By Andrew Williams
Opening Prayer
God, forgive us for the times we neglect our relationship with you. Draw us back to the simple habits that keep our hearts alive and connected to you.
Today’s Scripture (NLT)
Proverbs 4:23
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Spiritual drift rarely happens because of one big decision. It happens through a series of small neglects. A fire doesn’t go out because you pour a bucket of water on it; it goes out when you stop putting logs on it. In the same way, our spiritual fire fades when we stop engaging in the very habits that fuel it.
Last week, we talked about “putting down roots” through the Bible, prayer, and community. The slow drift begins when these things move from being priorities to being options. A day without reading the Word becomes a week. A quick, distracted prayer replaces deep conversation. A missed church service becomes a monthly routine. Each neglect seems small on its own, but cumulatively, they starve our souls.
This verse commands us to “guard your heart above all else.” Why? Because it’s the wellspring of our spiritual life. Neglecting the source—our connection to God through His Word, prayer, and people—inevitably leads to a dry and distant heart. The course of our life is determined by the condition of our heart, and the condition of our heart is determined by what we feed it.
Disciples’ Life Tip: Look back at the foundational habits from Week 2 (Word, prayer, community, etc.). Which one have you been neglecting the most? Make a simple, achievable plan to re-engage with just that one habit this week.
Closing Prayer: Father God, give us the discipline and the desire to tend to our hearts. Help us to see that the small, daily choices of connection are the very things that keep us from drifting away. Amen.
