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"Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil."
(Proverbs 4:23-27)
Every morning I read a chapter in the book of Proverbs as a part of my devotional time with the Lord. I began this spiritual discipline many years ago when I heard one of my mentors in the faith, Pastor Johnny Hunt, say that he does this. Even when I am on mission trips or on vacation, or even if I am sick, I read a chapter of Proverbs every day. No, I am not trying to come across as super spiritual and certainly not legalistic or having a haughty attitude. I just know how desperately I need God every moment of every day of my life. I read Proverbs in the morning, and then throughout the day, I pray back to God some of the verses I read earlier in the day.
Our biblical text for today's devotion is one of my favorites. I have committed these verses to memory and enjoy praying them back to God. I will summarize Solomon's instructions with the following statements:
- Keep and guard your heart. Do not let the enemy deceive you or lead you astray. Keep your heart pure, forgive quickly, and do not let any bitterness or offense take root.
- Watch your words. The Bible reminds us often (see James 3) to be careful what we say. Use your tongue to speak life and truth and never to deceive, gossip, or tear down another person. Solomon warns the reader in Proverbs 30:32, "If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth."
- Look straight ahead. Guys especially, we have to guard our eyes and not let them take us to any unhealthy place. Like Job, let us make a covenant with our eyes: "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?" (Job 31:1)
- Watch your step. Let us stay on the road of purity and righteousness and not venture off the path God has us on. Psalm 1:1 instructs us to not walk among the counsel of the ungodly.
Let me encourage you, especially men, to make this New Year's resolution that every day you will read the correlating chapter in the Book of Proverbs. For example, tomorrow is January 9, so during your quiet time with the Lord, read Proverbs chapter 9. I assure you that your life will be blessed, and I mean greatly blessed and protected as you read and obey Proverbs!
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