Proverbs 4:26 - Be Careful What You Choose To Do.

Pro.4:26: Be Careful What You Choose To Do.

Proverbs 4:26 (KJV) Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy
ways be established.

Proverbs 4:26 (RSV) Take heed to the path of your feet, then all
your ways will be sure.

Proverbs 4:26 (NRSV) Keep straight the path of your feet, and
all your ways will be sure.

Proverbs 4:26 (TEV) Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you
do will turn out right.

Proverbs 4:26 (GWT) Carefully walk a straight path, and all your
ways will be secure.

Proverbs 4:26 (NLT) Mark out a straight path for your feet; then
stick to the path and stay safe.

Proverbs 4:26 (EAV) Consider well the path of your feet, and let
all your ways be established and ordered aright.

Proverbs 4:26 (CWB) Think carefully about which direction you're
going and walk only on solid ground.

Proverbs 4:26 (TLB) Watch your step. Stick to the path and be
safe.

Paying attention to wisdom has lasting benefits, which are
expressed in these verses (Pro. 2:1-4:27). Each of the benefits is rooted
in the fact that God Himself "holds victory in store for the
upright" and "is a shield to those whose walk is blameless" (2:6-7).
While it is possible to view consequences of a good moral life as a
natural outcome, Proverbs affirms a supernatural element. God observes
our choices, and He Himself "guards the course of the just." [The
365-Day Devotional Commentary]

4:23-27 Actions tend to follow affections. Our heart--our
feelings of love and desire--dictates to a great extent how we live
because we always find time to do what we enjoy. Solomon tells us to
guard our heart above all else, making sure we concentrate on those
desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections
push you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires:
don't go after everything you see. Look straight ahead, keep your eyes
fixed on your goal, and don't get sidetracked on detours that lead to
sin. [Life Application SB]

Sarah, my 3-year-old great-niece, sat mesmerized, watching the
graceful glides, spins, jumps, and double and triple axels of figure
skaters performing on the TV screen. At the end of the show she
announced, "I know what I want to be when I grow up."
"What?" her mother asked.
"A figure skater."
She begged her parents to buy her a pair of skates. Several days
later, when her parents hadn't complied with her request, she
announced, "My heart already knows how to skate, but someone has to teach
my feet."
Performance of any skill requires instruction, practice, and
more practice. One doesn't learn to read by sitting in a library.
Knowing the tune to a melody doesn't mean one can play it on an
instrument. Parallel parking isn't perfected without practice. Having a set
of carpenter tools and blueprints doesn't make one a professional
builder. Reading a book on gardening doesn't make one a gardener without
putting into practice the information given.
Sarah's comment made me think about my Christian experience. Are
my skates sharpened and clad on my feet, pirouetting over the ice
to improve my performances? My heart knows right from wrong, the
way I should go, but are my feet following the path that leads to
eternal life? Do my words and actions show what my heart knows?
It's not enough to know the benefits of physical exercise and
healthful eating habits. I must care for my body as the temple of God.
It's not enough to know about the power of prayer. I must make daily
communion with God a part of my life.
It's not enough to know Bible doctrines. The story of the rich
young ruler illustrates the folly of thinking a knowledge of God's
Word is sufficient to make us candidates for heaven. We need to
practice its precepts.
Dear Lord, please help me to let my heart direct my feet to
serve You and humanity. Help me to practice what I profess. --Edith
Fitch