Session 18

You can’t do the right thing without the right heart

From Proverbs: A 31-Day Devotional

When you were younger, your mom probably advised against snacking too much before dinner. But inevitably the hunger pangs would get the best of you, and as you picked at your dinner later, your mom would say the last words you wanted to hear, “I told you so.”

In God’s loving and infinite wisdom, He speaks to us about how to navigate through life. Throughout Proverbs 25, we find solid wisdom that can help us avoid “I told you so” moments.

Doing what is right requires us to get rid of everything not right in our hearts.

The first step in applying God’s wisdom to our lives is to check our hearts. We see this in Proverbs 25:4-5, “Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith. Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.” Doing what is right requires us to get rid of everything not right in our hearts.

To get your heart in the right place, ask Jesus to soften your hearts and rid you from any unforgiveness, unbelief, or bitterness. With a healthy heart, we can apply the wisdom Proverbs describes.

In Proverbs 25:1-10, we’re encouraged to act with humility, assume the best, and never betray a confidence. We’re told to pay attention to the words we speak and avoiding quarreling whenever possible. Ephesians 4:29 echoes this teaching saying, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Our words will always be an outpouring of what’s in our hearts. So if we want to do what’s right, we’ll need the right heart. Then, as we obey God’s wisdom, we start to see change spiritually and practically as we grow closer to God and each other.

Reflect:

• What is one thing you learned from Proverbs 25 that you can put into practice today?
• When was the last time you checked your heart? Ask Jesus to reveal any bitterness, unforgiveness, or unbelief that is taking up space in your heart that could be filled with more of Jesus.