Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
The heart may be buried deep inside the body, however it is central to keeping us alive and healthy. Having said that, we have the responsibility to keep our hearts healthy both physically and emotionally. The Bible talks about how much the heart affects our actions, words, and relationship with Jesus. God’s word reminds us how it is truly our responsibility to keep our heart clean so that our words, actions and relationship will be healthy, thriving and fruitful.
We have a well on our property that supplies all of our household water. Currently, there is no method of filtration attached to the well, which means that the fixtures and appliances inside the house have to filter the water as it flows in from the well. As you can imagine, there is sediment that comes in and it collects in each filter. If those filters are not rinsed out occasionally, the water that flows in begins to smell funny. Eventually the clogged filter slows down the flow of water affecting water pressure, and ultimately the effectiveness of the appliance. I wish I could say that we have a timed system to maintain these filters, but we don’t.
Instead, what typically happens is that I notice the water smells funny and I think “hmm, I bet there is something happening with the water,” only to go about my day and forget. It is not until the water flow is low and my washing machine starts banging around that I realize that it is time to rinse out the filters.
When we open them up, there is so much sediment that has collected that it always amazes us. We rinse them out, reconnect everything and instantly see the restored quality of the water and effectiveness of the washer. We swear that we will remember next time to clean it BEFORE we actually smell the smell and hear the knocking… Somehow time passes and guess what? We forget until things are not working right again…. So the cycle continues.
This is what happens with our hearts. We notice that our emotions are “stinky” and that things around us are starting to feel off. But we don’t instantly connect that we may need to take a look at our hearts to see if any of the sediment of the world has collected there. As our hearts get clogged with skewed emotions, our actions and our words also follow.
It is often when something comes to a halt in communication, or when we are feeling down, that you actually realize you need to spend the time to sit with your heavenly Father and look inward. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the wounded, dirty and darkened parts of your heart are cleaned, healed and illuminated. He washes us clean when we study the word of God, worship, praise, and through prayers of forgiveness. When you invite the Holy Spirit’s help you will see an immediate difference, just like when I spend the time cleaning the filter trap for my washing machine.
How great would it be to have a practice where the heart is treated daily through self examination with the Holy Spirit, regular rhythms of reading the word, praying and worship. The heart is dangerous when it is clogged up, both physically as well as spiritually. But when we submit to the cleansing, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts become pure, trustworthy, and holy.
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, examine my heart. What impurities and sediment do you want to draw to the surface that has been interrupting the pure flow of your living water into the pipes of my life? What needs to be removed? What perspectives do I need to step back and see in a different light? Show me how to weigh my thoughts and feelings up to what God says about that person or situation. Pray as the Holy Spirit directs.
Prayer:
Father, I come to you with my hands open and palms up in a posture of surrender to you. I am here to hand you all of the impurities that are settled in my heart, whether they have been there my whole life or just landed there yesterday. It does not matter. I want nothing lurking around in my heart that will keep me from the fullness of freedom in you Jesus. Search my heart and bring to mind the things that need to be flushed out. Cleanse me and purify me.I want a pure heart. I want clean hands. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you that in you, all things will be made new. In Jesus name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses On Sanctifying Your Heart
Psalm 139:23
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 24:3-5
“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Hebrews 10:19-22
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Psalm 19:24
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”