Today's Scripture:
Psalm 24:1-5

Key Verses:
Psalm 24:3-4

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

The Point:

A Thriving Heart is Pure - Standing Before God!

What does the Bible say about a "pure heart" and standing before God? (Psalm 24:3-4 quoted above) Did you know the Bible states a pre-condition to "seeing" God is a pure heart? (Matthew 5:8) Did you also know that a "pure heart" is the measure to be used for developing spiritual relationships with others? (2 Timothy 2:22) This is a frequently overlooked topic but let's start with a practical definition. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines "purity" as follows: "Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; as purity of heart or life." Purity of heart is not perfection, it's sincerity before God, free from hidden sin and divided, hidden, or ulterior motives. When your heart is free from deceit, you can see God's work more clearly. A pure heart seeks to honor God both in the visible and invisible parts of life.
 

Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Revival emerges when and where spiritual purity is pursued. Purity of heart is being honest with yourself and the LORD about what defiles us. Mentally, we know that we cannot remain neutral about purity because what goes in the eyes & ears sinks down into our heart. (Lamentations 3:51) What we allow into our hearts and what we allow to stay in our hearts affects our fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Lamentations 3:51 "Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city."

God's presence is experienced most deeply when our heart is not weighed down by compromise with our fleshly lusts. The devil uses the shiny, entertaining things of the world to bypass our sense of purity. The world may be content with outward appearances, but God sees and delights in the clean heart of His child.

Gypsy Smith, the noted evangelist, said the way to have a revival is to draw a circle around yourself, get down on your knees and pray, "Lord send a revival and let it begin inside this circle." So, let's just draw a circle around ourselves this morning and ask God to give us a personal revival -- a personal quickening of our hearts in our relationship to the Lord.

Study Today's Scripture and answer these Reflection Questions:

1. What competes for my devotion to God?
2. Do I keep my thoughts and motives pure?
3. Lord, is there anything I'm doing in my life that's displeasing to you?
4. How does purity open my eyes to see God?
5. Are there areas of my heart I’ve kept hidden from God?
6. What practical steps can I take to guard purity in my thoughts and actions?