ESOCS Devotional 5 December 2025 – Issues of Life Flows From the Heart
MEMORY VERSE: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
TEXT:PROVERBS 4:18-27
But the path of the just is like the shining [a]sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a [b]deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional Here
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps life-giving blood to all parts of the human body through the body’s circulatory system of various blood vessels. This provides the oxygen and nutrients that our bodies need to survive. A heart that is healthy pumps the right amount of blood at a rate that allows the human body to function as God created it. If the heart should stop working one day, then we’d be just dead.
So then, it is safe to say that the human heart is one of the most important organs God placed within our bodies. It would also be safe to say that our heart is the most important spiritual organ as well. The heart I am talking about isn’t the human organ; rather, it’s the spiritual part where our emotions and desires reside. It’s the heart that God tells us to guard with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).
We were made in the image and likeness of God. But because of the fall of man, that image was marred by sin. Our heart was marred by sin, and it is no longer in line with God’s. In fact, we are told that the heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart.” (Jer. 17:9-10a).
The physical heart pumps life to all parts of the body. The spiritual heart pumps life to all areas of our life. Well, that was the original intent before sin, and that can still be accomplished when we have a new heart, just as David requested when he said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps.51:10).
The Lord wants us to have a healthy heart, one that’s in line with His. The heart is central and vital to our existence—everything flows from it—our love for God and people flows from it, holiness flows from it—everything flows from it!
As believers, we must be watchful not to allow ungodly things corrupt the purity of our heart because all that we do and will become in Christ depends on the condition and position of our heart.
CHALLENGES
- Have you been careless about what thoughts you allow to occupy your heart?
PRAYER POINT
- Father, help us to keep away from unhealthy things that pollute the cleanliness and sincerity of our heart.
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 6:1-11; 1 Peter 3:1-12; 3:13-22
ESOCS Devotional 5 December 2025
