By Donna Shelton

My friend and I had just heard about the terrible events of January 8th.

“I believe the root cause of this behavior is a lack of the fear of God in our society,” I said.

She told me about a mother who didn’t tell her children about God, Jesus and salvation because she didn't want them to be afraid.

How sad that this mom knew so little about her God and what He says in His Word!

What do we want as parents for our children, anyway?

I'm sure Jared Loughner's parents wanted the same thing for their child as most parents: happiness, success, freedom from want, and as this mother wanted, freedom from fear.

I think as Christians we want all that and a lot more. Most of all we want our children to make heaven their home.

But before they get there, we want them to serve God gladly all the days of their lives; to love God with their whole heart, soul mind and strength and obey Him; to be all God intended them to be.

In Deuteronomy 10:20 we are commanded to "fear the Lord thy God," for some very good reasons.

"Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin" (Exodus 20:20), and Proverbs 16:16 tells us: "Through the fear of the Lord man avoids evil."

This tells me that the fear of God – rather than being a scary, negative thing – is a protection for us, to keep us out of trouble and to lead us to salvation.

The fear of God keeping our children from sin and helping them avoid evil is pretty big, and God tells us it can be taught.

"Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (Psalms 34:1).

Why teach your children this? One reason is because it brings wisdom, and who doesn’t want a wise child? Psalm 111:10 says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

It can also lead them to salvation. "Surely His salvation is near those who fear him" (Psalm 85:9).

As always with God, we have a choice, however: "Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 1:29). And as always, God gives us promises if we will obey Him: "Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear him lack nothing” (Psalm 34:9);

"The fear of the Lord adds length to life" (Proverbs 10:27).

"How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge  in you." Ps 31:1

 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." -Proverbs3:7-8

 'For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his mercy (love) for those who fear Him" (Psalm 103:11).

"You who fear Him, trust in the Lord – He is their help and shield" (Psalm 115:11).

"Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life." (Proverbs 22:4).

What a lot of wonderful promises follow the fear of the Lord!

God warns us not to be afraid of those who can kill our body but can't kill the soul – "Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

I was taught the fear of the Lord as a child, and that is was what led me back to Him as an adult. I knew He could send me to hell, and I knew I was not living a life of obedience to Him. Although I was taught to fear God, my mom never used God as a stick to discipline me.

There is always a balance to be found. As an adult, I've been so blessed as I've studied His word; it has dispelled wrong ideas I had about who God is and has allowed me to rest in His love and find my security in Him.

God promises to "bless those who fear the Lord – small and great alike" (Psalm 115:13), and I feel blessed on so many levels.

"He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge," it tells us in Proverbs 14:26. So when we fear God it brings a sense of peace because we can trust in Him.

He is our fortress and refuge. It is just the opposite of what the world thinks.

I just love the way God works: Fear Me and I'll give you peace. The world, the natural man, can't understand that.

In Deuteronomy 5:9 God says: "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that it might go will with them and their children forever!"

Can't you hear the love and longing of God to bless us and our children?

So if you want things to go well with you and your children forever, aim those arrows in your quiver straight to the target of the fear of the Lord.