This verse tells us that sanctification is an intelligent process. It is not an automatic process; we are not saved and then we just fumble along and as we do so, we are sanctified.
And sanctification is an intelligent process. These proverbs are to make us think, not just take the surface and obvious sense. Make a plan. Identify your needs. What are the things that are troubling me? What are the sins which I am currently falling into? Identify them. I have to avoid these two or three faults and sins today. I have to be watchful. Do not just blunder into the day. Make special prayer for those danger areas. These are ancient rules that preachers have uttered for centuries. Do not put yourself in the way of sin. If something captures you too easily, seizes your attention to earthly, carnal things, brings you into wrong or covetous thoughts, leave those things well alone. Leave those catalogues well alone or those publications or whatever it might be. Do not put yourself at risk of falling into sin. Think about the consequences, and what harm it does to me – the Spirit of the living God leaves me, and I cannot be used by him while I am giving hospitality to this sin. Learn to detest it, it is your enemy, hate it. Mortify it, in the apostle Paul’s words, at the very first sign of it. Consider the cost on Calvary. If I say these things, or do these things, Christ has to bear them on Calvary’s cross. He died long ago, I know, but I am adding to his burden and to his trial and to his pain and to the cost of my salvation. If it is something covetous that keeps coming into your head, switch your mind to certain better things that you have got to plan and do. The fight against sin is a campaign. You cannot just go and knock on the door of the city. You have got to take it with some craft and some thinking and some strategy. That is the meaning of this. We need to be thoughtful people.