not as routine, but as holy encounter. Do we look forward to attending Mass, spending time with God in prayer and scripture?

5. Reflect on eternity.
Let the reality of Heaven, judgment, and God’s justice remind us how much your choices matter and how great His mercy is. Living today as if it our last can help us change our perspective on our choices- does this decision have an eternal perspective?  How keen are we to meet God face to face?

 

Scriptures That Reflect the Gift of Fear of the Lord

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Proverbs 9:10

“Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.”  Psalm 2:11

“His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.”  Luke 1:50 (The Magnificat)

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.”
— Philippians 2:12–13

 

Reflection Question for the Week

When was the last time I stood in awe before God—not just in words, but in my whole heart?
How might I invite more wonder, reverence, and humility into my walk with Him this week?

How will the feast of Pentecost impact us this year? What gifts do we want to receive from the Holy Spirit- let us ask Him to refresh, renew and restore all these gifts.

 

Daily Soul Moments: Fear of the Lord Week

• Sunday: Sit quietly for 5 minutes and reflect on God’s holiness. No words—just awe.
• Monday: Read Psalm 8. Let it stir wonder at God’s majesty and your smallness.
• Tuesday: Before prayer or Mass, pause and say, “You are holy, Lord.”
• Wednesday: Ask God to make your heart more sensitive to what pleases Him.
• Thursday: Reflect on eternity. Let it guide a choice you’re facing today.
• Friday: Confess any pride or self-reliance. Ask for humble awe to replace it.
• Saturday: End the week with the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55). Pray it slowly, like Mary did.

 May our preparation for Pentecost be beautiful as we hope to receive Holy Spirit in the way we most need this year.

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Gift of Fear of the Lord,
Fill me with awe at the mystery of Your holiness.
Let me never grow casual with Your love, or careless in my steps.
Teach me to tremble in wonder, not in fear.
To walk in reverence, not in guilt.
To rejoice in You, not in myself.
Keep my heart soft, my soul alert, and my love strong.
You are holy—and You are mine.

This series will continue next week as we begin our consideration of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and how the gifts and the fruits are linked. Stay tuned.