Good Morning,
"Direct your mind in the way of the Lord…", this last part of Proverbs 23:18-19, deserves our attention today. Direct means to make straight or even, to make right or cause to make pleasant and prosperous and to take the straight way. We can keep our mind straight and even and cause our mind to look to things that are pleasant and prosperous. Prosper here means to push forward; to advance mightily; to go over and to break out. Just think on that for a moment, if I keep my mind on the ways of God at all times I'll push myself forward and I'll advance greatly. Is your mind stayed on God in all your day to day living? Is He the center of your workday, your dreams, you talents, your gifts, your entertainment and all that you are involved in? When you begin to make your plans, do you direct your mind His way? Let's face it, without directing our mind, our thinking will become twisted. Proverbs 4:23; "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Just bring to remembrance the times that you have done things out of hatred, anger, disappointments, bitterness, frustration or even on the lighter side, you did things that were out of moments of pleasure or happy times. Times that you have directedyour mind/heart to do, things that have set you on a course of life that made your path way crooked or twisted. It was because your heart (which here denotes your mind, will and emotions) was not made to go straight or even toward God's path that was planned to push you forward. Listen to the rest of Proverbs 4:25 – 27; "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." You can direct your steps everyday, through and by the Word. Keeping your steps from becoming twisted and crooked, again and again.
Let's read this verse another way; "Direct your mind in the way of the Lord, hear my son and be wise. Your hope and expectation shall not be cut off, for surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward]." (Proverb 23: 18,19) I could use some of that, how about you? As I make my way even and straight according to God's word, then my hope and expectation will not be cut off. No matter how difficult it may look or how impossible it may be in the natural, if I keep my mind straight and even then my hopes and expectations will be pushed forward. The NIV translation of this verse says that I will be rewarded for directing my mind. Do you have any hopes and expectations? Expectation means a cord, like the umbilical cord; the thing that attaches and gives life; thing that I long for. God doesn't impregnate us and then not bring it to life. (Isaiah 66:9) Teach your mind the straight way and see what God will do. Psalm 62:5 – "My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him." Practice directing your mind causing it to make your way pleasant and prosperous and you will be rewarded with your hopes and expectations coming forth from the womb of your heart.
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 