Let Purity Pour in Through the Windows of Our Souls

I sat on the edge of my bed and contemplated for a few minutes just when and where I went wrong. I was numb and uncertain of the reason. I prayed and doubt set in. A question formed over the mind-numbing silence: Is the Lord truly hearing my voice? I quickly tried to dust the thought off the forefront of my mind, but couldn't seem to shake the eerie feeling that I was alone. My soul felt barren and my heart a wasteland, buried under a multitude of burdens. I entered into a spiritual slumber.

Have you ever experienced a season of spiritual drought? Do you ever find it difficult to discern God's voice? I did. In this particular dilemma, I was muttering questions to the wind and expecting God to answer. In all of my futile attempts to draw God near, I failed to remember a vital truth: God is always present. However, our sensitivity to His Spirit can be clouded by what what we feed our souls through the eye, ear, and mouth gates.

After a period of festering in my self-induced pity party, I felt an inclination to commence a fast. I realize now that my "inclination" was the working of the Holy Spirit, attempting to drag me out of the pit. Abstaining from food (or for some whose guilty pleasures also include television or secular music) redirects our focus back on the Creator and Sustainer of our lives.

Think about the world in which we live. It is easy to fall victim to the subtle ploy of the enemy that keeps us distracted by noise, whether it be the grumbling of our stomachs, a gossiping tongue, the tape reel in our minds, our cell phones, television, and/or radio. We are bombarded with ads that convince us to feed our bellies compulsively and spend our earnings impulsively. We fall into the trap of exalting others based on talent, natural wisdom, wealth, and good looks. Then, and particularly for those who enjoy reality television, we become consumed with their lives, coveting their lot and desiring their portion.

When what feeds through the channels of our eyes, ears, and mouths is impure, we start to reaquire and attire ourselves in the dirty rags we left behind when we were made new in Christ. Scripture is very concise about what is acceptable and pleasing in God's eyes. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

A fast brings us back to our roots, the essentials-- God's word (the bread) and living water. When we shut out the distractions that keep us from feasting on His word and diligently spending time with Him in prayer, we begin to naturally crave our true Source of strength and nourishment. We become revitalized and find warmth in the shining glory of God's face. He will reveal Himself to those who seek Him with a pure heart. Do you have a genuine desire to see God in all of His glory?

I enjoy reading biblical accounts of how God has manifested on earth: visibly, audibly, in visions, and in dreams. To be honest, I am a bit envious of some of the New Testament and Old Testament figures who were frequently visited by the Lord. I also admire their sensitivity to the working of the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, for example, Paul explains that his journeys to various provinces when furthering the gospel was directly led by the Holy Spirit. He knew what territories to enter and which to avoid. In one particular occasion, the Lord visits him in a vision, encouraging him to continue ministering in Corinth as described in Acts 18:9. I think about the pure heart of Paul. His life was a living sacrifice unto the Lord. As a result, He was met by the Holiest of holies and remained in tune to the desires of His heart. God may speak to us in various ways, even in the small, still voice resounding in our spirit. But, can we readily discern His voice?

As I mentioned earlier, a fast is oftentimes what it takes to silence the noise and center our attention on His ever-present existence in our lives. It is also the catalyst that promotes change, both in the heart of the believer and in the focus of prayer. Since embarking on this fast, the Lord has begun a new work in me, shedding light on faulty thought patterns and chipping away at the residue left behind. In a process known as sanctification, God tirelessly perfects us as it is His desire to see us holy, pure, and whole.

The bible tells us that without holiness "no one will see the Lord". This scripture is drawn from Hebrews 12:14-17. The writer of Hebrews intends to warn fellow believers against a negligent conduct. He provides a list of destructive behaviors or thought patterns that could compromise the state of our hearts and potentially block us from experiencing the presence of God in our lives. The passage reads as follows, "(14) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: (15) looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; (16) lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. (17) For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears".

In verse 15, we are advised to make certain that we do not fall short of the grace of God. This warning was directed particularly to the Jews who observed the law. However, the same holds true for us today. If we look at our relationship with Christ as religion, then we have so sadly missed the mark. Grace is extended to those who believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It was all done out of His great love for us, not because we earned it. Despite what our toxic belief system says, it was through His suffering that we are now called into a heartfelt, worship-filled romance with Him. This is the greatest love affair you will ever encounter as Scripture refers to Jesus Christ as the bridegroom and we the bride.

The writer also explains in the same verse that we should avoid bitterness at all costs. I expounded on this topic in my previous blog. Briefly stated, I likened bitterness to a weed. If allowed to spring forth, it will choke the life out of us as well as those around us. Needless to say, how might we be sensitive to the Spirit if our hearts are entangled in this bondage?

Lastly, verse 16 warns against heeding to fleshly desires. The writer uses the example of Esau who sold his birthright for one morsel of food. As I mentioned earlier, we must evaluate the areas of compromise in our lives. Are you submitted to the flesh in the areas of overindulgence or sexual immorality? Yes, overeating is a sin. Even our taste buds need to be subject to the Holy Spirit!

I am not suggesting that these three warnings are a comprehensive list that we must abide by in order to usher in the presence of the Lord. What I am saying, however, is that we should be mindful of and honor the instructions set forth in our Manual. We can not operate fully by the power of the Holy Spirit if we selectively pick and choose what works for us.

This particular passage states that those who pursue peace and holiness will see the Lord. Whether the writer means after death, on Judgement Day, or now, is uncertain. I think what matters most, however, is that we walk today in the understanding of His word and with the same desire to see Him as we did when we first believed. Do you remember the filthy ground the Lord lifted you up off of? He was faithful to meet you in your genuine desire to know Him. For those of us who are born again, we need to remember the days of our yearning and longing for the Lord as infants in our understanding. We may need to get back to that purity in heart if we desire God's touch in our lives.

Even when the light begins to flicker or dim, remember His presence remains. His Spirit is sealed within us. There is nothing that can separate us from His love. However, when we do not screen or filter the windows to our souls (our eyes, ears, and mouths), we allow the impure to infiltrate and take root in our hearts. This in turn clogs the artery that connects us to our lifeline, Jesus Christ. If we are desiring spiritual revival and true encounters with the Lord, remember that Jesus Himself spoke, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).