Beatitude Series (6 of 9): Pure Hearts
Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God! Matthew 5: 8
What does it mean to be pure in heart? If it means being perfect and sinless, we’re out of luck. The bible says that all have sinned. That’s why we need a savior.
Actually, the first definition for “pure” listed in the Oxford American Dictionary is “not mixed with any other substance.” If we think of our hearts as being mixed with other interests, if our hearts are busy longing for or pursuing other interests instead of God, it’s easy to see why we might miss seeing Him. Our hearts can be pretty short-sighted sometimes.
We want to be happy. When we come up with our own ideas or buy into what the media tells us will make us happy, our goals can let us down. Disillusionment might be a good thing. If we feel empty, that’s when God can fill us. We have an opportunity to turn our attention from the substances that let us down and look for God. As Jesus said, those who seek will find.
Prayer: Lord, take the clutter from my heart.
Reflection for sharing: Where are you looking for happiness today?
Today I look for happiness in taking care of myself. I am trying to get a clear direction in my life and I am doing that by being aware and paying attention to how I am feeling. I never truly knew how I was feeling in the past because I was busying my mind with other people and their needs and wants. So for today I pray God’s will for my life and try and take care of my physical and spiritual and emotional health. The obvious is to start with eating healthy and exercising but more important is to start my day in quiet and just sit and listen for a while.
Thanks so much for sharing.