A Pure Heart

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:    Psalm 51:10

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Memory verse: Romans 8:32 ►He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  

Today's reading: 1 SAMUEL 1-3 LUKE 8:26-56

A Pure Heart

Yesterday we made the statement, "Being aware of the presence of Jesus and reaching for Him are two different things.  The questions for us all are,

"Are we reaching for Jesus and, if so, with how much resolve?"

The woman in Luke 8 had exhausted all her resources in her life to find treatment that would stop her bleeding. That was considered unclean to the Jews and she would have been ostracized-not able to stay around her people. She was lonely and alone. She knew, from all reports, that Jesus was the one who had the power to heal her. She probably hid her face in a scarf and pushed with all her strength to get to just to the hem of Jesus clothing;she touched it and was healed.

How long have you struggled with whatever it is? Only you know. For years? Has it kept you from wanting to be around some of your people? Jesus is the only one with the power to heal your situation.

 Start praying what the Psalmist did in today's 'verse of the day'.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."(Psalm 51:10)

The Psalmist knew he had to ask for a pure heart because out of God there is no purity. So he did all he knew to do-he asked God.

The Psalmist lacked resolve so he asked, "...renew a steadfast spirit within me". Steadfast in the Hebrew language here means 'securely determined.

As you seek God's kingdom from here on, pray this prayer whenever you think about it. Write it on something and stick it up where you will encounter it often.

God will give you a pure heart and will make you securely determined. Romans 8:32 guarantees it. He gave His only Son for us, why would He withhold anything else?

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,

    for from it flow the springs of life.

Keep your heart where? In the presence of our pure God.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

My heart is not pure because I have not kept it in Your presence. Forgive me. Make my heart steadfast and pure.

Merciful and gracious God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen