READ: PROVERBS 4; GALATIANS 5:13-26; EPHESIANS 4:17–5:20

Guard your heart Guard your heart Everything you do Flows from it through you From your lips Past fingertips Where your feet may go Every thought God knows Self-improve Won’t help you Let the Spirit lead God knows what you need So guard your heart • Savannah Coleman

• Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” What do you think it means to guard your heart?

• It’s tempting to try to do better and think better by relying on our own strength. This may seem to work at first, but the truth is, we all struggle with sin and none of us can livea perfect life. Thankfully, Jesus lived a perfect life on our behalf, then He died on the cross and rose from the grave so we could be forgiven and brought near to God. And 2 Peter 1:3 tells believers that Jesus’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” God’s wisdom, spoken of in Proverbs 4, reminds us to rely on His strength, not our own, for transformation. The more we get to know Him, the more we’ll grow like Him. How could these truths free us to follow God, not out of fear, but out of love?

• Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Part of guarding our hearts includes thoughtfully discerning if the things and relationships we allow into our lives help us walk in step with Him. What we view with our eyes will affect our hearts, so will what we listen to, and where we go. This doesn’t mean we should avoid being friends with non-Christians or never watch non-Christian movies or listen to non-Christian music, because each person is different and each situation is unique. Instead, God invites us to talk to Him about all these things. He will help us discern how He is calling us to follow Him through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Who are trusted Christians in your life who can help you discern what to allow into your life, and when, and how?

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 34:17-18; ROMANS 6:6-8; EPHESIANS 4:26-32

Harper hid her head under the pillow. She couldn’t take another shouting match. Her parents were just warming up, and lately the fights had lasted late into the night before freezing into a contest of “whoever-talks-first-loses.”

Something was different. Usually about this time of evening, cabinet doors would slam before Dad made some quiet remark that made Mom explode. Not tonight. Suddenly the house was still. Harper ventured into the hallway just in time to see the front door slam. The car fired up and roared out of the driveway. Before Harper knew to stop her, Mom was gone. Just like that. Her nightstand was empty, and so was her closet. Harper didn’t see her mom a lot after that.

She tried to let it go—this ache and anger toward her mom that sometimes threatened to sweep her away. When she had to spend time with Mom for some unavoidable reason, Harper found herself unable to carry on a conversation without exploding in anger or freezing in stone-cold silence.

Finally, after an argument over hairspray that ended in the hottest words she’d ever shot at her mom, Harper locked herself in the bathroom.

She was glaring at her reflection when the thought hit her: “I’m turning into Mom.”

The realization sent her to the floor. Kneeling, she trembled as she prayed, “God, take this anger from me. It’s killing me. Remind me that I belong to You.”

Something melted around her heart, and she knew what she had to do. “Jesus, help me to forgive Mom. Thanks for showing me how she feels when she explodes.” Harper paused and then continued, “Give me Your love for her in the meantime...Because I can’t talk to her right now.” Sitting there on the bathroom floor, hugging her knees, she felt peace flood her. “Jesus, thank You for being with me even when I’m angry.” That truth gave her hope. • Rebekah Love Dorris

• What are some of the things your family struggles with? What are some of your sin struggles?

• Jesus invites us to bring all these sin struggles to Him. He is eager to help us through His Holy Spirit, His Word (the Bible), and His people (the church). Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus now. And if you want to dig deeper, read Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Galatians 5:13-26.

• Anger is not a sin in itself, but sometimes we give in to temptation more easily when we’re angry. If your family struggles with anger, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about it?

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

READ: PSALM 19; JOHN 1:1-14

Psalm 19 is a psalm of praise and a wonderful description of God’s magnificence. It opens with a declaration of the glory of God’s creation, which speaks a language that is universal to all. The heavens and the earth proclaim God’s majesty and creative power. Looking at creation gives us a tangible glimpse of the majesty and glory of God.

