El Sela ~ the Rock that Purifies
God, what purifies my heart . . .
Sometimes we make our faith complicated, as is the case with purifying our hearts. Let me share a beautiful and simple truth that God gave me ~
My Thoughts: God, do I use excuses to not love on those who need Your love. Guide me.
God's Answer: I see what's happening today. There are instances where you must love others with boundaries. What concerns me is not the distance you need to keep - it's your heart.
Me: OK
When the Pharisee who had invited Him (Jesus) saw this, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39 NIV emphasis added
Me: God knows all my snarky, negative, nasty thoughts. It's not only that I don't love on those who need Him ~ I'm judging them like the Pharisee looked down on the woman who was washing Jesus' feet with perfume! (Luke 7:36 - 38)
God, purify my heart . . .
God: (As He holds out His hand) Come into My presence ~ let Me show you.
God then led me to these three verses:
Psalm 51:10a "Create in me a pure heart, O God" NIV
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." NIV
1 John 3:3 "Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" NIV
Me: God, please continue to remove the nasty poison ~ purify my heart!
God: Your heart cannot be pure until your hope is fully in Me. Everything and everyone else will fail you! My child, only by focusing on Who I am in the midst of your hardships, coming to Me with your heartaches and problems rather than others, finding contentment in Me rather than things, will you ever find true and lasting hope!
Psalm 62:5 & 6 "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Fortress, I will not be shaken." NIV
God, what purifies my heart . . .
placing your total hope in Me, God your Rock ~ El Sela
Around here our drinking water comes from an underground well ~ ground water that becomes pure by filtrating through several feet of rocks.
A small river that runs through our property gets muddy after rain; but, as the water flows over the rocks it once again clears up.
My Friends, we cannot ever be all that God has called us to be if our hearts are not pure - does this happen immediately, no, it's a process. But, in order to be pure our hope HAS to be in El Sela. Only God our Rock can take our knarly thoughts, filter them, and create refreshment for our weary souls.
May we no longer run to anyone or anything else to solve our mountain of problems ~ may we run to El Sela! His rock-solid love and grace alone bring the hope we need to continue the journey to which He has called us ~ with a pure heart . . .
I needed this. I needed it so much that I plan to read it every morning this week. Your writings are so personal…you/us talking to God! When we humble ourselves before God and talk to HIm, He tells us what we need to hear. My heart wants to be purified by Him….
You are so right – the key is humbling ourselves before God – good reminder for me!
I missed this when you published it and just found it in my old emails. Beautiful truth again, sister. Thank you for sharing what you’re learning. AND a groundwater mention with analogy. 💧💙
I learn from all the special people in my life – thank you for being one of them!