A Man's Heart Devises His Way - Proverbs 16:9

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right”, and in chapter sixteen and verse nine of Proverbs Solomon said, “a man's heart devises his way” where we read,

A man's heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.

The verse begins, “A man's heart devises his way:” Solomon began with the words, “a man's heart” or “the soul, mind, will, desires, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and affections of a person whether male or female” “devises his way” which means “calculates, invents, imagines and thinks about his, the person's, traveled road, journey, manner and habit”. Solomon shared how people think about and make plans for their journey in life.

The verse goes on to say, “but the LORD directs his steps.” Solomon continued with the words, “but the LORD” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “directs his steps” which means “establishes, fixes, makes firm and stable the person's paces, strides and courses of life”. Solomon said Jehovah God is responsible for establishing and making firm the strides and courses of a person's life.

When we think through Solomon's words in this verse, we see how people make the plans for their lives from their souls, minds and wills, however, Jehovah God leads and guides their course. In other words, He knows what will happen to us. (See James 4:13-15) He is aware that we will be eternally separated from Him if we remain in our sinful state, so He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all of us. When we yield our lives to Jesus, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us commit all our plans to Him as we realize He will “direct” us according to His Divine purposes and plans.

Next time Solomon says, “a divine sentence is in the lips of the king”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".