The Lord Examines Our Paths

Devotional by Derek Prince.

The Lord Examines Our Paths

Proverbs 5:21–22

A man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and He examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.

That is a statement well worth pondering: “A man’s ways are in full view of the LORD.” You will never go anywhere where the Lord doesn’t see you. There is no darkness, there is no kind of deceit or subterfuge, that can hide you from the eyes of the Lord.

And what’s more, “the Lord examines all his paths.” Have you ever paused to think what that means? The Lord examines your paths. He investigates where you go and why you go there and what is your real purpose and motive. And if your paths are crooked, God says, “Your own crookedness will eventually entrap you. Your own evil deeds will catch up with you.” God does not necessarily have a policeman waiting there to arrest you. God just allows the crookedness and the dishonesty of your acts and your words to entangle you to the place where you are ensnared and held prisoner.

When you go out in the morning, when you come back in the evening, remember that your ways are in full view of the Lord and He examines your paths. He scrutinizes them closely. He understands everything you do, and He weighs your motives and analyzes you through and through.