Parashat Ekev

Chapter 10; v.12

וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל מָה יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ שֹׁאֵל מֵֽעִמָּךְ כִּי אִם־לְיִרְאָה אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו וּלְאַֽהֲבָה אֹתוֹ וְלַֽעֲבֹד אֶת־יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָֽבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

רבותינו דרשו מכאן: הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים (ברכות לג:):

Our Rabbis derive from this that everything is in the hands of God except the fear of God. -Rashi

When man prays to God to fulfill a request, he cannot be certain that his prayer will be answered. The decision is entirely “in the hands of God.” God is free to grant or deny. But such doubts do not exist when a man prays to God to inspire him with the fear of God. In that case, he can be sure that his prayers will be answered. (Ohel Torah)