The Wellspring of Life

Today's Word of Wonder: Stewardship

The Scripture Spotlight for Today

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

The Devotion: The Interior Landscape

We spend so much time "guarding" our external lives. We guard our bank accounts with passwords, our homes with locks, and our reputations with carefully curated social media posts. But how much Stewardship do we apply to our interior world?

The Hebrew word for "heart" (lev) refers to more than just emotions; it’s the seat of the intellect, the will, and the spirit. It is the "Wellspring." If a well is poisoned at the source, every bucket of water drawn from it will be tainted, no matter how shiny the bucket is.

The WOW Moment today is realizing that "Heart-Work" is the highest form of spiritual productivity.

When Proverbs tells us to guard our heart "above all else," it’s a reminder that our inner state eventually becomes our outer reality. You cannot consistently do "good" if your heart is full of bitterness. You cannot find "peace" if your heart is cluttered with anxiety. Today, as you sit in worship, don't just give God your songs; give Him your soil. Let Him pull the weeds of January so He can plant something fresh for February.

Wonder Prompt (Actionable Reflection)

Take a few moments of quiet after reading this.

• Action: Close your eyes and imagine your heart as a room. What’s the "atmosphere" in there? Is it cluttered? Dark? Airy? Peaceful? Don't judge it—just observe it.
  
  
• Shift: Ask the Holy Spirit: "What is one thing in my heart that needs Your attention today?" * Prayer: "Lord, thank You for this new month. I invite You into the hidden places of my heart. Help me to be a good steward of my inner life. Guard my heart from bitterness and fill it with Your life, so that everything I do today flows from Your grace. Amen."