Day 17– Straight On

Proverbs 4:20-27 [NKJV] 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they [are] life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it [spring] the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.

Long before Jesus cautioned us to enter the narrow and straight gate in Matthew 7:13-14, Solomon cautioned us to look straight ahead and stay on the right path [v. 24-26].

Isn’t it wonderful how the scriptures in both Old & New Testaments align with one another? The fact that Solomon’s words reflect Jesus’ words remind us that Solomon’s wisdom was a direct blessing from God – not something he was born with or gathered on his own.

Solomon also gives us guidance on how to stay on the straight path.

Verse 20-21 – Listen to and really pay attention those who are older and wiser than you.

Verse 23 – Guard your heart from being infiltrated by wrong thoughts that will lead you to another path. Where we are going begins with intent. I have to ask myself, “What is my intent? Where is my heart leading me?” Sisters, good behavior never begins with wrong intent.

Verse 24 – Guard your mouth. Be careful what you say to others and to yourself. Words have power to sway us. We can talk our way into trouble, into anger, jealousy or fear, even if those words are only running around in our heads, but especially if we let them fly out instead of controlling them.

Verse 25 – Look where you are going. Pay attention to the path you are on. Look ahead to the Kingdom – not down at this earth today. This earth today is not where our focus should be. If your eyes are on the goal of the Kingdom, your feet will follow.

Verse 26 – Watch where you are walking. Your feet follow your heart, mouth and eyes, but sometimes we don’t realize we are headed in the wrong direction until our steps have taken us off the right path and we are in danger of stumbling on a rocky path were we never intended to go. If you feel you are on shaky group, reflect on the steps you have taken and adjust your heart, mind, eyes and feet.

Following the right path takes whole-body commitment. It reminds me of the children’s song I learned at church: “Oh be careful little mind what you, think…. For the Father up above is looking down in love…” The song goes through mind, eyes, mouth and feet. We need to be careful about all of them.

Like that song, Solomon warns us that, if we want to stay on the right path, we must pay attention with our minds, our hearts, our mouths and our feet. Where are you headed today, sweet sister?

Prayer — Father God, this world has so many distractions. This world offers bad advice that can sound so good. Help me to listen to those who are senior in knowledge of Your Word and in fullness of your Spirit. Most of all, help me to listen to and internalize Your Words in the Bible. Help me to use them to keep my heart, my words, my focus and my feet on the right path today and every day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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