Today, as we look at Proverbs 16, I am only going to share on just some of the chapter. There are so many good verses that I want to share with you. So, to keep the post not too long, I’m breaking it down to give full attention to it.
As we begin, the chapter addresses the heart by saying, “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.” Proverbs 16: 1
What plans are you chewing on at this moment?
What’s in your heart to proceed with? How can you share what’s in your heart that you feel God is leading you to do? If we look at the meaning of this verse, we see an answer.
God must give the ability to articulate and accomplish those plans.
Did you notice the two words, articulate and accomplish?
Let’s take it a little further and say it a different way. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16: 9
Notice the writer’s emphasis: When our steps are determined by God, He is in control.
Determined steps are steps that are firm. If they are firm, and God is directing, there will be an upholding by God that will sustain them even in a new direction. The roadblocks may be few, yet peace will sustain you.
Here’s the Psalm that backs that up: “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumbles, he will not fail.” Psalm 37: 23-24
Don’t just speak of God’s plan for your life, step out in faith as He shows you the way.
That way will be made firm, and you won’t fail, maybe stumble, but He will not fail you.
- Let Him uphold you when you have questions.
- Let Him uphold you when you have fear.
- Let Him uphold you when you miss a step.
- Let Him uphold you; for He shall not fail you.
Moving along, God not only looks at our faith in moving out, but He also looks at what motives we have inside
“All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighted by the Lord.” Proverbs 16: 2
God knows the motives inside a man’s heart.
Even if they seem innocent from the outside, God sees what motivates us to act a certain way. They may be innocent to others, but not innocent to Him, for He sees all.
Manipulation and control are seen by the discerning and certainly not hidden by our God.
We can all agree that God works out everything for our good, right? Yep, but we have to remember that “The Lord works out everything for His own ends–even the wicked for a day of disaster.” Proverbs 16: 4
It’s not about us but about His will.
God is sovereign in every life and in all of history.
One major issue of the heart is man’s pride, which we were all born with.
As we grow in the Lord, we are responsible for working on those heart issues naturally and spiritually. The Holy Spirit helps to conform us to the character of Jesus. If there’s heart blockage, we need those nasty clumps to be removed and arteries opened up for clear blood flow.
So, it is with the spiritual. Embracing pride will slow down our growth process and even hinder our life of peace. It will stop the flow of the Holy Spirit working in and through us in the purity of love from the Lord.
“The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16: 5
If you struggle with pride, I admonish you to deal with it. It will clog and debilitate our spiritual health if we don’t address it.
Here’s why: “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” Proverbs 16: 7
Could it be that the chaos we have in our lives, could be a result of unresolved issues of pride, that are blocking the flow of God’s pure love into our being?
If we long for peace, when the Holy Spirit puts His finger on an issue like pride, He is applying pressure, so we willingly remove it.
Ask the Lord for help, and He’ll rush right in and tell us how to get rid of that cancer of pride and anger.
Forgive and we will be forgiven.
Ask God to scoop and flush out all of the hurt that you may be continually pushing down, so you can’t deal with it or feel it.
That very act of pushing down that pride, unforgiveness, and hurt, has become like impacted wax in the ear, that prevents us from hearing correctly.
A good healthy heart checkup affects other areas in our body, even the ability to hear sharply.
It’s time to make the corrections we need to make so that we know how to “Live in Him and move and have our being.” Acts 17: 28 It’s through His love and faithfulness we truly can live as God intended us to live, through His Spirit.
Let His love and faithfulness wash over you today. He’s waiting for us to be free.
“Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.” Proverbs 16: 6
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
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