The Fear of God

What is that causes you to fear God? Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs also says this same fear prolongs our life.
But what is it that causes you to fear God? Is it the fact that He can do what ever He wants to? Is it the fact that He is above all and in all? Is it because of my current life situation and I know that if I stand before Him, He will and can judge me? What is it?
Even as I write this I am dealing with this fear. But, not really because of any of the listed reasons, though they all apply at some point, that's not it totally. I tremble at this moment from the fact of just watching His activity. You know when you stand in a moment such as that, where it is undenialable that God Himself orchestrated it, you know that it could never make sense another way, in those moments fear is present. But here is what is interesting, it is not a fear that drives you way, but draws you near to God. It is not a fear that depresses you but ,ironically, excites you. It causes a weight that is heavy on you, your heart feels like it cannot beat and you cannot breath. James 4 tells us that love drives out fear. So if that is true, how can we have fear and not have fear?
The answer comes back to; why do you fear God? Do you fear God because He will judge you? If so James is correct, because if I lay awake at night because I don't think I will make it thought the night, then we are missing the love he is talking about. The agape love that James uses, drives out that reason to fear God. I don't fear God for the fact that He will judge me, because of the "love" that is driving that out of me. I sleep sound at night, because that fear that drives me away from God in not overwhelming in me.
I fear God when I know that I am standing in His presence. The fear that draws us to Him is the fear that Proverbs discribes. This fear, is healthy not harmful. It causes us to acknowledge God for who He is. It reminds us who we are in reelection of that. It prevent us from going beyond our bounds. In a sense it keeps us humbled before the majesty of God. And that is where we should be.

So what causes you to fear God? Are you being driven away or drawn near? Does it cause you to love Him more or hide from Him more? If you are running from the punishment of God and not into the presence of God, let His love drive that fear out.