I used to think so, oldethennew. I used to think I had to approach God gingerly while first repenting of all my sins & getting myself all "ready" to appear before him.
Except one time while I was sitting cross-legged on my bed with my Bible in my lap, trying to think of all my sins so I could repent and get clean in order to pray effectively... I realized there was no end of things I could think to repent of. In fact, I couldn't think of anything I did that was even worthy enough to be called "good works". All of a sudden it occurred to me that God deserved much better than anything I could offer and I broke down and sobbed my heart out. I couldn't even look up at God, I felt so ashamed and bankrupt.
Then the Holy Spirit revealed to me how delighted and glad God is when we run to him boldly as our Father and not to hesitate coming to him just as I am. It makes God happy when we run to him without fear. Man, I was so overjoyed, I called all my Christian friends up and shared it with them so they could be set free of that fear, too!
I don't have to worry about being respectful enough or be fearful of God like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz. God's not a man, or anything like an earthly king. God is Spirit! And I am united with him through the spirit of Christ Jesus. Jesus wasn't afraid of the Father and he tells us not to be afraid as well.
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