Create in me a pure heart, O God - Psalm 51:10

Psalm 51 is a beautiful prayer of King David after being presented with the truth of his sin with Bathsheba.  I encourage you to read 2 Samuel 11-12 to see how devastating this "distraction" was in David's life and the life of his family.  As we close out 2016, I think it is worth considering those things in our lives that keep us from a flourishing relationship with the Lord.

Recently I flew out of Tulsa, OK on a dark, cold, gloomy day.   As we flew through and above the clouds (light and fluffy though they looked from above), lo and behold, blue sky and sunshine!  I took a picture to show you:

Those innocent looking clouds completely blocked the light. They didn't look like they could be destructive, but they certainly were.   Maybe they started out small, but eventually they completely blocked the sunshine from entering in.  Listen to one definition of a pure heart:

A pure heart is one that is devoted singularly

to God.  It is one that has no idols or competitors

to God that are set up to take God's place.

It's a heart that refuses to allow distractions

to block our view of God."

What might be some of the things that may be blocking your view of God?

--quest for success

--greed

--worldly possessions

--family

--unforgiveness

--food

--career

--popularity/acceptance

Genesis 1:26 tells us God made mankind in His image.  In Leviticus 11:44, He tells us to "...be holy because I am holy".  It is clear that if God is pure and holy - which He is - then His desire is for us to be pure and holy. We were made to be like Him.  Nothing can distract us from our devotion to Him and to His principles.  As I begin 2017,  I would like to say "no" to myself more and say "yes" more to God.  Will you join me in saying to our Creator:  "Create in me a pure heart, O God"?

For further study:   Leviticus 11:44-45, Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 24:4, Matthew 5:8, Ephesians 5:3-5, Philippians 4:8, 1 Thess. 4:7, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 Peter 2:9.

Happy New Year, sweet friends!