The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life

by John Bevere

Do you long for an intimate relationship with your Creator, but He seems elusive? Perhaps it is because something utterly essential is missing—the fear of the Lord. Don’t let this frighten you. Fearing God is very different than being afraid of God. It’s the key to everything. Holy Fear is not a topic you’ll hear much about these days. But if you want to build a faith that stands strong through troubled times, you cannot afford to ignore this book. 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. In this book you will see why godly fear is the foundation If you look at the men and women in Scripture, the ones who lived and finish well all have one thing in they are marked by holy fear. The Awe of God was designed to be read slowly and intentionally, given its devotional format. At the end of each of the 42 chapters are five tools to help you deepen your understanding and apply what the Spirit of God is teaching you. With this compelling and convicting message, you can experience a revival in your relationship with God, whether you’re new to following Him or have walked with Him for most of your life.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, How To, Inspirational, Christianity, Personal Development

304 pages, Hardcover

Published February 21, 2023

About the author

Marked by boldness and passion, John Bevere delivers uncompromising truth through his award-winning curriculums and bestselling books, now in more than 60 languages, including "The Bait of Satan," "Drawing Near" and "Driven by Eternity." He is an international speaker and co-host of "The Messenger" TV program broadcast worldwide.

John enjoys living in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lisa, also a best-selling author and speaker, and their four sons.

Reviews

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a timely book. For years, we have been steeped in teachings regarding our identity in Christ. And that topic is indeed an important one! But to me, it seems it has also brought us into a kind of familiarity with God; such familiarity that we may have inadvertently forgotten what a holy and incredibly awesome God we serve. That part of His character is particularly important for us to portray in today’s society as we are bombarded with blatant narcissism, injustice, corruption and greed. We have “dumbed down” the holy fear of God and as a result have reduced God to a platitude and developed a lukewarm attitude toward Him.

God is good! He chose us as His children! But we can’t lose sight of who He is in all His glory. And as we honor all the parts of His character, from the intimate to the awe-inspiring, we will grow in our relationship to Him and each other.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a deep book and worth taking your time reading and studying through. After reading the first few chapters I paused so I could soak it all in. There were a lot of thought-provoking ideas touched on in the book. There are many things to take away with you but understanding the fear of the Lord vs being afraid is probably the idea that will help you the most. I would consider this a study book and suggest taking your time processing the materials presented. You may not agree with all that is written but studying some of the principles will help you see a different way at looking at the topic. Overall, it was a good study of the Lord, and I would recommend it for a Bible study group or Sunday School class or just someone looking for an in-depth study.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson, for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.

[Grayson Zaragoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent encapsulation of the major topics John has preached on for the last 40 years. It's applicable to today, the format is easily digested, and the simple writing style ensures nothing in this message is lost on the reader. But it is also very challenging, one that can transform an individual's life if they allow it to. I've seen it happen in me, and I know it can happen in you.

[Diana Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 solid stars!!!! I would give it more if I could. This book is in my top 5 favorite books I’ve EVER read in my entire life. And I’ve read a LOT of books. A must, MUST read! I cannot recommend this book enough. You will read and re-read it again and again. When I have more time, hopefully I can come back and do this book justice with a more thorough, in-depth review. But for now, this will do. 😊

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've ever read!


Before I get deep in the review and the way God brought me to this book I just want to say to all my brothers and sisters in Lord Jesus out there: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF EXPERIENCING GOD'S PRESENCE AND FEAR OF HIM !!!



Before God guiding me to this brilliant and honest book I read Tozer's The Deeper Life: Go Beyond Knowledge to Experience Spirit-Filled Living and after finishing it I realized I didn't want to remain a lukewarm Christian like the Book of Revelation 3: 15-21 warned us and predicted about our present period - the Church of Laodicea :

" 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. "



So my heart asked God to show me were was the root of my disobedience, why was I failing and why couldn't I feel joy in listening to God's commands, why some commands seem so hard to follow and why didn't I follow Him completely? Before God guiding me to this book, God prepared my heart in the way that reading Proverbs, The Holy Spirit showed me the lack of the fear of God and knowledge of it. After beginning The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life I realized that this book was my answer to my prayers and question about fear of God, praise be to the Lord's 🥰

The book focusses on the healthy and needed if you ask me , FEAR OF THE LORD. This book contains the definition of IT , what IT looks like, what are the benefits and rewards, how can you reach IT, the characteristics and the most important to me at least is how the Fear of the Lord brings you in a very close and intimate relationship with God!



