Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Verses: 1 Samuel 18:5–19:24, John 8:31–59, Psalm 112:1–10, Proverbs 15:12–14

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Who Is Influencing Your Heart?

There is something deeply shaping about the voices we allow close to our hearts.

Advice is never neutral. Counsel plants seeds. Over time, those seeds grow into thoughts, beliefs, decisions, behaviors, and eventually entire directions for our lives. That’s why the Lord warns us to be careful who we seek wisdom from. Not every voice speaking confidently is speaking truthfully. Not every person offering guidance is being led by God.

Today’s Gem of Knowledge says, 

“Counseling with the wicked will only produce more wickedness. Be very careful who you are counseling with. Amen.”

That truth echoes strongly throughout today’s scriptures.

In 1 Samuel, we see Saul spiraling deeper and deeper into jealousy, paranoia, and rage. Instead of humbling himself before God, Saul surrounded himself with fear, suspicion, and murderous intent. His heart became so corrupted that he eventually sent men to kill David simply because David carried God’s favor. Wickedness rarely stays contained. It spreads. It influences. It consumes. Saul’s unchecked heart eventually affected an entire household and kingdom.

Meanwhile, David continued walking in wisdom and restraint despite the chaos surrounding him. David understood something important: not every battle needs to be fought with human strategy. Sometimes the greatest wisdom is remaining near to God when everyone else is being driven by emotion, fear, pride, or offense.

How many times do we seek counsel from people who validate our flesh instead of challenging us toward righteousness?

Sometimes we don’t necessarily seek “evil” people outright. We simply seek voices that agree with our hurt, justify our anger, feed our offense, or affirm our desires. But agreement is not always wisdom. Some counsel sounds comforting while quietly leading us farther from the heart of God.

Jesus addresses this very issue in John 8 when He tells the people:

“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31–32 (NLT)

Freedom comes from remaining in His truth — not public opinion, emotional reasoning, cultural trends, or ungodly influence.

The religious leaders believed they could see clearly, yet Jesus exposed that their hearts were aligned with darkness because they rejected truth itself. That is a sobering reminder that someone can sound spiritual, educated, persuasive, or confident and still not be submitted to God.

Counsel matters because voices shape direction.

Psalm 112 paints the contrast beautifully. It describes the person who fears the Lord as stable, confident, generous, and unshaken by evil news. Why? Because their foundation is rooted in God rather than unstable human wisdom.

And Proverbs 15:14 says:

“A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.” (NLT)

That verse is painfully relevant today.

We live in a world overflowing with opinions, influencers, outrage, self-help philosophies, and endless commentary. Many people are feeding their spirits garbage while wondering why they feel anxious, angry, confused, bitter, or spiritually dry. What we continually consume eventually shapes us.

This doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves from people or become fearful of every conversation. It means we develop discernment. We ask:

• Does this counsel lead me closer to Christ or farther from Him?
• Does this voice produce peace, wisdom, humility, conviction, and truth?
• Or does it stir pride, division, compromise, confusion, and fleshly reactions?

God often speaks through wise counsel — but wise counsel will always align with His character, His Word, and the fruit of His Spirit.

Be careful who has access to your ears, because eventually they gain access to your heart. 💎

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Action

Take 5 minutes to counsel with God today. Ask HIm:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Consider take inventory of the voices influencing your life right now — online, personally, emotionally, and spiritually. Ask the Lord to reveal any counsel, influence, entertainment, or relationships that are quietly pulling your heart away from His wisdom. Replace those voices with time in His Word and with people who genuinely sharpen your walk with Christ. Let today be a day of deepening our spiritual listening and aligning with God.

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Prayer

Lord, give me discernment concerning the voices I allow into my life. Help me recognize counsel that pulls me away from Your truth, even when it sounds appealing or comforting to my flesh. Teach me to hunger for wisdom that comes from You alone. Surround me with people who encourage righteousness, humility, truth, and obedience. Guard my heart from deception, compromise, and confusion. Let Your voice become louder than every other influence around me. Keep my spirit rooted firmly in Your truth so I may walk in peace, wisdom, and freedom. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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