On the Fear of God

A person who has resolved to walk the path of interior attentiveness must above all have the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom.

Let these prophetic words always be impressed upon his mind: “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling” (Ps. 2:11).

He must walk his path with the utmost caution and reverence toward everything sacred, and not carelessly. Otherwise, one must fear that this terrible divine sentence will apply to him: “Cursed is the one who does the work of the Lord negligently” (Jer. 48:10).

Reverent caution is necessary here because this sea—that is, the heart with its thoughts and desires, which must be cleansed through attentiveness—is great and spacious: “there are creeping things without number” (that is, vain, crooked, and impure thoughts—the offspring of evil spirits).

“Fear God,” says the Wise Man, “and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13). And by keeping the commandments you will be strong in every deed, and your work will always be good. For, fearing God, out of love for Him you will do everything well. But do not fear the devil; whoever fears God will overcome the devil: for such a person the devil is powerless.

There are two kinds of fear: if you do not want to do evil, fear the Lord and do not do it; and if you want to do good, fear the Lord and do it.

But no one can acquire the fear of God so long as he has not freed himself from all earthly cares. When the mind is free of anxiety, then the fear of God moves it and draws it toward love of God’s goodness.