Fear that releases, immeasurable love and joy, is the fear of God.

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy." Psalm 147:11….

This is me. After walking with Him for 50+ years, now, I can say He has trained me in all powerful, loving, holy fear. Learning how to place my fear in Him, releases a joy, strength of faith and love of people which grows and grows. I'm unafraid of most everything and everyone. Wisdom has set in. I've done alot of dying to self. Compassion floods my soul, and others come first, right after God. There is no reason to fear anyone or anything, but God. Illness, war, attacks all allowed, all within His view, marked by His presence throughout the trial, test or attack….as I've learned to count it all joy…..almost instantly…some things take longer than others to put to joy!
Hope has grown in me. When I look at the post logical world we live in, examine politics and commonly held ideas of knowledge …. I release my angst and am flooded with His merciful power of hope, which truly springs eternal.
All of these thoughts spring from Psalms 143-147 right now, my current Bible readings. I think, I speak for many fellow believers I know, who have shared a similar aspect of faith with me. God trains us for all spiritual warfare, and wars of all kinds. He is the goodship Lordship. Yesterday, my husband took us to visit the awesome USS America, now in for fleet week, in Long Beach Harbor. It is a 2 year old aircraft carrier, awesomely equipped with the most awesome sailors, marines, fine, fine people and state of the art warfare equipment. Our tour officer said the two most important ships to remember are "friendship and fellowship." In my heart, I was saying, both of those are huge parts of the most powerful ship, the good ship, LORDSHIP! How grateful I am for His lordship over and within us. We have only reason to fear, Him, who is, all powerful. Period. My reverential fear is knowledge based, experience based and love based. Am so grateful His word trained me in holy fear. He will continue to coach me in this aspect of faith until I die. Fearing God releases the greatest love and joy, I've ever known.