“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8 (NKJV)
As we travel along life’s pathway, something within us urges us to seek a higher calling. As we humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus and cry out to Him for help, our circumstances, our problems, and our needs are met at the appropriate time. Why? Because God looks at the heart.
God desires a clean heart from all of us; it is the seat of moral life. All our choices and desires come from the heart. Our God is holy; hence, to commune with Him, we must be holy too. He is delighted when our hearts are pure.
Psalms 24:3-5 (NKJV) says, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and the righteousness from the God of his salvation.” One has to make an effort to purify one’s heart and remove things that God hates, such as pride and hatred. One has to be sincere and forgive – it comes from the heart.
Through constant prayer and fasting, you can ask God to cleanse your heart as you consecrate yourself to Him. With sincere hearts, ask our loving Father to give you a heart of flesh, a heart full of love and compassion for others. Yes, friends, a heart full of love can endure challenges, heal wounds, and build unity. It strengthens relationships, calms conflicts, and gives courage to do what is right.
Read: Isaiah 54:10; Galatians 6:2
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 119:49-56; 1 Timothy 2; Jeremiah 35; Jeremiah 36; Jeremiah 37