The psalm then switches gears and talks about delighting in the “law of the LORD” (verse 7). The writer, David, expresses how perfect God’s ways are, what wisdom can be found in following God, and what joy it can bring us. The law of the Lord is a guide for our lives, helping us and teaching us that God and His ways are more valuable than all earthly riches and pleasures.

Psalm 19 concludes with a response from David. He reflects on his own shortcomings and his need for forgiveness and God’s help. We all need God’s grace and help, both in avoiding unintentional sins and in resisting temptations to sin willfully. David’s concluding prayer expresses his desire that his words and the thoughts of his heart be pleasing to God, our Creator and Redeemer.

Psalm 19 reminds me of the opening verses in the gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The Word is Jesus Christ. He was there at the beginning, and the heavens declare His glory. John goes on to say that “through him all things were made…In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (verse 3-4). Christ is God’s Word made flesh, the only one to follow the law of the Lord perfectly, and the only one who can provide the forgiveness we all need through His death and resurrection.

If we know Christ, we have been redeemed. We are a part of God’s wonderful creation, and like “the heavens declare the glory of God; [and] the skies proclaim the work of his hands,” we get to point to Christ and shine His light in the darkness. • Stephanie Mathews

• Have you ever seen something beautiful in creation that led you to praise God? What was that like?

• How is the way we point to God similar to how nature points to God? How is it different?

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 73:23-26; LUKE 5:1-11; HEBREWS 10:24; 12:1-3

It was the first and last time I played the piano at school. Halfway through the song, everyone was laughing. I fought back tears while my teacher studied the piano and identified the problem. Someone had placed clear tape across the keys. When I pressed one key, four more went with it. It sounded terrible! Worse yet, I was too afraid to try again.

Have you ever failed at something and then let fear keep you from giving it another go? It could be waterskiing, auditioning for the play, starting a Bible study with your soccer team, or raising your hand in class—because after your last answer, the upperclassmen gave you the worst nickname ever, and it stuck. Trying again is risky. You might fail again.

Peter gets it. In Luke 5, Peter and his friends fished all night and failed to catch anything. When Jesus told him to try again, Peter said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). Peter looked to Jesus and tried again. This time, they caught so many fish the nets started to break, and two boats nearly sank.

But Peter’s story isn’t a promise that you’ll be successful. There’s no guarantee that if you give it another go, you’ll be a pro on water skis or secure the starring role in the play. Nope. Because Peter’s story isn’t about Peter. It’s about Jesus and what He can do.

When we are afraid to try again, we can talk to Jesus about it. He knows what it’s like to be humiliated, so He can empathize with us. If our failure includes sin, Jesus reminds us that, once we’ve put our trust in Him, He has already secured our forgiveness by dying and rising again. We can rely on Him for comfort, and also for courage to try again. He is for us, and He will help us do whatever He calls us to.

If we know Jesus, then even when we mess up or fall short, failure doesn’t define us—Jesus does. As we rely on His love, we can take a deep breath and try again. • Lenae Bulthuis

• What are you afraid to try again? Why? What might you miss out on if you never try again?

• Hebrews 12:1-3 reminds us that to keep running the race of life, we need Jesus and His people. Who are trusted Christians who can help you get up again when you fall? Consider talking to them about your fears and asking for their encouragement, prayers, and help.

• If you want to dig deeper, read about more of Peter’s failures and Jesus’s responses in Matthew 14:22-33; 16:21-23; 26:31-35; Luke 22:49-51, 54-62; John 18:10-11; 21:1-25; Galatians 2:11-21.

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (CSB)

READ: JUDGES 6:36-40; LUKE 12:6-7; JAMES 1:5

Some of my favorite childhood memories involve books. I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be a writer. After college I started selling a few articles here, a few stories there. But I was far away from the best seller status of my childhood dreams. Was I on the wrong track? Maybe my job as a library assistant was all I would ever be. I grew increasingly discouraged.

