Advice from Proverbs

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

— John Bivol

This issue concludes with the powerful thought that while we may plan our way, it is God who has the final say in our lives. Few scriptures so gently, and yet so firmly, capture the balance of the Christian life as Proverbs 16:9.

In a single verse, Solomon brings together two realities that shape our Christian walk: hu-man agency and divine sovereignty. When he writes, “A man’s heart deviseth his way,” he reminds us that we are thinking beings, capable of planning, choosing, and acting intention-ally. The heart is shown as the place where these plans take shape. Yet the Scripture also declares that the LORD “directeth his steps.” Above, beneath, and through all our efforts, the unseen hand of God moves, wisely guiding the outcome according to His perfect will.

This means that while the heart is free to plan a course of action, the Lord maintains sovereign oversight of the outcome for his people. This illuminates another important way we may guard our hearts. The follower of Christ is responsible for bringing all life’s aims and endeavors into harmony with the principles of righteousness. Yet guarding the heart requires more than making righteous plans; it requires submitting those plans to God’s overruling direction. The heart is guarded when we plan prayerfully, hold those plans humbly, and remain willing to yield when the Lord directs our steps differently than expected.

The Heart Plans Our Way

While waiting on the Lord is part of our Christian walk (Isaiah 40:31, Lamentations 3:26), planning is not discouraged; in fact, it is assumed. God does not call His people to be passive or without spiritual aim. As new creatures, we are invited to think carefully about our lives, conduct, service, and the stewardship of our time, talents, and opportunities. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). Jesus also encourages us to “count the cost” (Luke 14:28). This reminds us that the sanctified mind should guide our actions in daily life, in both major and minor decisions.

The challenge is to ensure that our hearts and minds are trained and led by the righteous principles of our Creator. If the heart is to be guarded against sin and worldly influence, we must not allow earthly ambitions or desires to guide our decision making and planning. Even desires that are not sinful in themselves may become harmful if they begin to prioritize the things of the world at the expense of the New Creation. Planning for followers of Christ requires that we walk circumspectly. How often have we found ourselves in situations where we realize, “I should not have said that,” or “I should not have done that”? The real issue is why that thought, desire, or intention was present in the first place. Scripture reveals that our thoughts, words, and actions arise from the heart. The mouth is simply the channel through which the heart’s desires and condition are expressed (Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 15:18). If we find that we have sinned in word or deed, we must recognize that it arose from the heart. We need not be discouraged if we repent and seek forgiveness at the throne of grace. This is why it is so important to let the holy Spirit and the spirit of love purify our hearts and souls, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Planning Begins in the Heart

Our plans, ambitions, and desires arise first in the heart. For the natural man, these may be driven by pride, fear, or self interest. But for the consecrated believer, the heart is to be trained by God’s Word. We are to live with the perspective of “dying daily” unto Him (1 Corinthians 15:31), bringing “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), and asking how our time and talents may be given in service to His cause and for the brethren. The “wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17) is the chief guide for the New Creature in every area of life: at work, at home, in the ecclesia, and in all of life’s interactions.

When we plan our lives as consecrated believers, we must do so with a higher aim than personal comfort or preference. Our planning should be guided by the question: Will this help me become one of those “more than conquerors” through Christ (Romans 8:37)? The New Creature learns to examine decisions not merely by what is permissible, but by what is spiritually profitable. As the Apostle reminds us, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient” (1 Corinthians 6:12). The old creature is quick to justify certain actions in favor of ease, pleasure, or earthly advantage, but the Spirit calls us to a higher standard — one that seeks growth, endurance, and faithfulness.

If we sincerely examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5), and if our conscience is trained accordingly, we will be better able to discern whether the path we choose is free from fleshly influence, or whether it is a decision justified on behalf of the flesh.

Yet planning also brings a temptation. Why do we plan? Naturally, because planning brings a sense of comfort and security. As human beings, we fear the unknown, and making plans helps establish direction and expectations. Scripture recognizes the value of thoughtful planning: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance” (Proverbs 21:5). Planning allows us to steward our time and responsibilities wisely and to walk intentionally rather than aimlessly.

