JANUARY 24 - Stay Alert, Guard Your Heart
3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:20–35; Matthew 21
//
//
________________________________________
“My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.” — Proverbs 6:20–21
“For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.” — Proverbs 6:34
“And he said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you make it a den of robbers.’” — Matthew 21:13
________________________________________
You know that uneasy feeling when you’ve ignored advice you knew was right—then everything goes sideways? Maybe your parents or a friend warned you, but you thought you had it handled. That’s exactly what Proverbs warns us about. Proverbs 6 teaches us to treat wise counsel like a survival guide—tie it around your heart and never let go.
In Matthew 21, Jesus enters the temple and flips tables because people turned God's sacred space into a marketplace. Why was He so upset? Because they ignored what God had said. They didn’t just break rules—they disrespected God’s presence. Jesus was passionate about protecting what was meant to be holy. And just like the temple, your heart is sacred space too. What you allow in it matters.
God isn’t just trying to cramp your style with commands. He’s protecting you. Just like ignoring warning signs in a relationship or pushing past God’s voice can leave you hurt, staying close to His word guards your future. Your choices today are shaping your heart—and your destiny.
________________________________________
THINK ABOUT IT
1. Who’s Speaking Into Your Life? Are you listening to godly voices—your parents, mentors, the Bible—or tuning them out? The people you allow to guide you shape the direction of your heart.
2. What's in Your Temple? Jesus cleaned out the temple because it was full of distractions and sin. If your heart is a temple, what would He want to flip over or remove today?
3. Don’t Trade Respect for Regret: Proverbs warns about the consequences of ignoring wisdom, especially in relationships. Are there areas where you’re flirting with danger instead of guarding your heart?
________________________________________
BOTTOM LINE
Listening to God’s voice and protecting your heart will save you from pain and position you for purpose.
________________________________________
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to give me wisdom and correction. Help me to value the voices You’ve placed in my life and to guard my heart like it matters—because it does. Clear out anything in me that doesn’t belong in Your temple. I want to live with purpose and stay close to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
