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: Advent Meditations
This Advent season can be full and hurried, which is exactly why we need moments to pause and be still with God. So Much More is a podcast created to bring you space to be with God. In this short, guided prayer, you’ll return to Psalm 62:5–8, the passage from this week’s meditation on hope. Together, we’ll breathe deeply, rest in God’s presence, and ask Him to renew our hope—trusting that the One who came once will come again. If you like what you hear, subscribe to So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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Originally published Thursday, 13 February 2025.
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