I've been studying the book of Proverbs for about a month now. I started my study because I knew I was quickly approaching a time in my life that would require me to make many decisions quickly and all of these decisions carried weight-- these were not simply choices like caffeinated or decaf? Because really, if you are choosing decaf, what is even the point?
No, these choices were weighty and I did not want to make any mistakes. After reading Proverbs 1-3, I was able to remind myself of some important things, which I wrote about here, here, and here. But when I came to Proverbs 4, I got stuck. There was just too much wisdom to apply. I think I could spend a year thinking about all of the wisdom in Proverbs 4. So I did what I always do when I'm overwhelmed: I procrastinated. But I can't do that forever, so below here are the verses that I've gone over and over as I think about how to make these key decisions: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; Keep your foot from evil." 1. Guard your heart This is the over-used verse told to every unmarried women at church when they start dating a guy. As in "Well, it's ok to pray with him on occasion, but sweetie, just make sure you guard your heart." But guarding your heart doesn't just apply to relationships. It applies to any outside factor or influence that might taint, distract, pervert, or mislead you. 2. Focus There are so many options for us. Too many options in some ways. What kind of job should I have, where should I work, what commitments should I make, who should my friends be, etc. We are all on a path towards something. This passage in Proverbs tells us to fix our gaze and make level paths. To take only ways that are firm. We might not know exactly what to do, but if our gaze is focused on Christ and not diluted, our choices have a standard by which we can measure. 3. Persevere Yes, big decisions are important. And right now we are making big decisions with lots of choices. But really, all those small, seemingly insignificant choices that we have made in our day-to-day life, those have come to define us. As we come to a big fork in the road, I am thankful that we have built a daily decisions to follow Christ. It makes our mission, our goal, and our life choices that much easier because we have been striving to consistently live out what we believe and have seen God's faithfulness to us in the small things. It isn't easy-- it requires perseverance and diligence. Perseverance in the mundane and perseverance when you think no one is looking. Don't get me wrong-- I fail a lot. I'm not saying we've got the wisdom thing down. But in all our practicing, and in all our failures, we have seen God's grace to those who seek wisdom. Do not swerve away, even when it seems like the consequences will be unimportant. And now for an update on all those big decisions we're making. Well, you'll have to check back in on Friday:)
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