January 6 | Guarding Your Heart Matters

Today’s Bible in a Year reading from Genesis 16–17 and Matthew 5:28–49 reminds us that guarding the heart is not optional; it is essential. Scripture shows us that what we allow to take root internally will eventually shape our actions, our relationships, and the direction of our lives. God’s concern is not limited to outward behavior, but extends to the desires, thoughts, andmotivations that live beneath the surface.In Genesis 16 and 17, we see the tension between trusting God’s timing and attempting to control outcomes. Abram and Sarai act on impatience and fear, and the consequences ripple outward. Yet even in human failure, God remains faithful, reaffirming His covenant and continuing His work of shaping hearts that will learn to trust Him fully. These chapters remind us that unguarded desires often lead to decisions that complicate what God never intended to harm.Matthew 5 brings this truth into sharp focus as Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount. He teaches that sin begins long before an action takes place. Lust, broken integrity, retaliation, and hatred all start internally, in a heart that has not been carefully guarded. Jesus calls His followers to a deeper faithfulness, one that protects the heart so that love, integrity, and mercy can flow outward, even toward enemies.Today’s reading invites honest reflection. What we repeatedly entertain, excuse, or linger over shapes who we are becoming. Guarding the heart is not about restriction, but protection. As you listen today, allow God’s Word to help you examine what is shaping your inner life, and trust Him to form a heart that reflects His love and holiness in everyday living.