Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Clean Heart

I have a feeling I'm going to have a lot to share on this subject in the coming weeks. It has been on my heart and mind for quite some time now and I'm planning to dive into God's Word to see what God wants to say to me on this.

Here are a couple of previous posts where I have mentioned this:

Poem by Ruth Bell Graham, What Mothers Cannot Do
Clean Heart, Clean Home
Follow up to Clean Heart, Clean Home

Another place I've spent time reading about this is at the A Clean Heart blog.

In my Christmas letter, I wrote the following:
"God has been impressing the idea of having a clean heart on my mind and heart recently. If I truly had a clean heart, how would that impact our home, schedule, finances, priorities, spiritual walk, etc... I'd love to hear your thoughts about this if it is something God has been showing you or shown you in the past."

I received a couple of really great responses to this ...

At first, it can be upsetting to us to see ways we need to change. But, when we realize it is from the Lord, it is humbling and we can go to Him and ask for forgiveness and cleansing. We can read Psalm 51 and ask Him for a clean heart!

This one was my favorite - and has prompted a lot of thinking on my part - I read and re-read her entire letter trying to glean all of the wisdom she exposes and the questions that I should be asking myself:

"I know He calls me to a pure heart...to seek Him and His will for me. So Scriptures pop in my head.......
Matthew 6:21, 'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
So my treasure is to have a clean heart.....So I treasure these things:
Philippians 4:8, 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent of praiseworthy - think about such things.'
Gosh, I can only imagine how my entire world would change if I could focus on these things, and truly treasure them...you're right, it would affect ... everything. Yet it seems so unattainable to me...'cause I know my heart."

I decided to start pursuing this deeper and began by looking up every Scripture with the word clean in it. I'll be sharing more on this next time. Meanwhile, share your thoughts -

* What comes to your mind when you think of a clean heart?
* What other thoughts came to mind as you read this post today?

17 comments:

Christi said...

I'm very interested in hearing your further thoughts on this. The subject of having a clean heart goes hand in hand with what I'm trying to accomplish in my life this year.

Can't wait to hear what you come up with!

Anonymous said...

I am very interesting in learning more too....

but...

Is today Thursday? Or is it Wednesday? Think I better drink more coffee and figure out what day it is ! I seem to have lost one :)

Glad to hear you had a lovely Christmas Monica..

Anonymous said...

Dear Monica,
I have been struggling the past 2 yrs. with this. Our family has gone thru many changes, this was hard for me. I kept feeling (still)out of sorts, not putting my finger on exactly what the matter was. Money, my weight and so many other areas just seem out of control. This past week i spoke with my husban a we bit about needing help from him, still unsure of exactly what with. I just knew i needed help. I spoke to the Lord about this the past few days. He has used you to help me see it is my heart that needs to be cleaned. Heartbreak, bitterness, unsettled moving, change, death and morning. It is my heart, thank you dear sister in Jesus for writing what HE has put on your heart. I look forward to more...more learning, more breaking thru to the yuck in me that i want cleaned :). tammyp

Monica Wilkinson said...

Oh, wow - this is going to be an amazing process of sharing. I love what each of you shared already.

Patty - thanks for catching that - I had the date wrong! Oops - maybe I'm the one who should figure out what day it is!

Tammy - this is so like God isn't it?! I will be praying for you in all of this as well.

Blessings to each of you, Monica

Anonymous said...

Hi, Monica:
I'm enjoying your post about a clean heart. The word that comes to my mind when I think of clean heart is "freedom."

Have a blessed day!
Kelly

asnipofgoodness said...

Great post Monica! In our family when considering if we should watch, do, participate in, listen to,etc....we often "Phillipians 4:8 it" I love that verse!
Another on my heart today, because of your post,is Psalm 51:10
'Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.'...verse 13 goes on to say...'Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.' Wow, thanks for the reminder of how very important a clean heart is, not only to ourselves and the lives of our family, but to everyone we are sent to teach and convert.
The beauty of psalm 51, is that after asking for a clean heart, He immediatly starts praising God, verse 14,and declaring Gods praise, verse 15. He doesn't wait until he "feels" clean. What a great reminder to start the year off running! Thanks Monica!!!

Anonymous said...

I think if I could have a truly clean heart (that only God can give), I would be at peace with myself and others, and I would also be at peace with the life God has given me. The struggle would be over!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this wonderful post. What a wonderful way to start the New Year. Focusing on a clean heart can be difficult. I know that there are things in my heart the Lord wants to work on. It is never easy to face these issues but I know the blessings that will follow the obedience will be more than I could ever think or imagine.
Thank you for sharing your heart.
Ruth

Wendi said...

Love this subject. What comes to mind when I think of a clean heart is peace.

Anonymous said...

What came to my mind as I read this posting: the thought that Christ's definition of "clean" matters more than that in Webster's dictionary. If I fret so much over the state of my home, how much more should I be concerned with the cleanliness of my heart, mind, and soul! :)

Thanks for such an inspiring post!

Katy said...

All i can think of when i read your post is the song...
"create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!"

I have been singing that all morning while cleaning and doing housework! I have been working on this with myself lately...but never even thought of the fact that i am cleaning out my heart!

I want to be who He wants me to be. I really liked this post. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Josiah and Anna said...

I want to thank you very much for your blog. I love visiting and being invited into your beautiful home and family. I am so encouraged by the things you do. God has given you amazing creativity, and you use that to have fellowship with others, and be a blessing, and shine God's love. And you have encouraging posts like this one, that make others (like me!:-)) hunger more for God to be moving in us. Thank you so much for that!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Monica. What a wonderful (and timely for me) topic. I think of a couple of things:

1. Jesus saying of Nathaniel, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47) I long for that testimony and feel so far from it right now. Related verses: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32:1-2) Also 1 Peter 2:1-2 & 1 Peter 2:22-23.

2. I think of allowing the Light of Jesus' eyes to shine and penetrate all the dark, hidden corners of my heart. Being naked before him, if you will, and hiding nothing from him. Being willing for all my uncleanness to be exposed (as humiliating as it might be), surrendering all, and allowing him to clean me. ... I've tried doing the cleaning myself many times, but only he can clean me and give me a new heart. I'm not capable of making changes in my own strength or implanting a new heart within me. My place is to have the courage and humility to see myself in his gracious light, repent wholeheartedly with godly sorrow and appropriate actions (if perhaps I have wronged someone else, confess and ask for forgiveness), and ask him to do the work of changing me and giving me a new, clean heart. I know this experience, but I need it again and again.

Thank you for posting this today! I REALLY needed this.

Jthemilker said...

My first thought rolls to the word "Pure"... cleanliness of heart reminds me of "Create in me a pure heart O Lord and renew your steadfast spirit within me." I have been stuck on this passage for a long time now and keep repeating it over and over and wanting to make real tangible changes to show that pureness. I know your upcoming thoughts will be enlightening.

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

I read this post earlier today and it has been on my mind all day. I can't but think, like you, that if you seek the fruits of the Spirit and a clean heart... how everything else in life would be blessed too.

May the Lord grant you wisdom and joy as you seek to hear His voice in this matter!

Anonymous said...

As I considered these thoughts, I was reminded of the verse about the cup -- Matthew 23:25: "First clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside also will be clean."

Too often I am concerned with cleaning the "outside of the cup" and ignoring the inside -- I have it backwards!

Thanks for sharing! Love, Mom

~~Deby said...

Firs thing that came was:

Garbage in....Garbage out...

What you are speaks so loud, I can't hear what you say....

Think this will be a great study..
Deby