# 43 2016 Dev. Pr.4:23. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God by memorizing selected passages of Scripture. Further, to view the passage in context and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living with family, friends and others. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4 praises wisdom as supreme. David is speaking to his son, telling him what his father told him: “Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live” The commands of course are God’s commands but what are David’s words? And what is wisdom? “Listen to instruction, gain understanding, love her and esteem her.” Wisdom here is personalized. This Psalm is about wisdom and it is about the heart.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Pr.9:10). This applies to us more and more today, look at politics, at secular values, there is a call for religious institutions to rethink what is said to be their outdated stand on marriage, sex, and fundamental human relationships. Churches are rethinking the values of the past today! Are people reading their Bibles or are they listening to the culture around us?
The words of David apply here: “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.”David draws a contrast: “18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
“Above all else, guard your heart,” Above all else this should be our issue today: we hear a steady stream of wickedness every day. That stream is part of every day living if we are living in reality. Wickedness does not settle in the heart if we guard our hearts and continue to know the difference between righteousness and wickedness.
“For everything you do flows from it.” All we say and do flow from our hearts. Keep your heart close to God, open your heart to the Holy Spirit and fill your heart with the love, grace and the forgiveness of Jesus. Listen to what the Spirit is teaching us in Verse 23. God is good!
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