What comes into your mind when you hear the word “purity?”
More often than not, it is associated with abstinence or sobriety, an image of innocence, or simply having a sinless yet almost rigid life.
However, while these do capture a sense of purity, they’re also quite superficial. “To be pure in heart” is a call Jesus asks His believers, but He doesn’t expect temperance. Instead, He meant for you to cultivate grace and kindness even when the world makes practicing these a challenge.
Annette K. Mazzone has penned a compelling story of Biblical prophecy, a call for people to be who God wants them to be to avoid the end of times. Her book Lily Among Thorns encourages readers to possess grace and purity against life’s tribulations—to become a lily among life’s negativities or thorns. In essence, she calls for people to be pure in heart.
What Does It Truly Mean to Be Pure in Heart?
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8 lays out the importance of purity of heart in Christianity. This beatitude emphasizes that, above all else, God sees through your heart, but how does He consider it pure?
More Than Being “Good”
In the Old Testament, “purity” in Hebrew means being clean or emptying out. Throughout the text, it appears multiple times with an ethical and moral undertone that is the opposite of guilt. According to the scriptures, to be pure means standing firm in faith even when others are unfaithful (Hosea 8:1). It’s portrayed through innocence, which Exodus 23:7 relates to a morally righteous person.
Different interpretations of what it means to be pure are scattered throughout the Bible, which can often get confusing or cause the point to be lost in translation. However, all God actually wants you to be is upright, understanding, patient, and kind. It’s not enough to only act nice.
Purity of heart is a matter of the soul, not just behavior.
Purity vs. Perfection
While, to a certain extent, purity does ask you to be righteous, this doesn’t mean you should be flawless. To be pure in heart doesn’t mean to achieve perfection. God doesn’t wish you to be always innocent, always in the right, always blameless.
“Repent of your sins and turn to God for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
– Matthew 4:17
People make mistakes. God knows you will commit them, and when you do, this doesn’t mean you’re immediately stained, and He won’t hesitate to bless you. Instead, to test the purity of your heart, God looks into your reaction. What do you do when you make mistakes? Purity involves striving for freedom from sin, but it still acknowledges your imperfection in the process.
How to Be Pure in Heart in a Complicated World
The world is in shambles. Now more than ever, people are being challenged to not only be firm in their faith and how they practice it but also to be kind altogether.
Living with integrity and kindness are among the top ways to achieve purity in the heart as they help you achieve a singleness of heart to God, genuinely desiring what He desires. Putting things this way makes it appear easier to be pure, yet at the same time, it can still be confusing.
To make things easier, here are three ways to better cultivate a pure heart.
Guarding Your Life
Choosing who you let influence your life is a way to make sure you don’t end up astray. What you let in your life shapes who you are, whether it’s the media you consume, the friendships you nurture, or the thoughts you foster. The weight of this choice isn’t only dependent on social norms, or on external rules, you’re expected to follow. Instead, it’s measured in the internal filters you practice.
Guarding your life is equivalent to learning how to identify what dulls your soul.
Letting Go: Repent, Forgive, Renew
Another way to develop a pure heart is to let go of the toxicity in your life. This can be in the form of self-negativity or resentment toward others. God wants you to deal with this toxicity and flush it out of your heart, and only then will you be able to live in lightness and purity.
It’s one thing to guard whatever influences you and another to let go of those who have already left bruises in your heart. Practicing daily repentance will help bring clarity to your life, and forgiving and renewal will help protect your newfound purity.
Stay Grounded in Spiritual Disciplines
Once you’ve cleared your life of negativities, you must also take time to maintain your purity. This means building habits that will help you protect and nourish your soul in the long run. You may include praying, meditating, and constantly communicating with God to better align yourself with Him.
Remember, to be pure in heart means to have a nourished soul.
Radiate Grace
Have you ever heard of the idiom “Lily Among Thorns?”
This isn’t just the title of author Annette K. Mazzone’s book but also a reminder that practicing grace is essential in facing difficulties. To foster purity in your heart, you must live in the light.
You shouldn’t entertain these negativities as much as possible, and the only way to achieve this is by radiating grace.
When exposed to toxic situations, emulate gentleness, love, and kindness. This will strengthen your inner purity and strength, molding your soul to be your own safe place in a world full of trouble.
Embrace the Journey of Purity, Not Perfection
Purity transforms your perspectives and how you interact with the world. However, if you let yourself get too pressured to achieve the wrong thing—perfection—you may end up beating yourself, losing the essence of purity. To be pure in heart isn’t a one-day process. It’s going to take long, and you’re going to make mistakes along the way. However, remember, grace is integral to purity.
Be kind and compassionate of yourself whenever you stumble in the process.
The setbacks you’ll be experiencing can help refine your heart to be pure and gentler even more. By fostering hope, you also leave space for learning and growth in your heart.
Are you ready to gain clarity and live with a pure heart? Grab a copy of Annette K. Mazzone’s Lily Among Thorns today and learn how to purify your life.