This book is for those brothers and sisters that do not wish to be lukewarm Christians anymore, who want to seek God with their all hearts, who are sick of superficiality listening to God or modern Christianity, who just want a deeper life with God both in intimacy with Him but also in knowing Him! 💖

God bless you all !

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for daily devotional or bible study. I wouldn't try to devour it in one setting because there are too many important points and beautiful nuggets of wisdom to meditate on. John Bevere has a great way of explaining things in a gentle, teachable, easy to understand format.
A really pleasant, enjoyable read, one which the reader can experience again and again with each read through.
Highly recommend!

[Cory Briggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I give it such a low review? He started using mystical language around page 122. He talks about "experiencing God". Where in the Bible are we mandated to experience God? What exactly happens when you experience God? How can we know absolutely that we are in process of experiencing God and not engaged in some occultic exercise? On page 123 he states that if we haven't actually seen Jesus we can't be transformed. The Bible does not validate that idea anywhere! Moreover it contradicts John 20:29 where Jesus talks about those who blessed who have not seen Him yet believe!

Before you fall in love with your spouse, you get to know them and then you learn to appreciate them for what they are. If I said to my wife on our first date, 'I don't want to know you, I just want to experience you'! Well that would of been the last date I had with my wife! Similarly God wants us to get to know Him and rewards those who seek Him out! (Hebrews 11:6). Also, faith is based on what isn't seen, not what is seen- Hebrews 11:1. His idea of seeing a physical manifestation of Jesus runs antithetical to the above Bible verses.

I could go on. Instead I will close by saying what started out as a good premise for a book detoured into some non productive rabbit holes.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would never recommend this book to a new believer. I have been saved for years and I found the authors words to be confusing, and contradicting of God’s Word at times. I felt he manipulated scripture. I was missing Christ’s love in this book. The author seemed very prideful, and at times I don’t even know if I believed some of the stories he told. My advice… if you choose to read this book, and you dig into God’s Word, read the scriptures before and after what the author is trying to point out and ask yourself if that is what scripture is really saying.

[Stacey E. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book Rating: ⭐️
DNFd at page 73

When I picked this up, I thought it was a more of a theology novel, but I was mistaken. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but it took me by surprise, and I was glad to go through it slowly to soak it all in. It was rich with scripture, and the guided prayers were good... but then it went downhill fast.

This seemed like a great devotional for the most part, and then on page 71, Bevere states: "The issue wasn't Ananias & Sapphira's actions: they simply gave an offering at their church service. It is godly, holy, and beautiful to give a financial gift to the work of God. The sin was their motive - the desire to be viewed in a certain light."

What?! There wasn't an issue with their actions, yet God struck them dead for them? The Bible said they sold their property and gave a portion of the sale, they lied and said they gave all it was sold for. Peter told Ananias straight up, you lied to God.

To make light of that and not even quote the scripture you're referring to is a red flag. I'm not going to lie, I am a bit disappointed because I was enjoying this book. It just goes to show you how important it is to read your Bible because if you don't, you won't be able to discern the truth from a lie.

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off so strong but I struggled to finish it. Spare yourself the read and find a YouTube video of his sermon on the topic instead. I heard Bevere speak in person and was convicted by his message - which was solid. I bought the book expecting a more in-depth continuation of how to understand and foster the fear of the Lord. I will say, there are some truly precious and challenging truths presented in the book, but I found major drawbacks.

1. First, he applies scripture out of context and uses watered down translations to fit the verses to his point, throughout. There are so many verses about the fear of the Lord, I can’t imagine why he needed to take so many CLEARLY out of context to fit his point. The message may have been strong but his Scriptural backup was completely off, numerous times. By the time I finished the book I was completely on guard and questioning a lot of what he said. If you read this, go in with a heavy side of discernment.
2. Honestly I just found the book repetitive, sometimes verbatim. This book could have been half the size and crossed the same ground. It was self-aggrandizing at times, and overspiritualized other things, like government assistance. For example, he related in a couple of stories how being on government aid was the result of generational sin caused by an ancestors lack of fear of the Lord, but how Jonathan Edwards feared the Lord and his descendants never needed government aid. Very oddly specific and came across judgmental.
3. I wish he would have gone more into how to develop and walk in the fear of the Lord. Almost the whole book is about the importance and benefits of the fear of the Lord, so he builds a strong case and even gets a little “finger wagging” about what happens if you don’t, but then offers almost no practical guidance on the topic besides a couple of devotional days in the middle.

