There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19
A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”(Jeremiah 17:9)
This is all about planning - planning ahead of time to do something wrong or evil. Planning a robbery, planning a murder, kidnapping, etc. For the most part this applies to people outside the walls of the church, right? I don’t think God would have warned us about it if He didn’t think that we could have these thoughts too. Devising wicked plans can be anything we are planning to do that is against God’s commands.
All sin begins with a thought. When we think about something, and dwell on it, we are more likely to eventually follow through with actions. What we do with those thoughts is key to how we conduct our lives. I have never sat down, or even let my mind drift while driving down the street, about killing another human being or robbing a bank. But I will admit that I have had plenty of conversations – both in my mind and some out loud with myself – about what I would like to say to someone who has hurt me or angered me. Is this devising a wicked plan? No. Is it wrong? It is not the attitude that God wants me to have and can lead me down a road of bitterness and resentment. Instead I need to give those feelings to Him, ask Him to check my heart, forgive me, and help me show His love to the person that I am so consumed with. Our hearts are in danger when we let thoughts roll that go against God’s commands. We need to guard our hearts and take every thought captive and give them to Him.
Feet That Run to Evil
If we have feet that run to evil, it means that we are quick to participate in sin. There is already a desire and a willingness, maybe even an eagerness, to engage in sin. However, this is more of an impulsive action, not a thought-out plan such as above.
Doing things on impulse is something we all struggle with. Shopping on impulse, sexual behavior, overeating, acting out in anger, participating in gossip, and so much more. Following these impulses will get us in much trouble. When we throw caution to the wind and willingly engage in impulsive and sinful behavior we are putting ourselves in danger. We are all sinful by nature and sometimes the path to evil will be appealing because that is the way Satan wants it. He wants to lure us away in an impulsive moment. But if you have ever made an impulsive decision you regret, you know that the path is only appealing for a moment until the snare snaps.
Guard your heart and be aware of the devil who is always looking to lead you astray. Make choices carefully instead of impulsively, thinking of where it will lead - closer to God, or farther away?
Scripture to Claim:Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us… Ephesians 3:20 NASB
