Steps Toward Wisdom — Guarding Your Heart
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
-Proverbs 27:12 (KJV)
The word prudent describes someone who acts with wisdom, sound judgment, and discernment. A prudent person doesn’t just see trouble — they respond wisely to it.
According to Proverbs 27:12, when a wise person recognizes evil or danger — whether it’s from people, situations, or environments — they remove themselves. Not out of fear, but out of wisdom. They hide themselves because they understand that some things are better avoided than confronted.
Even Jesus, who loved everyone perfectly, didn’t give everyone access to Him. He knew when to engage — and when to walk away. Sometimes distance is wisdom.
The Holy Spirit gives us discernment in our daily lives. He leads us where we should go and warns us where we shouldn’t. He will give us clarity about people, situations, and decisions — whether to speak or stay silent, to engage or step away.
But the simple — meaning the foolish — ignore these warnings. They rush headfirst into conflict, drama, and danger without using the wisdom God provides. And as Scripture says, they suffer for it.
As children of God, we are protected from both physical and spiritual enemies. But protection sometimes looks like knowing when not to get involved. It looks like walking away from strife, even when others try to provoke you or question your faith because of it.
Loving people biblically doesn’t mean you have to feel warm and fuzzy about them. It means treating them in a way that honors God — even if that means loving them from a distance.
Not everyone is easy to get along with — especially those who belittle you, plot against you, or hope for your downfall. When you choose peace and refuse to engage in foolish conflict, some people will play the victim. They may accuse you of not being a “real Christian” or even try to provoke a physical confrontation.
But remember: it’s not weakness to avoid unnecessary conflict — it’s discernment.
Not every battle is yours to fight. Not every person deserves a front-row seat in your life. Wisdom knows when to engage — and when to quietly walk away.
Protect your peace. Guard your heart. Trust God to handle what you can’t.
Reflective Questions:
- What situations or relationships in your life feel “stormy” or draining?
- How has the Holy Spirit already guided you to step away from conflict?
- In what ways might distance actually be an act of love—for you and for the other person?
- Are there times you’ve ignored warning signs and regretted it? What did you learn?
- How can you invite God to give you greater discernment today?
Prayer:
In Jesus’ name I come before You, Father. Thank You for the gift of wisdom and the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to see clearly the dangers before me and grant me the courage to step away when needed. Guard my heart, protect my peace, and teach me to love others in ways that honor You—even from a distance. I trust You to fight battles I cannot fight and to lead me along the paths of righteousness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press