Overall, wouldn’t read again and wouldn’t recommend.

[Kendrick Vinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is profoundly timely, weighty, and convicting. I’m already rereading with several friends. Cannot recommend more fervently.

He is coming back for a spotless and holy bride! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

4.9/5.0

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Fear of God is the death of every other fear. Like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it.”
— Charles Haddon Spurgeon

This was a weird one. Structured like a 40 Day Devotional, yet it wasn’t a devotional at all. Bevere formulated this structure, I believe, so we wouldn’t rush through the process, but would only read one to two chapters a day. Reading at a much slower pace. This causes us to meditate on what we just read, to think, react, and experience the Fear of the Lord rather than hurrying through to rank yet another book under our belts.

To Fear the Lord, we must reverence Him. To reverence Him, we must build intimacy with Him. To build intimacy, we must build our trust upon Him. To build trust, we must spend time with Him and His Word. This is at the heart of the Christian Faith, to have a relationship with the Lord through Christ, rather than appealing to the dead works of religion.

I’ve read a few Bevere books, I’ve listened to his talks, and I know that he will always touch on the fear of the Lord. If his life had a message, that would be it: “Fear God!”

But to fear God doesn’t mean we’re in fear of Him. It means we love Him with our whole hearts in reverential awe.

The Hebraic word for ‘awe’ in the Bible is “yirah”, which directly translates to “fear”. Indirectly it means: respect, reverence, worship, and awe. And is strongly connected to the word, “trembling”.

This brings new meaning for me. It’s like looking into the deep recesses of the Grand Canyon, the depths of the Pacific Ocean, or the snow-capped peak of Mount Rainier. It encapsulates the phrase, “Behold the Wonder!” And we in response recognize the insignificance of our stature in such a vast universe, yet know that we are deeply and profoundly loved.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

— Matthew 10:28

[mijarey · Rating 5 out of 5]

solid book covering major topics on walking as a christian on earth! knowing how important fear of God actually is and how it can change the way to see life and how you live it.
also easy to read with no major difficult wording haha 6 week block is good to take it all in

[Joel Crane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this might literally be the worst book I've ever read. I read it for a Bible study. I agree with what I think is Bevere's general thesis, which seems to be that fostering a healthy fear of God is necessary to build a strong relationship with Him. I think that's probably true. But Bevere's comically bad writing leads me to believe the poor man is either participating in some sort of bizarre form of self-sabotage or that he doesn't have an editor. It's probably the latter. Let me give some examples of the academic malpractice at play here.

(1) The opening pages are all about holy fear: what it is, why it’s important, how it will bring us closer to God. For Bevere, a healthy fear of God is both important and is something more than reverence, adoration, awe, or respect. He says it’s all those things and more. He gives examples from scripture he says support this. OK, fine. So, why is the title of the book The Awe of God and not The Fear of God or Holy Fear or something else along those lines? Since the awe of God (according to John Bevere) is substantively different than the fear of God? There is no good reason for it. Maybe nobody would buy a book called the fear of God.

(2) Bevere inexplicably changes between editions of the Bible when citing scripture. Sometimes it’s the Amplified Bible Classic Edition (AMPC), sometimes it’s the King James Version (KJV), sometimes it’s the New King James Version (NKJV) - sometimes he misspells the abbreviation (NKJY), sometimes it’s the New Living Translation (NLT) sometimes it’s the Contemporary English Version (CEV), sometimes it’s the English Standard Version (ESV). There are at least five more editions he quotes from. He gives no reason for switching editions. As far as I can tell, the only reason he does this is because he likes the differences in phrasing… which is, if you ask me, really bad form. What that communicates to me is that he determines the conclusion before he’s done any research and works backward from there by cherry picking quotes that ‘support’ his conclusion.

