Pam Padgett ... teacher
In Proverbs 4 we're told about the path of the just and we're given counsel for staying in this way.
The path of the just is illuminated by the word of God. As
we pay attention and carefully consider each word the Holy Spirit calls
to our attention, seeking to know and do what we are being shown, and
allowing the word to go into our hearts, the light shines more and more on the way ...
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the
wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let
them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their
flesh.
We are counseled to keep our hearts with all diligence, trying to keep those things right in the sight of God in our hearts and uprooting any evil ...
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips
put far from thee.
In keeping our hearts, we guard our hearts, not allowing truth from God to be
stolen from us by lies from the devil nor to be choked by cares and this
world. We pay attention to those things we take into our hearts and consider whether these are true and
right in the sight of God. When the Holy Spirit troubles us about
something we've taken into our hearts, we need to be especially vigilant
to pray and uproot what is not of God and plant the truth brought
to us by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. And we pay attention to what comes out of our
mouths, believing ... of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:45), turning to God to deal with evil by replacing it in our hearts with His word.
Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids
look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all
thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:
remove thy foot from evil.
We keep our eyes on what God has told us and the way we are
led by the Holy Spirit, not following lusts of the flesh, but confident
that the way set before us by God is the right and best way for us, far
better than anything of the world. We endeavor to continue moving forward in the way set before us,
not dwelling on past sins, but allowing our lives to be continually conformed to the
will of God. And as we turn to God with each matter we face and wait for His
guidance, we ponder the path of our feet, allowing HIM to establish our
way.
While thinking about these things, I was reminded of what Paul told us in the following ...
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.