Fear first
Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. Psalms 128:1 (NKJV)
When we see the word fear, we generally associate it with something negative. The horror movie that we should have never watched when we were kids, the playground bully who never passed up an opportunity to twist our arm and make us cry, the situation that set us up for the ultimate embarrassment…these are all things that define fear for us early on in life.
So when we see a word like fear linked to the Lord, as in this verse, it can throw us for a loop.
But that's not the same sort of fear being described here. When the Bible associates fear with God, it's actually something positive. It's a reverential respect for God that's so powerful and real that it produces obedience in us. And it's this type of fear that goes hand in hand with those who are blessed.
A blessed life begins with fear. Not the negative fear inspired by the boogeyman or the bully, but the in-awe-of esteem that comes from understanding who God is—and that produces a willing submission to "walk in His ways." When that becomes a person's guiding reality, when it takes precedence over all else, he or she will be blessed. Fear is the fountainhead that flows outward in watering streams to every other part of our lives…producing an abundance of fruitful blessing along the way.
The opposite is equally true for those who don't fear the Lord. A heart that lacks in reverence for Him will result in a life that lacks joy, peace, hope, and every other blessing that comes from the Father above.
If you want to experience a blessed life, you need to fear first.
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