Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.
Reading: Jeremiah 17; Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18-20
Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.
Jesus teaches that what defiles us comes from within—our hearts, not our surroundings. Jeremiah reminds us that the heart is deceitful, and Proverbs urges us to guard it diligently. Our words, attitudes, and decisions flow from what’s inside. Today, pause and examine your heart. Are there areas—bitterness, pride, fear—that God wants to heal or transform?
What thoughts, attitudes, or motives in my heart might not reflect the character of Christ?
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…
- Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).
- Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to guard my heart and align my inner life with Your truth.
- Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.
Take Action:
- Identify one practical way to “guard your heart” today—limit negative input, speak truth, or seek encouragement.