Sage Words from a Loving and Wise Parent

1.Read Proverbs 4:23-27

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of our life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

2.Study Proverbs 4:23-27

Sometimes I can hear my husband and son talking o the phone. They have lively conversations and anyone can tell they enjoy one another’s company. When I hear them talking I am often reminded of when our son was growing up as a little boy and how they would often sit together and talk about things, life, future, school, aspirations, and just dad and son stuff. This conversation between Solomon and his son remind me of that. When Solomon had these discussions with his son, he was not wearing his “king” crown, but just a dad talking things over with his son. Solomon warned his son to guard his heart, about staying focused, being careful and how even his friends could cause him to fall and become sidetracked if he was not careful and aware. He let him know that he could not chase after everything that looked good; not every path was for him so he needed to have discernment and know the path God had marked out for him as a king’s son.

This is how we can take what we read in God’s words: as a Father’s counsel to his offspring. It does not matter whether we had an earthly father like Solomon, we have that kind of Father in God, who wants the very best for us and loves us enough to warn us of the pitfalls of life. Today we can take each one of the points Solomon made to his son, to heart and receive them as what our heavenly Father is telling us; we can put our name right there and hear our Father’s word of counsel.

3.Meditate on Proverbs 4:23-27

As you meditate on the set of instructions Solomon gave his son, which one resonates most with you? Which one or ones will you take with you in your thoughts and heart today?

4.Praying Proverbs 4:23-27

Father, Solomon’s son was blessed to have a father like him, just as Solomon had been blessed to have David as a father, and now we are blessed to have You as our Father, warning us, giving us instruction about the things of life we need to know about. Help us as we meditate on your words of instruction to hear what you are saying so when opportunities present themselves to take us off track we remember what we have learned and stay right where we need to be: on course! Amen