Solomon’s advice
Proverbs 4:23-27 New Living Translation
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Here we see an important reason to fill your mind with godly things continuously. We are told to guard our heart because it determines the course of our lives. Jesus says in Matthew 12:34 whatever is inour heart determines what we say. Many times we speak out of ignorance because we don’t take the time to dig into God’s word.
The author cautions us to stay away from course, perverted talk, for a genuine believer will not make a practice of such things. James 3:11 asks the question: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”(NIV) The answer to that is obviously ‘no’. So if you struggle with profanity, seek forgiveness and a purging of it, for it is only a bad habit that you have yet to break. I know, because I struggle with that from time to time and James 3:11 convicts me very deeply.
We are told to look straightahead, but like most people we are easily distracted. It’s when we have our head on a swivel,gawking to the left and to the right that we get ourselves into trouble. Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Follow our Lord and be led by the Spirit and we will remain a safe distance from evil which lurks all around us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will walk a straight path. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 3:6 that if we submit to the will and way of God our paths will be made straight.
Though we will never live a perfect life we will live a blessed life in peace if we follow the instructions laid out in his word. While there are multiple options regarding the plan we choose, if we stick to the ways of the Lord throughout our life we will remain in the hollow of his hand. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
Resources: www.biblegateway.com, The Life Application Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible.
Matthew 12:33-37
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
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