Welcome, dearly beloved. I pray the mercies of God over you throughout this week. I hope to encourage and build you up in the Lord. I pray you gain a deeper understanding of these verses. As you grow in knowledge and understanding, may you be empowered to share your convictions with others.

We discussed last week in a separate post about things that make God angry, citing the acts listed in our #meditationmonday verse:

Proverbs 6:16-19 [NET]

There are six things the Lord hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members.

Studying the list of the things God hates helps reveal the things He loves! As we begin to hate the things that He hates, our minds become more and more like God’s mind. We’ve gone through points 1 – 3: Haughty eyes, A Lying Tongue & Hands That Shed Innocent Blood. This week, we continue with point 4 & 5: A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans or Imaginations & Feet that are swift to run to evil or running to mischief. Be enlightened as you read.

4. A Heart That Devises Wicked Plans or Imaginations.

Heart = Inner man or person, your true self. 

When God examines us, he does not look at our outward man – our physical appearance, strength (or lack thereof), agility, etc. He looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7, Psalm 7:9). He examines us from the inside out.

God looks past the façade we show others into our true nature, the content of our character and the motives behind what we do.

God gave us our imagination as a tool to walk by faith. We meditate on our imaginations. Psalm 1:1-2 and Joshua 1:8 reinforce the power of meditation. We see the secular world trying to tap into this power with teachings on positive thinking, silent meditation etc. because they’ve discovered that meditation is powerful.

When you meditate on something it gets down in your spirit and becomes a reality inside of you before it actually manifests itself in the natural. 

This means worry is a form of negative meditation because it causes you to meditate on imaginations that reinforce your doubt in God. The person who devises wicked plans or imaginations is a person who is using God’s power of meditation for evil instead of good. This is a person that is developing an image of the negative things they want to do to others. The image becomes so strong that they can’t help but run into mischief. Such a person actively seeks to practice evil. God takes no pleasure in such people (

This is a person who is developing an image of the negative things they want to do to others. The image becomes so strong that they can’t help but run into mischief. Such a person actively seeks to practice evil (we will see this in point 5). God takes no pleasure in such people (Psalm 5:4) and they cannot dwell where God is because He hates those who loves violence. (Psalm 11:5)

Psalm 36:4 describes a heart that devises wicked plans or imaginations as one that “plans wrongdoing”, “sets himself on a path that is not good” . There is “no compassion in their eyes” for they “desire evil [like an addictive substance]” and “do not reject or despise evil”. (Psalm 36:4, Proverbs 21:10).

Although a wicked heart, “does not despise evil”, signs of a guilty conscience is evidence that rehabilitation may be possible for such a person. When we think of evil, let’s not look at it with a narrow lens. It is just as evil to have sexual thoughts or intentions towards another man’s wife as it is to have those thoughts towards a single lady.

Imagining any form of sin is evil.

The Opposite:

Rather than making wicked plans, we should use the power of our imagination to meditate on God’s word.

Think on things that are pleasing to God, develop an image of what He desires you to be, and get that image down in your heart.

Doing this will cause you to walk down the path that leads to God’s best for your life! God loves a mind that devises virtuous plans. At every moment in time, our meditation should consist of things that consider the needs of others as much as our own needs. The power of meditation and imagination should not be used for evil. God placed this power inside of us so we could develop an image of righteousness and peace.

5. Feet That Are Swift To Run To Evil Or Mischief.

Biblical mentions of feet – more specifically, feet that are in motion – are often a reference to one’s sense of urgency (or lack thereof).  The person listed here, under the things that God hates, has feet that are swift in running to mischief.  Another translation of this verse says, “Feet that are quick to rush into evil,” while another says, “Feet that race down a wicked track.”

These translations all show a sense of urgency. Not only has this person planned to do wrong, but they are in a hurry to do it.  They run, rush, and race to do evil.  They have spent time devising an evil plan and they then carry it out with twisted passion.  As if they were afraid of losing time, they impatiently hasten towards their wicked deeds. For them, engaging in evil is like a sport (Proverbs 10:23). These are the pawns who are used by those with “wicked plans/imaginations”.

God hates this, not only because the sin premeditated, but because the sinner finds enjoyment in doing it.

They willingly, enthusiastically, and diligently do the work of the enemy. This passage is not someone who slipped into sin, this is someone who passionately and purposefully lives there, and that is why God hates it. He hates the fact that this person gets an enjoyment out of making others miserable; stirring up strife, discord, and disharmony along the way.

 God does not hate the person, but rather the state of the person. 

Romans 10:15 also discusses another set of feet. This time, the feet that of those who bring news of good things! Bible says such people have beautiful feet. Both sets of feet are running with urgency to do what they do with a passion. The major difference is whom they are doing it for.

One is serving satan, the other is serving God.

One enjoys stirring up evil, while the other is passionate about sharing the Good News of eternal life in Christ Jesus. One uses his time, energy and effort for the Kingdom of God, while the other works for the kingdom of darkness. 

Unfortunately, most believers today do not fall into either of those camps. While they may not be serving satan with passion and purpose, they are not serving God with passion and purpose either.

Many believers fall into mediocrity as they attempt to serve God free of passion, enthusiasm, zest or zeal.

The Opposite:

Rather than seeking out evil, be swift in running away from evil. Heed the Lord’s call to bring with urgency the Good News of Christ Jesus.

God can’t create an effective son/daughter out of a self-centered person. Psalm 34:14 says we must depart from evil, do good and pursue peace – track it down. The prince of peace is Jesus Christ, let our feet be swift to pursue Him with urgency!

•  A Christian’s feet should always be busy serving God with passion. God is against lukewarm Christians (Revelation 3:15). We are saved to serve. Serve God with energy, enthusiasm, zest and zeal.

• There is no such thing as an undercover Christian. If none of your friends know you are a Christian, then it is time to examine yourself.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving me, even while I was under the influence of satan. I praise you for delivering me out of the kingdom of darkness into your marvellous light. I declare by faith, that sin does not rule over me. From now on, I love what God loves and hate what He hates. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

Grace & Peace!