By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Pure Heart

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8 English Standard Version

How do we know if we have a pure heart? What’s the test?

The good and bad news is we will continue the process of purifying our hearts while we live on earth. The blind spots in our hearts are the trickiest ones to catch for purification and the things that we think are good in us actually provide walls against the deeper work that God is doing in us.

For example, we all need food but food can become something we worship if we obsess about it.

Anything good can become an idol. Family, children, and gifts that God has given us can quickly move from blessings to obsessions if we do not lay them at the foot of the cross.

This doesn’t mean we leave our families or quit using our gifts. It means we surrender those things to God so He can rearrange our hearts.

I recently discovered I had a blind spot. This blind spot is a part of my identity that loves to network and connect with people. A friend of mine asked if I would lay those ‘weapons’ down. I couldn’t believe my shock when I was asked. Literal shock! I had given God the credit for those gifts but hadn’t realized how much of my identity was wrapped up in them.

Blind spots can be anything that you do well that you thought was naturally part of your makeup or DNA. It’s how you move everyday and things in which you take pride.

For me I knew I was discontent and had been aware of this discontentment most of my life. It was eye opening to discover that the potential root of my dissatisfaction was something I just thought was part of me.

Blind spots are everywhere but we don’t have to obsess over finding them. God will let us know. Pray, pay attention and ask those around you to help discover your blind spots. Then lay them down at the foot of the cross. God delights in forgiving and restoring you.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado