.One of the things I love most about writing books is the opportunity it provides for me to dig deep into a topic. To sit with one subject for a while and explore all its layers. To follow the likely questions that the topic lends itself to asking and see just where they lead. And to thumb the pages of Scripture to see all the ways it covers the subject.
The process always changes me. No matter what I think about the topic before I start, I’m always surprised by what I learn along the way. And even after I finish the writing, I continue to learn and grow from what I’ve studied. I am always thankful for the opportunity and love sharing what I’ve learned with others.
So, why did I pick this subject?
I’ve long wanted to learn more about the fear of the Lord. It’s a frequent phrase found throughout the Bible. It’s a command for believers to obey. It’s an inherent and foundational practice to what it means to be a Christian and for our relationship with the Lord. But just what does the fear of the Lord mean? In writing this book, I wanted to unpack the fear of the Lord and provide for myself, and my readers, a richer understanding of this fear.
I understand what fear is, for I have many fears. But what does it look like to fear the Lord? How is it different than the terror I felt when I once lost my son at the San Diego Zoo? Or when we heard my husband might lose his job? Or when a virus crept its way across the globe and flipped all our lives upside down? Why does the Bible teach us to turn from our other fears to the fear of the Lord? What does this fear look like lived out in our life? What are the benefits and fruits and promises for those who fear God? I explore these questions and more in A Holy Fear.
A Holy Fear includes a study guide for individual and group use with passages to study and questions to discuss. And guess what? It’s available for pre-order now.
Here’s what a few readers have said about the book:
“As human beings we all have our fears and are all motivated by our fears. In their own way our fears drive us and direct us. What Christina Fox does so well in this book is address the facts of our fears, diagnose the source of our fears, and prescribe the solution to our fears. As you read her book you will come to see that the cure to our fears is fear, for the problem at the heart of each human being is not that we fear, but what we fear. Or, better said, it's who we fear.” —Tim Challies, blogger, Challies.com
“In our modern vernacular, fear of the Lord sounds anything but good. It doesn't sound life giving. It evokes thoughts of cowering in dismay in the shadow of something terrible. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so it's gravely important for believers to understand what God does, and does not, mean by the phrase. Christina leads us through Scripture to understand the phrase as God uses it. Christina is an able guide, and the reader will benefit from her thoughtful and thorough look at Scripture on fearing the LORD.” —Wendy Alsup is a mom, math teacher, and author of Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness, IVP 2020
”During a trial or challenging moment, we rarely take the time to analyze the fear underneath our anger, frustration, or anxiety. But if we were to place these lesser fears next to a greater fear of the Lord who has promised His presence, then that would be a trajectory changer. A Holy Fear provides that needed biblical perspective. Its pages are filled with a gospel primer to fight our lesser fears and replace them with a fear of the Lord that leads to walking in wisdom.” —Karen Hodge, Coordinator of Women s Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and author of Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver and Life-giving Leadership
Want to join a launch team to help get the word out about the book and read it before anyone else? Stay tuned for details on how to join! In the coming weeks I will post a link on how to join, what to expect, and how you can help. P.S. There will be fun giveaways!
