Proverbs 4:23-27
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of
it are the issues of life.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and
perverse lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine
eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy
ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:
remove thy foot from evil.
Here
we have a set of instructions involving our course. They start with our heart and end with our
feet.
The
Lord knows that our paths begin with our
heart. What do you cherish and value
within? What are your meditations, goals
and affections? Do they line up with
what the Lord’s heart is for you and the purpose of your life? We are exhorted here to keep our heart with
ALL diligence. That means we are
continually having our heart searched by our Maker. How do we keep our heart
this way? Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the
Word of God “ is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword...and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” We must listen to the Word of God with a
vulnerability of being challenged, rebuked or corrected. Also, we need to be quiet in our thoughts
enough to hear the Holy Spirit point something out that is good or wrong in our
hearts. The Lord tells us in Rom 8:26‑27, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: ...And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of
the Spirit..” Do you have time to just
go for a walk and talk things over with the Lord? Have you turned off the radio in your car and
brought things before Him and asked Him to search you? Have you risen a little earlier than your
household to meet with your Savior and have Him search you out?
Next,
we see the tongue being dealt
with. The tongue has so much power. We must ask the Lord to put a guard over our
mouth and have purposed words that will build up not tear down. Our mouths must not be allowed to ramble on
with self-pity, self-exaltation, self-anything.
Our mouths should declare His praises and point others to Him.
Then
we have the eyes related to our feet. What are we watching or reading? Where is our focus? “Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck
my feet out of the net.” (Ps 25:15) Who are looking to in order that our needs
are met? Look straight on. Don’t look at what others are doing. Don’t look behind you at the past. Look straight on. Look at the path you are taking. Ponder the path. Is it the road that the Lord has asked you to
travel or is it your own trodden path?
Let your steps be ordered by the Lord today and ask Him to give you a
sensitivity to your path and that your feet would be removed from evil.
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