“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
Isn't that what we want? To see God. To experience Him genuinely, authentically, and tangibly. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” So, I guess the question is, how do we become pure in heart? How do we live such a life inwardly that is expressed externally so that we can be in such fellowship with God that we see Him and experience Him?
“The heart is the innermost man, or spirit. Here are located self-awareness, the conscience, the idea of God and of one’s complete dependence on Him, and all the eternal treasures of the spiritual life.” St. Theophan the Recluse (1815 – 1894).
The goal is to thwart our tendencies toward sin and embrace a pure heart that invites the Holy Spirit and leads us to a Christ-like life.
The church fathers speak of passions and their counterpart virtues. Let's take a brief look at them. The passions are those natural drives that become uncontrolled desires and lead us to sin. The virtues counteract the passions and lead to a life of godliness and fruitfulness.
Six Basic Passions.
Gluttony: The excessive craving for food, leading to intemperance.
Lust: The desire for sexual pleasure outside of its proper context.
Avarice: The excessive love of money and material things.
Anger: The desire for vengeance, retribution, and personal indignation outside the context of what took place with emotional dysregulation.
Despondency. Sorrow, self-pity, and dejection that often convince us that all our woes are the cause of external events or persons with an attached sense of hopelessness.
Pride: It is an overestimation of oneself and disdain for others. Pride is the putting of self before God. I will add vainglory as a subcategory which is looking for human praise and glory.
Six Basic Virtues
Self-control. Living with moderation and having self-discipline in all things, particularly in relation to bodily needs like food.
Chastity. The purification of the body, mind, and soul, which for unmarried individuals includes abstinence. Broadly it means controlling all passions that corrupt purity of heart.
Generosity. The willingness to sacrifice one’s own wants to help and give to others. In a broader sense, it means being kind and concerned for the well-being of others.
Meekness. The ability to control anger, agitation, and rancor. A virtuous form of self-control in the face of provocation.
Diligence. Working hard and never giving up in spiritual and earthly endeavors.
Patience. To suffer, endure, and wait on the Lord through all trials with courage and hope.
Humility. The "mother of all virtues," humility is the accurate, grace-filled perception of oneself before God and others.
Go ahead and score yourself on these continuums.
Gluttony 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Self-control
Lust 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Chasity
Avarice 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Generosity
Anger 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Meekness
Despondency 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Diligence
Pride 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Humility
What’s your average score?
What’s your weakest area?
Tactics
I will provide here a basic universal strategy, though there are specific strategies for each passion and virtue.
Increase your self-awareness of the passions and virtues in your life. You have already started to do this.
Daily confession and repentance. We sin daily in word, thought, action, and/or inaction.
Present yourself to God daily as a living sacrifice as your form of worship to Him. (Romans 12:1).
Make a daily decision to not conform to the ways of the world around you, but to follow God’s will for your life. (Romans 12:2).
Renew your mind by:
a. Reading and meditating on Scripture.
b. Praying. In particular pray the prayers of Scripture and those that have endured the test of time in the church.
c. Fasting. Certainly, from food, but also from other behaviors or other things in your life that might feed the passions.
Starve the passions. Feed the Virtues.
d. Almsgiving. This is heart felt acts of service to others in the name of Jesus.Remind yourself of your death and what you want God, your family, and your friends to say about you.
Prayer
Almighty Father help us have a pure heart so we can see You. May Your Spirit strengthen us to live a virtuous life and not be consumed by earthly passions. Forgive us for our self-indulgences and worldly pursuits. We reject the passions of the flesh and ask that You would grow your virtues in us. Thank you for the gift of life. May we run the race with focus and not be distracted by the evil around us. May we always burn hot for You. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Running the Race,
David
P.S.
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