How Can I Gain a Pure Heart?

 

It’s hard to keep a pure heart with the noise of the world through television, social media, and the internet constantly invading our lives.

Are the words we hear encouraging or distressing? Everyone wants you to take their side in endless debates or offenses.

If I listen to too much news I realize I become more negative. If I watch too much entertainment, I silently absorb attitudes that often go against the word of God. Sharp words and offensive attitudes are rampant. Those attitudes will seep into our minds and hearts, if we’re not careful.

 

How can we guard our heart and mind from this?

We can determine to steadfastly seek a pure heart through applying the word of God.

Throughout the Bible, the heart is source of thoughts and emotions, the innermost part of the soul. Jesus taught that whatever is in the heart is revealed in our speech.

“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Matthew 12:34

If our heart is full of bitterness, we will have a cynical attitude and harsh words.

If it is self-condemning, our self-talk will be demeaning, thinking we are not worth much.

If I think of the worst-case scenario, my perspective becomes negative and discouraging. I’ve done that too many times. When I notice myself heading down that negative path, I have to stop and pray that the Lord would redirect my heart and thoughts in His paths.

Intentional reprogramming of the mind occurs through applying God’s word to our heart.

By meditating on God’s word, the negative thoughts are replaced with the truth.

The psalmist asks for guidance in Psalm 139:23.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Through prayer, the Holy Spirit searches our hearts, revealing sinful thoughts and behavior to us. When these things are brought to mind, we can confess them, knowing we will receive God’s forgiveness.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Recently I had an incident where a misunderstanding irritated me, derailing me from going forward on a project. My heart felt annoyed and provoked. I had a choice—to let the annoyance continue to stir up my heart or release it into God’s hands. I was pulled in those two directions.

Prayer is key to having a pure heart.

In prayer, I surrendered the bothersome issue to the Lord, asking that my heart would be free of the stumbling block. In time, the Lord gave me peace. I could then focus on the priority of my writing project. God renewed a steadfast mindset in me.

The Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 19:14:

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to in your sight, my Rock and my redeemer.

When praying this verse, we are relying on the Lord to filter our heart-thoughts and guide our words.

God cares about what we put in our minds and hearts. He provides the safeguards of the Bible and the Holy Spirit to help us have a pure heart.

Take time to memorize or write out the verses that guide you.

In doing so, the power of God’s word will soak into your spirit, and the result will be a pure heart.