Fear of the Lord

I have some very real fears-drowning, small enclosed spaces, snakes, or anything really that creeps and crawls-just to name a few! These fears can leave me paralyzed or at a minimum cause me to act irrationally. Lately, though I've been thinking about what it means to "fear the Lord". Somehow I don't think my personal reactions are what it means to have a fear of the Lord. This whole thought process began when I read part of Psalm 128.

"How joyful are those who fear the Lord-all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be! Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord's blessing for those who fear him." NLT

These verses talk about having a joyful life, fruitful labor, prosperity, a flourishing wife and children around your table. The Lord blesses those who fear Him. Who doesn't want that in their life? I know I want that in our home. It still begs the question though, what does it mean to fear the Lord? I think the answer can be found in the last part of the first sentence-"all who follow his ways!"

We fear God when we obey His commands, when we follow His word and direction. We intentionally choose to live our life according to God's plan and not our own. We will see and experience the blessings God desires for us when we fear Him.