Proverbs 4

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life… Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:23, 26-27

I love that the proverbs embodied in this chapter are addressed from a father to a son, and by extension, from our Father to all of us who are sons and daughters of God through Christ.

Maybe it’s because I’m in a later season of life, but I truly appreciate the truth behind this section of Scripture. In my adult life, I’ve walked carelessly and I spent nearly a decade of my adulthood without the Lord.

It’s for good reason the reader is urged to use vigilance in keeping his heart or carefully choosing his footing along the path of life’s journey. It’s all too easy to veer off course just the tiniest bit and suddenly find yourself floundering in a swamp you never meant to get caught up in, uncertain of how you got there and less certain of how you’ll ever get out.

Any wrong turning – whether it be unfaithfulness in marriage, murder, or what have you – starts with a single step away from God’s will. Then another. Then another and another until, over time, you find yourself far away from where you should be. Far away from God.

Instead, let’s resolve to really ponder our steps before we take them. Think through our choices to their logical conclusions.

Perhaps, even, we should consider the private fantasies or daydreams we may entertain and whether or not they affect our hours for better or worse. For even our thoughts need be brought under the control of Christ if we are to successfully remain by His side.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…

2 Corinthians 10:5

Wise Father, help us to guard our hearts and ponder our steps. Show us the end of the path we are on so we are not unaware of the direction our choices are leading us. If we have taken steps away from Your perfect will, please Lord, prick our hearts to repent so we can turn back to You. Thank You that You are always willing to receive our honest contrition and forgive, amen.

What about you? What steps are you taking to ensure you keep your feet from straying away from our Lord?