Monday September 5, 2022

Today is Labor Day and we are praying through the Beatitudes.

Loving God, as a new day begins I breathe deeply and pause to rest in You. Quiet my mind, still my wandering thoughts and fill my heart with love. Lead me into the mystery of holy silence and hold me close to Your heart.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, I have come here to listen to Your voice and receive the wisdom of Your teaching. Shine your light on the path of my life and reveal the way You want me to proceed in all things. Amen.

I praise the Lord my God and worship Him with the words of Psalm 24.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart. Psalm 24:1-4a

Pause and Pray

We continue our journey through Real Christianity Two – The Second Season. Christians often study and read what others said about Jesus, but what did Jesus say? The best collection of Christ’s teaching is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). I am praying over the Beatitudes listening for Jesus to speak directly to my soul. The eight Beatitudes build on one another – these are the qualities of all those who seek to follow Christ. We have already studied the first five blessings and today Jesus adds a sixth – blessed are the pure in heart.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:3-8

The Christian life is grounded in loving God and loving neighbor – this is who we are. The love of our neighbors springs from the love of God. I consider what is at the foundation of my love for others. What is my motivation? The pure in heart are those whose hearts have been purified by God’s Holy Spirit. They are those who have faith that the blood of Jesus has cleansed their sin and purified their pride. They are those who possess a poverty of spirit, are meek and gentle, who hunger and thirst after righteousness and seek holiness of heart and life.*

Ask: What is my motivation for loving God and neighbor? What constitutes a heart that is pure?

Pause and Pray

Jesus, You are the King of my heart and Lord of my life. Speak Your blessings and teach me what it means to follow You and be a Christian. I recognize my poverty of spirit and grieve my shortcomings. I humble myself before You and long to grow in holiness. Give me a heart that is pure and intentions that are true. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:3-8

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God wants to communicate to me through the words of holy scripture, especially the words spoken by Jesus Christ my Lord. The Beatitudes speak deeply to the state of my soul and stir a desire in me for deeper spiritual growth. God wants to reveal the next steps in my journey of spiritual maturity and I seek to understand and obey. I repeat the word or phrase that stands out to me, record it in my journal and ruminate on it throughout the day.

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, purify my heart. Come like a fire and burn, come like water and cleanse, come like the wind and blow. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). Open my eyes to the mystery of the kingdom and let me see Your goodness at work. Amen.

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

*Resources: Sermons on Several Occasions, Volume II – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount: Discourse Three, by John Wesley, edited by William J. Abraham, 2021.

I leave this time of prayer with a heart that is pure. I go to fulfill Christ’s commission to love others and share the good news of His kingdom.

Amen