Are You Asking God for These Two Things?

My dear friend/teammate recently mentioned two things she often prays for: 

1. For the Lord to give her a pure heart

2. For God to give her a heart of understanding for others

Hearing both of this struck me with conviction; 

Neither of these things have I ever actively and regularly prayed for…

To pray each day for a pure heart is not just helpful; it is crucial in our life service to the Lord and his people.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” -Psalm 51:10

Do I have a pure heart in my actions? 

Do I have a pure heart in my reactions?

What are my motivations? Are they for Jesus, or are they self-centered? 

Do I have pure thoughts? 

Do I have pure intentions for others?

Is there any root of bitterness, perverseness, or immorality within me? Yes, oftentimes, yes.  So why would I not start each day by asking the Lord what these specific things are, laying them at his feet, and asking him for a pure heart instead? Surely, he will grant me this, no?

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.  Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! -Psalm 66:18-21

LORD, may you bless me with a pure heart.  Please cleanse my heart and take out anything that is not of you.  Let no bitter roots or darkness be within it.  Please give me a pure heart, Jesus.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” -Matthew 7:11

May the Lord Jesus also bless me with a heart of understanding.  While praying for understanding is NOT choosing to love sin, it IS helpful in choosing to love all people all the time. 

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” -Proverbs 4:7

Lord, do I have understanding for other people?

Am I understanding when my neighbor cheats me or steals from me?

Am I understanding when someone cuts me off on the highway?

Am I understanding when someone I deeply love lies to me or hurts me in unfathomable ways? 

Am I understanding when I receive feedback that is justified? 

Am I coming from a place of understanding when I receive feedback that is UNjustified? 

Am I coming from a place of understanding when people have different political views than I do? 

Am I coming from a place of understanding when someone targets my faith or blasphemes my God?

Jesus, give me a heart of understanding for those around me, both the people I know and strangers.  Please don’t let the sun set on my anger, and let not my anger cause me to sin in any way against anyone. 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” -Colosians 4:6

Lord, I pray for the person reading this right now.  May they take a moment to pause, sit, breathe, and ask you to reveal to them the impurities of his or her heart.  May you cleanse that heart and replace it with the pure heart you long for him/her to have.  Lord, would you give your people righteous hearts of deep understanding for others?  Please create beautiful things from their newly cleansed hearts so that they would radiate your joy from their faces today!

“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” -Psalm 34:5