Scripture: Proverbs 4:20–23

Devotion

What do you keep in your safe at home? Important documents, pictures, or emergency cash? You guard those things because they matter. But are you just as intentional to guard your heart, the place your very life flows from, as you are to guard the things of this world?

When we fail to guard our hearts, our devotion to God becomes divided, our lives distracted, and our witness to the world diminished. There is a lot at stake with an unguarded heart.

So how do we guard it?

Guard your input.
What enters through the eyes and ears eventually shapes what flows out. Be discerning about what you read, watch, and dwell on.

Guard your affections.
Ask yourself: What do I love most right now? Where am I spending my time and money? Worship and gratitude keep the heart centered on Christ instead of comfort, approval, or control.

Guard your community.
Walk with the wise and surround yourself with those who stir your affection for Jesus. Spur one another on to love and good works (Heb 10:24).

Guard with the Word and in prayer.
Prayer invites the One who gave us a new heart to stand guard over it (Phil 4:7).

Because Jesus lived, died, rose, and reigns, guarding our hearts is not about keeping salvation but about keeping communion and walking in wisdom along the path of life.

Guard your heart. It is the source of your life.

A Personal Prayer

Father, I confess that I have been more worried about protecting the things of this world than guarding the very source of my life. Forgive me for treating carelessly the new heart You died to give me. Teach me to live wisely and to guard my heart above all else.

Pray for Our Neighbors: Path United

Path United is a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and equipping children in mobile home communities to become flourishing adults. By operating community centers that provide academic, social, and spiritual support, Path United empowers families to break cycles of poverty and thrive in Christ-centered environments.

• Pray for the children served by Path United to feel loved, supported, and encouraged as they grow academically, socially, and spiritually.
• Ask God to strengthen Jim and Melinda Hollandsworth, their staff, and volunteers with wisdom, patience, and compassion as they invest in young lives.
• Pray for Path United’s community centers to be safe, welcoming spaces filled with God’s presence and hope.

Pray for the Nations: Global Workers | Steve & Joy

Steve and Joy serve at the University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii, where they train, prepare, and send out individuals to share the gospel globally. They lead a flagship school for Korean and English speakers, focusing on equipping 18–35-year-olds to fulfill the Great Commission.

• Pray for God’s guidance and wisdom as Steve and Joy train students to effectively share the gospel in Korea and beyond.
• Ask the Lord to strengthen their family relationships, providing encouragement as they balance ministry and family life.