Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The fourth layer of the Divine Smart-Thinking Pyramid is “purity”. Impure thoughts are fantasies, fables and fictional-imaginary dream-world. Unpolluted thoughts protect the mind from perversion. Purity in our thoughts will make our words and actions pure. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure (Titus 1:15). Purity draws us close to God’s presence. And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 23:3-4). Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14b). Purity takes us into the inner chamber of God’s presence and power. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22). This is not just a warning to youth; youthful desires can tempt and pursue at any age if the evil desires are not starved and killed.
Impure thoughts are the seeds that bear sinful fruits. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:19). A pregnant woman cannot hide her bump for long; similarly, secret sin will not remain small; it will grow and be exposed. Entertaining impure thoughts would shroud a person with guilt and shame. Impurity pushes us away from God’s presence. This is why David pleaded with the Lord after committing murder and adultery; Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me (Psalm 51:10-11). He did not pray for renovation but to create a new clean heart.
Smart-Thinkers choose purity and power:
1. Recreate: Pray for a new heart like David. Don’t renovate the heart by plastering the stains of sin, teardown impure thoughts and rebuild. Clean heart will renew and revive the spirit within us. When we fall, it is important to get up quickly, rebuild and restart a life of purity.
2. Replace: Replace bad memories, fantasies and vain imagination with pure, holy and clean thoughts. This will be work-in-progress throughout our life. “What is done cannot be undone” but the blood of Jesus is the divine detergent that will wipe out bad, ugly and impure thoughts.
3. Refresh: When tempted and hammered with impure thoughts, repent and refresh with righteous desires. Righteousness gives us access to the proximity of God’s presence. When the righteous pray, they whisper into God’s ears. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Ponder on whatever is pure; Purity is power.
Purity takes us into the presence of God and purity surrounds us with peace.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Prayer: Dearest Holy Spirit, make me cautious, sensitive and alert to impure thoughts. Help me to capture the impure thoughts and crush them as they attack my mind. Amen.
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