One summer vacation I put out a Gideon’s fleece. In the Bible, God told a man named Gideon to deliver Israel from their enemies, the Midianites. But Gideon wanted to be sure of what the Lord was asking him to do, so he asked God for a sign. He put out a fleece and asked God to make the fleece wet with dew but leave the ground dry in the morning. And God did it! The next day, Gideon asked God to do the opposite: make the ground wet with dew but leave the fleece dry. And God did it! So, like Gideon, I asked for a sign. I said, “Lord, if You want me to keep writing, let me sell a piece before I go back to work in the fall.” An easy sign for God to fulfill? No way! I made sure He would be forced to answer “no.” I had nothing out for consideration. Not one story. Not one article. I had made God’s answer an impossibility.

Or so I thought. As the summer days passed, I grew increasingly relieved. Then, two days before I was scheduled to go back to work, a contract came in the mail from a magazine I had sold several stories to. They would pay $140 to republish one of my stories. My jaw dropped. I had never seen a story reprinted in that magazine.

I was awed by God’s perfect timing. Overwhelmed that He was listening to me. Not only listening, but responding. To me! Someone who’d had such grandiose plans yet accomplished so little.

Thank You, God, for reminding me that You, who oversee all things, are willing to address the smallest concerns of those who love You. • Carol Raj

• When our dreams seem to be failing to materialize, God invites us to bring our questions and requests to Him. He loves us so much that Jesus died and rose again so we could be with Him forever. He cares about you and your plansand dreams. Perhaps God has a different dream for you, or a different timetable. Consider taking some time to ask Him about your dreams.

• Who do you turn to for advice about your plans and dreams for the future? In addition to talking to God about your plans, consider discussing these ideas with trusted Christian adults. You could even ask them to share their own experiences with you.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. James 1:5 (NLT)

READ: MARK 2:1-12; ROMANS 5:6-8; 1 JOHN 4:19

Two teenagers in Tennessee risked their lives to save an unaccompanied toddler who ran toward a busy highway. With an oncoming truck barreling toward them, the teens snatched up the toddler just in time. On another occasion, two other teens came to the rescue of a capsized boat in the Florida Keys, saving six people—including a four-year-old, and a three-month-old baby. What do these stories have in common? Each time, the teens saw something and believed they could help, so they acted on that belief.

They’re not the only ones who have acted on what they believed. Back in Jesus’s day, four men had a friend who had a tremendous need. They heard Jesus was in town and knew He was the one who could help their friend. So, they carried their friend—who was paralyzed—to Jesus because they believed He could make the difference in his life.

When they arrived at the home where Jesus was preaching, there was no more room. Not even at the door to stand and listen. So, they went up to the roof. After digging a hole, they lowered their friend using the mat he was lying on. These men acted on their belief that Jesus could heal him. Mark 2:5 says, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Jesus went on to tell him to get up, carry his mat, and walk home— which he did! “This amazed everyone and they praised God” (Mark 2:12)!

Maybe someday you will jump in and save someone like the teens in those news stories. But even today, there are probably people around you who need an encounter with Jesus. Could you be like the four friends whose faith compelled them to bring their friend to the only one who could truly help him? Maybe you could pray for them, or even talk to them about Jesus or invite them to come to a church event with you. Or maybe you could show them kindness by helping with a need they have or just showing that you care. Trust Jesus to work through you, and watch what happens. • Deborah del Villar

• Like the man who was paralyzed, we are all in desperate need of Jesus every moment of our lives. That’s why He came to die on the cross and rise again to save us from sin and death—because He loves us and wants to help us! What are some practical ways you could step out in faith and show others, both those who know Jesus already and those who don’t know Him yet, the same love that Jesus showed you? (Galatians 6:10; 1 John 4:19)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 23; JOHN 10:1-18

Anxiety has me tossing and turning until I hear someone whispering my name from outside. I crawl out of my tent and see a man. The sun is just starting to rise, and I can make out a staff in his hand. Is this a shepherd?

