Proverbs 20

The devotional topic for this chapter comes from 4 verses: 

• Proverbs 20:9 – “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”

• Proverbs 20:24 – “Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?”

• Proverbs 20:27 – “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”

• Proverbs 20:30 – “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”

Sanctification of a believer is a life-long process. It takes the work of God in a heart. No one can make himself spiritually pure - if so, there'd be a whole lot of self-righteousness and pride. Part of sanctification is growing in faith. As God leads each of our paths, you and I might not understand it, but God does. Humility trusts God's direction, but pride insists on control and understanding the situation. Honestly, though, if we knew the future for sure, would there be any need to trust in God? No, because human flesh would trust its own self. No one will fully understand his life. But each believer can humbly say, "God, lead me. Even through rebuke, delay, or unexpected change, I submit to you." Saying it might be easy, but a person with a sincere heart will start growing and see God work in his life in amazing ways. 

In his wisdom, God uses correction, redirection, conviction, and the conscience to mold a believer into what he needs to be. Verse 27 references the human spirit - the conscience- as a lamp to examine a believer's inner life. It's God's candle. 🕯️When the Holy Spirit convicts, be sensitive and analyze what needs to change. Verse 30 references the outer life. The outer correction is a pain that purifies. Correction is most oftentimes painful, but it cleanses. Sometimes God allows external, painful consequences to deal with internal issues, but it's a tool to refine character. Be humble enough to ask God to search the heart and see if there be any wicked way. And if he reveals some blind spots, do the work to correct them. Remember, if any of us lack wisdom, we can ask of God who gives to all men liberally.