Begin with "Fear" of the Lord

This morning while I was reading the bible I came across this verse:

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I've read this before but I don't think that I have ever REALLY understood what it means for my life. What does it mean to "Fear" the Lord. I think this is hard to understand because the word "Fear" has such a negative connotation for us. But I think it is much more like a "Fear" you might feel if you got to see Earth from space...or to stand at the base of the Rocky Mountains and look up. It's an overwhelming feeling, it makes us feel small, it puts us in our place. It isn't a "bad" feeling but it is an "awesome" feeling. As I continued to read I also came across these two verses:

Psalm 1
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree {firmly} planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this [is for] all humanity.

What this helped me realize is that this is where it begins. The way in which I live my life should begin here. With my perspective of God. Do I "Fear" God? Maybe, sometimes. But do I let my "Fear", "Awe", and "Reverence" for the Lord define how I live my day to day life? I don't think so. Yet, that is essentially what it says in these passages. That our life should be defined by our Reverence for the Lord. I think we need to take a good look at our perspective of God and once we define that I think we need to live our lives like we believe it!