Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast Spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51: 10-11)
Psalm 51:10-11 captures a profound prayer for purity, renewal, and the enduring presence of God’s Spirit. This passage urges daily commitment to spiritual refinement, acknowledging God as the source of true purity.
Our daily aspiration should centre around cultivating a pure and undefiled heart, a dwelling place for God. This will require the purging and stripping off of our own fleshly desires until all that remains is for God.
It is crucial to recognize that the attainment of such purity is solely in God’s hands. Only He can infuse within us the genuine purity we yearn for, renewing the spirit that aligns with His. Only God has the power to renew the correct spirit within us.
Although our hearts can be deceitful, God desires authentic purity in the hearts of His children. This goes beyond mere actions in service; it involves the alignment of our hearts with Him (see Jeremiah 17:9 and Proverbs 4:23)
In the Passion Translation of the Bible, the verse reads: “Keep creating in me a clean heart. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit“.
Hence, every day should find us earnestly seeking God’s intervention to shape within us a pure heart— a heart where God can abide forever. This is a heart pulsating with His desires, a heart that loves Him and His people, one that readily turns away from sin and worldly enticements. A heart of obedience that not only works for God but that is working in alignment with Him, listening intently to His voice and seeking His opinion in all matters.
Living life without the presence of God is the utmost tragedy. Preaching, teaching, or engaging in ministry devoid of God’s presence is futile. Rejection by God leads to a cascade of exclusion elsewhere.
When the Holy Spirit departs from us, life loses its essence—vision becomes blurry, the discernment of opportunities falters, and true and meaningful living eludes us.
A life without God’s presence is a precarious journey toward destruction. The key lies in remaining in His presence, for therein lies real life, genuine transformation, growth, and joy.
7 ways to a pure heart
Cultivating a pure heart is a daily commitment that involves intentional aspirations and mindful living, acknowledging God as the source of genuine purity. The following outlines seven ways to attain a pure heart that is pleasing to God.
- Remain in the Word of God daily.
- Surround yourself with Godly people who have a kingdom mindset and live and follow God’s ways
- Affirm yourself of what God say about you (this will help you to blot out the lies of the enemy)
- Put systems in place that will ensure that you follow God’s way (ie have an accountable person(s) in your life that will hold you accountable).
- Remain in constant connection and fellowship with God ( through worship, prayer, meditation etc)
- Recognise the areas you are weak at and give them to God ( accept that it is only God that can help you to have a pure heart)
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify areas in your heart that do not align with God. Yield to his leading and obey what He tells you to do (ie always engage in a daily heart check).
Prayer:
- Heavenly Father, I earnestly ask that you continue to shape within me a heart of purity. Fill my mind with thoughts that are pure and my desires with holiness, all aimed at pleasing you.
- Lord, my King, guide me in maintaining an unwavering connection with you at all times.
- Father, I seek your assistance in steering clear of actions that would lead to my rejection. Guard me against straying to the extent that I am separated from you.
- Lord God, I implore you not to withdraw your Spirit from me, for without it, I would be left vulnerable, isolated, and susceptible to the enemy’s schemes.
- Lord, grant me the strength to abide in your presence continually. Help me, O Lord, to navigate this life always in harmony with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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