Proverbs 16:16-20 - The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Proverbs 16:16-20 speaks to the importance of wisdom and humility in the life of a believer. The passage begins by acknowledging that while man may make his own plans, it is ultimately the Lord who directs his steps and determines the outcome. We are reminded that though we may see our own ways as pure, God is the one who weighs our hearts and motives. The wise person commits their work to the Lord, trusting that He will establish their plans according to His perfect will. Pride is highlighted as an abomination to God that leads to punishment, while the fear of the Lord is what causes us to turn from evil. Steadfast love and faithfulness are lifted up as the means by which our sins can be atoned for. The passage encourages the reader that it is better to be humble and poor in spirit than to be proud and rich in material wealth. And finally, we are reminded of the blessing that comes from giving thought to God's Word and putting our trust fully in Him.

This passage from Proverbs 16 offers much-needed wisdom for navigating life in a way that honors God. So often, we can fall into the trap of thinking that our plans and ways are best, forgetting that it is the Lord who ultimately directs our steps. We may even deceive ourselves into believing that our motives are pure, when in reality, God sees the true state of our hearts. That's why it is so important to continually commit our work and plans to Him, trusting that He will guide us according to His perfect will. The passage also warns against the dangers of pride, which is an abomination to God. When we become arrogant and self-reliant, we set ourselves up for punishment and failure. Instead, we are called to cultivate a spirit of humility, recognizing that all we have comes from God's hand. It is better to be lowly in spirit and identify with the poor than to be proud and divide the spoils with the wicked. True wisdom comes from giving thought to God's Word and putting our trust fully in Him. As we meditate on Scripture and seek to apply its truths to our lives, we will discover the good that God has for us. We can have confidence that the Lord will never lead us astray, and that He is working all things together for our ultimate good and His glory. Of course, living out these principles is easier said than done. We live in a world that often values pride, self-reliance, and material wealth above all else. It takes intentional effort to swim against that current and align our lives with God's ways. But the good news is that we don't have to do it in our own strength. Through steadfast love and faithfulness, our sins can be atoned for and we can be empowered to turn from evil. As we fear the Lord and submit our lives to Him, He will give us the wisdom and strength we need to walk in His ways. So let us commit ourselves afresh to seeking wisdom from God's Word and humbly relying on Him in every area of our lives. May we be quick to turn from pride and self-reliance, and instead cultivate a lowly spirit that finds its worth in Christ alone. As we do, we can trust that God will guide our steps, establish our plans, and lead us in the way everlasting.

Heavenly Father, we come before You today recognizing our need for Your wisdom in every area of our lives. So often, we make our plans and rely on our own understanding, forgetting that it is You who directs our steps. Forgive us for the times we have acted in pride and arrogance, thinking that our ways are pure when in reality, You are the one who weighs our hearts. Help us to continually commit our work and plans to You, trusting that You will establish them according to Your perfect will. Give us the grace to walk in humility, recognizing that all we have comes from Your hand. May we be quick to turn from evil and seek to fear You above all else. Thank You that through steadfast love and faithfulness, our sins can be atoned for and we can be empowered to live lives that honor You. Lord, we pray that You would give us a hunger for Your Word and a desire to give thought to it day and night. May we discover the good that comes from trusting fully in You and aligning our lives with Your ways. Help us to be a light in this dark world, pointing others to the hope and wisdom that can only be found in Christ. We ask all of this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.