Take Every Thought CaptiveSample

Let’s talk about the heart. The heart is not something to ignore. It is the beating lifeblood of our lives. Without it, there is no life. We can’t live with a broken heart. This is why I believe God is sounding an alarm with His words, “Above all else, guard your heart” (Prov. 4:23 NIV). These words scream, “Hey, YOU! Above all else (hear Me!)—guard your heart, already!” We must guard our hearts. Our lives depend on it.

Why is a pure heart important to our walk? Imagine a friend you know and trust. Because time has proven this person’s heart as one you can trust in your relationship, you can tell this individual almost anything. You can share vulnerable things, right? God trusts those with pure hearts. These are people God reveals Himself to. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8 NIV).

A pure heart can receive, by its nature, more of God. Do you have a pure heart? A bless-able heart? A wholly devoted heart? Jesus doesn’t want us to just know about Him; He wants us to experience His ever-increasing fullness inside our hearts. He wants ownership of our hearts.

Again, a pure heart knows God as our Source. It remembers He is also our Author and Finisher. It receives His sacrifice when it messes up. More than seeking blessings, it pursues the joy of knowing God. Blessings are just cherries on top of what God is already doing. A pure heart is on fire to be closer to God, to do God’s will, and to walk in His ways. This heart of gold praises, gives thanks to, gives glory to, and honors the King of Kings. It wants God’s honor first. It praises along with heaven, saying nearly in one accord, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13 NIV).

When a mind gets here—to a place of unadulterated worship and praise, to a place of overflow of heart, to a place that is gushing love—this is a mile marker of a renewed mind! A heart of gold. A mind filled and flooded with Christ! This is what we are after.

There is praise and glory and honor that come at the revelation of Jesus. What will this look like—for you and for me? It will look like reward! It will look like everlasting crowns.

The crown of victory (1 Cor. 9:25)

The crown of a soul winner (Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:19)

The crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8)

The crown of life (James 1:12)

The crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4)

One day, our crowns will be thrown down at Jesus’s feet. Our accomplishments or lack thereof will not be center stage. Jesus will. The same is true today. It is not about our expectations, our desires, our will, or our wants. It is about His glory.

Ultimately, hearts of gold know the highest calling is to bring all praise and all glory to the Savior rather than to self. They dwell on God rather than dwelling in worry. Pure hearts are accompanied by minds fixed on heaven. Instead of resorting to worry, apprehension, or anxiety—and therefore picturing worst-case scenarios—they think on heavenly things. A mind seeing a picture of the King of Kings getting all His glory cannot be worried or anxious or engaging in unhealthy rumination.

Today’s Declaration: Father, give me clean hands and a pure heart, and never let me tell lies. I welcome being purified as gold!