Proverbs - The heart, mouth and feet

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.