Heart Check

Proverbs 16:1 - To man belong the plans of the heart.

We are planners aren’t we? In fact, our calendars are usually filled with more than we can do. I heard Pete Richardson speculate about this last month, "Globally there are billions of plans – possibly 20 billion plans!" Think about that in the context of this passage.

But from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. In spite of our planning, God gets final say.

Vs 2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

God weighs what is really driving our plans.We can’t trick him, manipulate him, we can’t hide our hearts from him. I can’t do him like I did my parents when I was 14, telling them what I thought they wanted to hear, or asking them in a way that I thought they’d give me what I wanted. And actually believing they went for it. How foolish. God’s known that about me since before time began. No need to negotiate with Him.

Is your integrity rock solid? Mine’s not and may never be. But I’ll continue to examine myself everyday.

Do my stated intentions match my real motives?

Am I simply trying to lift myself up? No true reward there!

God weighs all of my motives. Does the scale tilt toward God’s Kingdom or toward my kingdom?

Vs 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do & your plans will succeed.

What a promise! He’s so good isn’t he?