Ephesians 5:15 (ESV)
¹⁵  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

In Romans 12:1, Paul wrote, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  Paul did not say that we should give ourselves to God, but that we should give our bodies to Him.  I am convinced that many Christians do not realize how important our bodies are.

It is with our bodies that we serve God by carrying out His commands (Romans 6:12-14).  Furthermore, the significance of our bodies is seen in that one day they will be raised from the dead and changed into a glorious body like that of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:12-14; 15:42-44, 50-51; Philippians 3:20-21).  So then, what we do with our bodies is important.  Solomon tells us how we can use our bodies wisely.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV)
²³  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

The heart refers to the intellectual part of us (our minds) and is the core of our being.  Our dispositions, emotions, and wills are all determined by our biblical hearts.  It is obvious why Solomon tells us to keep our hearts with all vigilance, isn’t it?  If the devil is allowed to infiltrate our hearts and influence how we think, feel and act, we become little more than his puppets.  We must keep our hearts pure by filling them with things that are good, just, and virtuous (Philippians 4:8).  When our hearts are right, we will use the rest of our members of the body in a way that is pleasing to God.

Proverbs 4:24 (ESV)
²⁴  Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

The tongue can be the most destructive member of our bodies (James 3:1-10).  Irreparable damage can be done by an unwise word spoken in a moment’s time.  The wise man is swift to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19), and when he does speak, he is careful about what he says (Ephesians 4:29) and how he says it (Colossians 4:6).  

Proverbs 4:25 (ESV)
²⁵  Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Wandering eyes subject one to temptation.  Remember, the eyes are a gateway to the mind.  If we allow ourselves to gaze upon unholy things, our hearts will become unholy.  In contrast, if we direct our eyes toward the righteous things of God, such as His Word, we will be feeding our hearts the food it needs to be strong, healthy, and spiritual.  

Proverbs 4:26 (ESV)
²⁶  Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.

By the path of our feet, Solomon is referring to our general course of life.  To ponder means “to appraise or weigh in the mind” (Webster).  The wise person will not only think before acting but will ponder the overall direction of his or her life, using the Scriptures as a guide.

Walking wisely demands that we be in control of our bodies, using them for God’s glorification and our own spiritual betterment.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.