As if reading my thoughts, he says, “I am the good shepherd. Your shepherd.”

I follow as he motions me forward. We walk until we come to a beautiful, lush hillside.

“You’re tired.” The shepherd grabs a blanket that had been draped over his shoulder. “Rest.”

I stretch out on the soft blanket. The air is fresh, the sky turning blue. I close my eyes and immediately fall asleep.

I don’t know how long I sleep, but I feel refreshed when I wake up. The shepherd is waiting. He motions for me to follow and leads me to a peaceful river where I can drink. As we walk along the water, I feel my insides beginning to heal. My fears, my sorrows…are soothed.

We start into a valley, and I hear a growl. Suddenly, the sky seems darker. Then I see them—a pack of beasts coming toward us, teeth bared and hackles raised. The shepherd holds up his staff and stretches it out in front of him. I watch the beasts turn away.

As we continue through the valley, I am no longer afraid.

Soon, we come to an open place again. The sun shines brightly.

“Sit.” The shepherd motions to a table set up in a beautiful garden. I breathe in the scent of sweet flowers as I obey.

He brings me food. As I start to eat, I see the beasts watching me. They eye me but don’t come close; they seem to be stuck in the valley. The food is delicious, and my drink…not only is it more enjoyable than anything I have had before, but no matter how much I sip, the glass stays full.

I close my eyes, soaking in what it feels like to be cared for by this good shepherd. Never before have I experienced this feeling—this peace, this rest. • Emily Acker

• Today’s allegorical story was inspired by Psalm 23, which begins with the words, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Consider taking some time to reread Psalm 23 slowly. What sticks out to you?

• In John 10, Jesus says He is “the good shepherd.” If you know Jesus, He promises to be with you each day of your life, even when times are hard. He laid down His life for you so you could be saved from sin, death, and the devil. Because He rose again, you can know that He will bring you safely to His heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). For more about what it means to know Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page.

• Can you think of a time Jesus led you through a dark valley? Were there any ways He reminded you that He’s with you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this.

[Jesus said,] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NIV)

READ: 1 CHRONICLES 16:11; PSALM 23; LUKE 5:15-16

When I was in college, I distinctly remember being overwhelmed by various assignments. It felt like there was never going to be enough time to finish everything on my to-do list. I was exhausted and irritated. I felt like there was no relief in sight.

I knew I needed to keep up with my devotions, because I knew that was important, but how could I give up time to do that when all the assignments had deadlines that were quickly approaching? The priority of the tasks that needed my immediate attention continued to outweigh spending time with God.

But I continued to feel more and more exhausted. I felt like I was still drowning, like I would never finish everything on time.

I had put it off long enough. I decided to put my assignments to the side and spend time with God. And you know what? I felt so much more refreshed. I felt like I could accomplish my tasks in a better way and faster than ever before.

Too often we are quick to look at the things we need to do in this world and put them above our relationship with God. We think that spending time in His presence is going to slow us down and keep us from getting things done. But He wants to refresh and renew us. He wants to remind us of His unconditional love, a love that has nothing to do with our performance. And He wants to give us the strength we need to keep going—or redirect us if we’re going the wrong way.

In those moments when we’re busiest, what we actually need most is to slow down and spend time with God. • Tynea Lewis

• Can you think of a time when you were extremely busy and you felt your stress level growing? In times like these, it might seem irresponsible to put your to-do list to the side and spend time with God. But the truth is, even though God cares about the things you have to do, He cares way more about you. He invites you to lay your worries at His feet and rest in His love, remembering that Jesus has already done all that was needed to save you when He died and rose again. And Jesus is with you every step of the way, ready to help you do the good things He has called you to do.

• What are some ways you like to spend time with God? We all need to be in His Word, but maybe you also like to journal, sing worship songs, talk to and praise Him through art, or go for walks and enjoy His creation with Him. How could you do at least one of these things today?

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 (NIV)