(3) He does a whole heck of a lot of "Webster's dictionary defines ___ as..." which is lazy writing in and of itself, but he doesn't even use the same dictionary! Sometimes he uses The Complete Word Study Dictionary, sometimes it's the Collins English Dictionary, sometimes it’s Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary. Once - and with no explanation for doing so - it's "the original 1828 edition of Noah Webster's dictionary" to define the word ‘awe.’ At first, I thought maybe this guy knows something I don’t and is using the 1828 edition because it is somehow superior to more recent editions... until later in the book when he uses a 2022 definition from Merriam-Webster.com. Totally baffling.

(4) His stories are filled with mysticism and converting the masses in mega churches (not my thing)… but worse than that (for my purposes in this review), he’s an unfocused writer and his stories are often half-baked and kind of just miss the point. Example: at one point, he’s invited to a megachurch to deliver a sermon. He does, it is (to be expected) about the importance of holy fear. The next day, the church’s senior pastor tells the congregation to ignore what Bevere preached about the night before, because their God is a God of love, not fear. Then, John was welcomed back to the podium to preach again. Admittedly, a pretty horrifying experience and a pretty shitty thing for the pastor to do. Here’s what Our Friend John Bevere did next:

“After a short message, I turned the service over to him, returned quickly to the hotel, and went to bed utterly bewildered and feeling like an outcast.

“The next morning, I found a quiet construction site near my hotel; there were no workers on the jobsite. I prayed earnestly, anticipating God’s correction. With sincerity, I asked, ‘Lord, have I hurt Your church? Have I taught something untrue? Am I putting Your people in bondage?’

“I continued for quite some time, and as I prayed, what I uttered began to change. I stopped doubting my message from that evening and found myself passionately asking for more understanding of holy fear. It was a plea coming from deep in my heart, and I was surprised by what was happening. I didn’t sense God’s dissatisfaction but rather His pleasure in what I had done. He began to bring to my remembrance numerous scriptures in the New Testament regarding the fear of the Lord. In time I found myself no longer befuddled but now crying out in a loud, passionate voice, ‘Father, I want to know the fear of the Lord, I want to walk in it!’"

That’s the end of the story. What’s the relevance of the construction site? Why did he feel that, actually, he is doing the right thing? Just because he, at that moment, conjured a bunch of New Testament verses that use the word ‘fear?’ (He doesn’t say, so I’m guessing here). I think Bevere’s message about fear of God is important. What I take exception to is that feeling a personal vibe switch is not exactly the same as divine intervention in support of your theological project. Offer an example, John! And tell us why it matters that you’re in an abandoned construction site!

All of this is to say, the author’s thesis statement resonates with me. But a thesis statement should be accompanied by major points, which are supported by evidence, and that’s what this book is missing. It is not good. I do not recommend. One star.

[Lane Bortell · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bevere's passion and excitement about this topic is contagious. He reminds us that a healthy fear of the Lord leads to unbelievable depth of joy in His presence and constant access to the fruits of His Spirit. It makes us stand up straighter and act more boldly and faithfully, because the alternative to faithfulness becomes unthinkable. The fear of the Lord eliminates all other fears.
This book was very helpful in my walk and I definitely recommend it to anyone who thinks Jesus is all grace with no truth, or to anyone who feels a lack of intimacy with the Lord.

[Brennen Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

i went back and forth on if i liked the daily/devo style, but regardless, the content is great. each chapter convicted me about if/how i fear the Lord. this is a timely work that many western christians desperately need.

[Marc Bougharios]

Absolutely life changing.

[Shayla Johansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10
I really enjoyed the ways in which this author would integrate scripture, personal stories, and application all together in each chapter.

If you are debating this as your next read DO IT

[Parker | simplybibliophiles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deviating from my regular programming…this book was recommended by a Christian influencer I follow on Instagram and YouTube. John Bevere is a popular minister that I have heard of. Everything I’d heard suggested that, unlike some other public figures out here who shall not be named that throw God’s name around, he knows the Word and does a proper job referencing Scripture when he gives hot takes, so I was game.

Holy fear, to me, feels like a pretty basic concept in Christianity - not basic in scope or understanding but basic in the sense that if you do not fear God, then you don’t have anything with God. I don't say this as a flex, and I don’t want this to come off as arrogant, but I feel like I’ve understood the concept of holy fear since childhood. I’m not sure what I expected, but the book just felt very, very basic. Therefore, I believe the true audience of this book is baby believers (folks who are new in the walk with God or coming back to God). He does a decent job of expounding on the topic with his religious citation of Scripture (see what I did there) - this was arguably the best part of the book.

