Purify My Heart

The Bible says that above all else, we should guard our heart for everything we do flows from it1. In an earlier version of the NIV the heart is described as the "wellspring of life"2. Just picture a well with water springing out of it. If you've got a pure heart, that will be clean, refreshing water coming out. But if it's full of sin, that will be dirty, polluted water coming out. All our actions begin with thoughts. The NCV version actually translates it as "be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life."3 The New Life Version words it "keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life"4.

How exactly do we define a heart in the first place? Well Denny Smith suggests "when the Bible speaks of the human heart it is speaking of the thinking of a man, a man's will, a man's emotions or feelings, a man's conscience, or any given combinations of these"5. Proverbs 23:7 NKJV says, "for as he thinks in his heart, so is he".

When we sin, it stains us on the inside much like a blood-stained garment. But when we seek God's forgiveness He promises, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."6 This is reflected when the Psalmist prays, "purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow."7 James furthermore writes, "wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts..."8.

Jesus also talks about how it is the things that come out of a person's heart that makes them unclean rather than the food someone puts in (Matthew 15:17-20, Mark 7:18-23, Luke 6:45). For instance adultery begins in the heart. Jesus explains, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart"9.

At one point Jesus was also washing the feet of his disciples. Peter objected to Jesus washing his feet to which Jesus replied, "unless I wash you, you have no part with me"10. Peter said Jesus should not stop at his feet but wash his whole body then. But Jesus said, "those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean..."11.

Nicky Gumbel, who conducts the ALPHA course, explains that "when we come to the cross we are made totally clean and we are forgiven - everything is dealt with. But as we go through the world we do things which tarnish our friendship with God. Our relationship is always secure but our friendship is sullied with the dirt we pick up on our feet. Each day we need to pray, 'Lord forgive us, cleanse us from the dirt.' We don't need to have a bath again, Jesus has done that for us, but a measure of cleansing may be necessary every day"12.

God promises that "if we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]"13. The NIV puts it this way: "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"14.

God has the power to wash our hearts clean. He is the purifier of our hearts! Ask Him to wash your heart clean today! And know when you ask Him, He is faithful to His promises and you are clean. You can be totally spotless, blameless, untainted and without blemish because of Jesus' sacrifice for you (Ephesians 5:26-27 AMP, Revelations 14:5 AMP).

Created 5 months ago