These Three Simple Things Will Always Guarantee A Pure Heart
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they will see God” (Matthew 5: 8).
Do you want to live under God’s blessing? The nine beatitudes (“beautiful attitudes”) form an “umbrella of blessing” over your life.
Easy to say, but TOUGH TO DO!
“Pure” is the opposite of “mixed.” Our heart, therefore, cannot be “mixed.” We know that when we invite Christ into our heart, His holy, blameless, innocence floods our heart. We are PURE.
Years ago, I heard these three phrases that have helped me to keep my heart pure:
Be QUICK TO BELIEVE.
Our “pure heart” can be MIXED with “fear, doubt and unbelief.”
It is a constant battle to keep fear and unbelief out of your heart. Our “head” battles our “heart.” We hear frightening things. We think skeptical thoughts. Our minds tell us that the worst will happen.
The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were filled with doubt and confusion about the resurrection (Luke 24). Jesus (whom they did not recognize) said to them, “Oh, foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
This “slow heart” is a fearful, reasoning, analytical mind that sees no hope. Quit listening to the imaginations of your “head” and “keep your heart pure.”
Be QUICK TO FORGIVE.
There is a second area we must guard our heart in: when you mix unforgiveness with your heart you get a “hard heart.”
Jesus told us that divorce happens when there is “hardness of heart” (Mt. 19: 8). Layer upon layer of anger, harsh words, jealousy, and power struggles “calcify” the heart.
The opposite is what Paul said: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4: 32).
WALK IN LOVE. Be quick to forgive. Don’t let layers of conflict go unresolved and unforgiven. Refuse to allow bitterness to mix with your “pure heart.”
Be QUICK TO REPENT.
Here is a third area of purity we have to watch: when we mix stubbornness with our pure heart, we refuse to admit our mistakes.
Everybody can “miss it”: a misunderstanding, a wrong word, a wrong opinion, a loss of temper.
The problem is when we can’t ADMIT IT. We blame others, hide our faults, and deny our responsibility.
A transparent heart is quick to admit, apologize, and repent.
Have you ever been around someone who is never wrong? They bury their faults and then build a fortress around them?
Don’t allow self-righteousness to mix with your pure heart.
Be quick to repent. If you say something wrong, do something wrong, immediately say, “That was wrong. I am sorry I did that. I’ll work on that.”
Your heart REMAINS PURE.
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they will SEE GOD.”
If you have allowed unbelief, unforgiveness, or pride to enter MIX with your heart, purify it right now.