pure heart - Thoughts About God

Bird Nest in our Dryer Air Vent

Thoughts_About_God — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:03:24 +0000

“When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all of our sins.” 1 John 1:9

We had out-of-town guests, and I was doing laundry every day. But the dryer wasn’t working properly. It took over an hour to dry a load of laundry, and the clothes weren’t even warm when I took them out of the dryer.

I mentioned it to my husband, and we checked the dryer manual and read the page called “trouble shooting”. We checked everything they suggested that could cause the problem – and all but one thing was in working order. However, we needed to check the dryer air vent outside the house to see if it was clogged. Marvin climbed up a ladder and looked inside the vent, and guess what? An old bird nest was in the vent. It was blocking the air flow—the hot air wasn’t able to escape. He removed the bird nest, and the dryer started worked like new.

The lesson I learned from this experience was two-fold:

1. Read the manual written by the manufacturer. They made the dryer and know how to keep it going and how to fix it when things go wrong.

2. Even a small bird nest can stop the flow of warm air that dries the clothes.

Similarly, in our lives, we must remember to be constantly in tune with our Maker through prayer, reading, and reflecting on God’s Word. God has made us and knows everything about us. He will warm our hearts when we spend time alone with Him. When we worship Him, He will point out the things that clog our communication channel to Him.

For example, when I have a critical attitude, I prevent God’s love from warming my heart. Criticism and love can’t occupy the same space. However, when we confess our sins to Him, He forgives and cleanses us from all sin and takes the throne of our hearts once again.

How are you doing today? Do you have a cold heart? Take time alone with God and ask Him to show you what is stopping His flow of love into your heart.

Father, our wonderful Maker and Friend, we desire our hearts to be warm with your love. Show us if there is anything in our life that is stopping the flow of your love. We want a deeper love relationship with You. Amen

By Katherine Kehler
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Reset Button

Top 10 Ways Not to Hear From God

How You Can Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (Part 1)

The post Bird Nest in our Dryer Air Vent appeared first on Thoughts About God.

The Great Divide

Devotionals — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:03:15 +0000

“Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? Matthew 9:5

Jesus asked this question of the religious leaders who were outraged that He would say to the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven.

These “spiritual” gurus had watched Jesus grow from a little boy into a man. To them he was a snot-nosed, skinned-up-knees boy, born from a mother who had cheated on her husband and now was as an adult claiming to be God! How dare this kid from Nazareth say, “Your sins are forgiven!” In the words of Vizzini from Princess Bride, “Inconceivable!

It was a simple question, with a simple answer but one they refused to acknowledge. The religious leaders rejection of Jesus’ authority, created a chasm in their hearts between who Jesus was and who they wanted Him to be.

And we are not much different than they, if we’re willing to admit it. Often, the divide is long and wide between who Jesus really is and who we want Him to be.

We want the love of Jesus, not His justice. We want a comfortable Jesus, not one who pushes us into the unknown. We want to trust God with our eternal destination, but refuse to allow His “interference” in our everyday living.

The simple fact remains, Jesus is God; able to heal the sick and forgive sins. True followers of Jesus refuse to let their own desires define Him and allow Him to be the Jesus He is!

Lord, I confess my propensity to create You in my own image, rather than allowing You to be the God You are. Open my eyes to Your truth, teach me Your ways and help me to follow You with a pure heart. Amen.

By Kristi Huseby
Used by Permission

How is Your Heart Today?

Devotionals — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:03:27 +0000

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23

Is your heart rejoicing today, or are you broken-hearted?
Is your heart pure, or is it deceitful?
Would people say you have a heart of gold or a heart of stone?
Do you have a soft heart or a hard heart?
Do you have a generous heart or a greedy heart?

During the past several weeks, I have been searching the Bible for verses describing our hearts. The Bible tells us that our attitudes and moods are an overflow of what is in our heart.

Luke 6:45 says, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

How do we keep a heart attitude that is pleasing to the Lord? By being filled (controlled and directed) with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 commands,

“Be filled with the Spirit.”

How do we get a clean heart when our heart is dirty? 1 John 1:9 tells us,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

How can a broken heart be healed? Psalms 34:18 tells us to ask God to heal our broken hearts.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

After reading these verses about our heart’s condition, I realize that I can’t change my heart. I have to rely totally on Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus said,

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”

How is your heart today? Can you say with the Psalmist,

“Create in me a new heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me” Psalm 51:10

Lord Jesus, I ask You to take our hearts in Your precious gentle hands and change them, heal them, soften them, cleanse them, and fill them with Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

To learn more about the Spirit filled life visit: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/biblestudies_/spiritfilledlife

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

It Begins with the Heart

Devotionals — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 08:01:46 +0000

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

Recently we attended a presentation by a pedantic cardiologist, who spoke on the gestation process of human life. Most startling to me was the fact that it all begins with the heart.

The heart is the first organ to be formed and everything forms around it as other organs and distinctions of the fetus are formed. No brain, no lungs nothing else. The heart forms a circle and then as development progresses other parts are added, but everything begins with the heart.

By Day 22, (three weeks), the heart begins to beat with the child’s own blood, often a different type than the mothers’. Size of a pea. First tubular then forms a ring around it and forms two chambers. Often the heart of the fetus is beating before the mother even knows that she is pregnant. In nine weeks, the heart is fully developed.

God’s purpose predates our conception. Gestation is a journey of the heart. Christianity is like that…. It begins with the heart.

God has a lot to say about beauty, and He’s not referring to fashion tips or face masks! True beauty begins on the inside, in your heart.

Just as our physical life begins with the heart, so too there begins and continues our spiritual journey. Psalms 51:10 says,

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit with me.”

Have purity within your heart and never allow others to taint your wishes and beliefs.

The first step in salvation is that of giving our heart to the Lord and then allowing Him to reside there for the rest of our lives.

Have you committed your heart to Him?

By John Grant
Used by Permission

A Pure Heart

Thoughts_About_God — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 08:01:07 +0000

“May the Lord lead your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s patience.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5

The majority is not always right. If the majority had ruled, the children of Israel never would have left Egypt. They would have voted to stay in bondage. If the majority had ruled, David never would have fought Goliath. His brothers would have voted for him to stay with the sheep. What’s the point? You must listen to your own heart.

God says you’re on your way to becoming a disciple when you can keep a clear head and a pure heart.

by Max Lucado
used by permission

From: Everyday Blessings

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://www.maxlucado.com/info/view/about_max_lucado/