But when our peace depends on our plans unfolding exactly as expected, discouragement and stress easily arise. The New Creature is therefore called to plan with wisdom while remaining fully surrendered to God’s overruling will. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). When plans change, faith does not rebel against God’s overruling. Instead, it submits, trusting that the Lord can use even redirected steps to help us grow into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). In this spirit, every redirected step becomes a means of transformation, teaching us to trust the Lord who lovingly directs our way.

Guarding the heart means holding our plans with open hands. The Christian plans prayerfully, not presumptuously. Every intention is laid before the Lord with the quiet acknowledgment: “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:15). When our hearts are surrendered, our plans become instruments God may use — or gently set aside — for a higher purpose.

The Lord Directs Our Steps

While the decisions and paths we take in life are shaped in part by how deeply our hearts conform to God’s will and how firmly His principles are rooted within us, the other half of Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that we are not ultimately in control. Some may chafe at such a perceived loss of autonomy. For those seeking to develop a more Christlike character, it is not a loss of liberty, but a source of deep and abiding comfort.

Consider the Psalmist’s words: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And he delights in His way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24, NASB). This Scripture further impresses upon the Christian’s mind the loving nature of God’s guiding hand.

This does not mean the Lord will prevent every wrong decision or keep us from every difficulty, trial, or chastisement. Yet He has promised to guide His people. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’ ” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV). So long as we heed His direction, our walk will continue toward godliness. This reminds us that we must remain attentive to the Lord’s leading, even when that leading comes through correction. David’s life offers solemn examples of this. On more than one occasion, when his own will was mixed with God’s, he suffered the consequences. Yet when confronted with sin, he was willing to accept correction, seek forgiveness, and rest in the blessedness of being forgiven (Psalm 32:1).

The Apostle Paul also encourages us: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV). This assures us that if we lean on the Lord, we will not be left to fend for ourselves. His overruling providence is active even in temptation, trial, and weakness.

This dependence keeps the heart soft. When plans succeed, we give thanks. When plans change, we do not despair. When doors close, we trust that the Lord is redirecting our steps for reasons that serve our highest spiritual good. In this way, the wisdom of Proverbs 16:9 safeguards the heart against both pride and discouragement.

Examples of Submitting to God’s Will

The Bible is filled with examples of faithful servants who planned wisely while fully yielding to God’s will. Abraham obeyed God’s call without knowing the destination, trusting God to direct each step: “By faith Abraham obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8). Nehemiah combined careful planning with earnest prayer, acknowledging that success depended on God’s favor (Nehemiah 2:4-8). Likewise, Joseph and Mary surrendered personal expectations in humble obedience, allowing God’s redemptive purpose to unfold through them: “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38); “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him” (Mat-thew 1:24). Their lives show that when plans are shaped by faith and submission, God directs the outcome and blesses the work.

In contrast, Scripture is also full of warnings against allowing self-will to plan our way. When self-will governs the heart, compromise will likely follow, and spiritual well being is placed at risk. Lot chose by sight rather than by faith, settling near Sodom and eventually losing his home (Genesis 13:10-13, 19:15-26). Ananias and Sapphira sought the appearance of devotion while withholding their hearts from God, resulting in severe judgment (Acts 5:1-11). Balaam, though aware of God’s will, allowed personal gain to influence his actions and became a stumbling block to others (Numbers 22-24, 31:16, 2 Peter 2:15, Revelation 2:14). These examples remind us that God blesses surrendered obedience, not partial submission. When self-will prevails, even seemingly reasonable choices can lead to spiritual loss. The more fully we submit to His will, the more safely the heart is guarded.

Conclusion

As we conform more fully to the image of God’s son, our plans, ambitions, and desires must increasingly yield to His will. This is one of the final lessons in guarding the heart: the heart is not guarded merely by making righteous plans, but by submitting those plans to the God’s direction.

God does not override our will, nor does He endorse paths that conflict with His purpose. Yet in His wisdom, He remains ever present and faithful, using even our redirected steps to teach us maturity, discernment, and dependence on Him.

When our plans are submitted to the Lord, success is not measured by immediate comfort or personal preference, but by whether we are being drawn closer to Christlikeness. Thus, the guarded heart learns to plan prayerfully, yield humbly, and trust fully. In this way, planning becomes not an exercise in self-will, but an opportunity to walk thoughtfully, choose wisely, and grow steadily toward the spiritual maturity God desires for us.