Also, I appreciated that he doesn’t overwhelm you. The chapters are short, and at the end of each, he summarizes the chapter's central point and Scripture and a question to ponder.

Was it food for the soul? Sure, the pursuit of knowledge about God and Jesus is always fruitful. Would I recommend it to a seasoned believer? Probably not. Would I recommend it to a new believer? Absolutely, with the caveat that if you already fear God and understand that concept, the book may feel very redundant in part.

Maybe the influencer just overhyped it, and as a result, my expectations were really high. Who knows?

[Daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be completely honest, I skimmed the last few chapters 🥴.

This book was good, don’t get me wrong! I absolutely was immersed in it from chapter 1. I remember the first couple months I was reading it consistently I was extremely impacted by it. I honestly felt that I’d finish off giving it a full five star rating!

Alas, what limited my rating was the fact that the closing few chapters were extremely redundant. While the author presents amazing points about the fear of God and definitely inspired me to increase my holy fear of Him, they were definitely certain parts that I felt were extremely redundant.

Overall, I appreciated John’s challenge and charge to the church to renew their awe of God. I definitely recommend this book to anyone searching for practical ways to renew or grow in a healthy fear of God!

[Laurel Wilbanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m not quite sure what to think of this. i was throughly enjoying it until i got to one chapter that just seemed a little outrageous and unbiblical to me. so from then on i kinda had my guard up. i think john bevere is very sincere and passionate about holy fear and i think it’s a very important topic that needs to be taught more so i definitely learned from this book i just can’t get that one chapter out of my head

[reagan wooldridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

The root idea of this book is so good! Enjoyed spending a month thinking about what it means to fear God and praying that He’d make that true in my heart. 3/5 because the author makes a lot of bold, absolute statements that didn’t always sit right with me. Devotional style was fun and refreshing

[Kt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.1

…I like all the science in the appendix. Science is worship!

[Trevor Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book for the Church in America today. We've swung too far making God more of a friend and less of our Lord. Good read. Would recommend

[Vivian Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this due to a sweet friend’s recommendation 😊

Overall, I like the approach and idea of the book! The writing style is very easy and digestible. The message is broken up into short chapters that could be read as a 3-6 week devotional with each chapter ending in a more personal section where the reader is invited to sit and ponder on the material discussed.

Though “Fear of the Lord” is a simple topic, it is also a vast idea. I appreciated John’s strategy in breaking it up into parts. I loved that he would do deeper word studies with the Greek or Hebrew used in the verses quoted. I appreciated him using a lot of Scripture and anecdotal experience to help prove his claims. This approach helps slow down the reader where transformation could take place.

My only two critiques is the material became a little redundant (especially if you are listening to the video messages on the app after completing a chapter), and I did not like some of the translations he would use to quote Scripture (The Passion Translation and Good News Translation). Other than that, I think it is worth the read especially if one desires a deeper relationship with God or wants to learn more about the benefits of reverentially fearing the Lord 💛

[Ethan Senne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most profound thing that stuck out to me in this book is the story of a fallen pastor in chapter 17 who in response to the question, “When did you fall out of love with Jesus.” Said, “I didn’t fall out of love with Jesus. I loved Jesus the whole time, but I didn’t fear God… and there are millions of Americans just like me.”

The author suggests a devotional study of this book each day, I did that some days and other days I couldn’t put it down. I recommend taking the book in small doses (a chapter or two a day).

[Jessica Newberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely life-changing. The Awe of God isn’t just a book—it’s a wake-up call to live with holy reverence. John Bevere beautifully unpacks the fear of the Lord in a way that’s both convicting and deeply encouraging. Every chapter drew me closer to God and challenged me to walk in greater obedience, humility, and purpose. A must-read for anyone longing for deeper intimacy with God.

[Matt Aspinall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the last few devotions in this book a bit challenging to connect with. However, the overall content has been truly transformative for me. I’m grateful for the way the Holy Spirit used this book to bring conviction and deepen my faith journey.

[Adebayo Oni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah. Best devo I’ve ever read. Might send it to a few folks

[chloe garkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has IMPACTED me and the way I view God. It’s timely, convicting, and powerful.

It is a deep book so I recommend going through it slowly so you can really digest the content. Based on the advertising I was really surprised to find out that this is a devotional and not a novel. Either way - good content.