A Prayer for a Pure Heart to Pursue God
By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. – Matthew 5:8 ESV
Read or Listen Below:
“Wow! Look at the ground!” I told a friend, as we took a walk together.
Before making this bold statement, I was in the process of telling my friend how much God loved her. Now that I interrupted her, we both stopped our conversation and jerked our heads down to the ground, together.
Smiling, we soaked in what we saw: a leaf the shape of a heart.
It’s so like God to surprise us this way. I love it when He shows up like this.
Has something like this ever happened to you before, dear friend?
For me? I notice when my heart is set on God… When I am talking about God often… When I am thinking about Him throughout the day… He shows up like this.
He’ll do little surprise landings. I may see a stick the shape of a cross. I may hear someone say something he has whispered to me in the morning while I was reading my bible. I may encounter a smile that reminds me of Jesus. I may look out the window and notice a bumper sticker that conveys something He would want me to know.
When my heart purely seeks Him, thinks upon Him, and pursues Him, I seem to get more of Him. When I purely want God above all else, I see God all over my day. He may speak in a lesson through a circumstance. He may speak through the voice of a friend. He may speak through a trial, but no matter – I get to see God.
Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
What is a pure heart?
If you consider pure gold, it is pure because all impurities have been removed. Through heat, impurities rise to the top of gold, so that what remains is – pure. Gold is pure when it is authentic and one hundred percent true to its nature.
Likewise, I am pure when, through the heat of life, I allow my impurities to be removed (by empowering grace of God). Here, my pure motives give way to passionate pursuit of the Lord. And, in the absence of impure intentions there are no longer mental limitations or random ruminations that block my seeing of God.
When I have a pure heart, I more easily see God. With a pure heart, I more easily delight in the Lord. With a pure heart, I more easily see His heart.
Let’s Pray:
Father, I want to have clean hands and a pure heart. Will you purify me? I want to be tested and proven as pure as gold. I want to see You. I want to delight in You. I want to know You. May I be known as a person who loves You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat
Related Resource: When Life Unravels: Biblical Strategies for Hard Seasons
Few challenges stretch a parent’s faith and emotional reserves more than life’s unexpected curveball seasons—the plot twists that leave you wondering, “God, what are you doing?” How do you remain anchored in truth when the bottom drops out?
This week on Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine welcomes back her very first guest and trusted friend, Dr. Erin Barry, to help parents not only survive, but find hope and stability in life’s most turbulent moments. Dr. Barry is a clinical Christian counselor, author, homeschool expert, and co-founder of inseparableLives.com. Her biblically grounded wisdom comes from over 30 years of walking families through the storms of life.
In this transparent and practical episode, Catherine gets real about her own season of loss, uncertainty, and a series of shocking life upheavals—from parenting a prodigal, to family moves, to sudden job loss. Using these stories as a backdrop, Dr. Barry unpacks essential biblical strategies for clinging to faith and finding stability when life feels out of control. If this episode helps you be a more thoughtful parent, be sure to follow Christian Parent, Crazy World on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 13 February 2025.
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