Sing and Make Melody - Purer in Heart, O God, Help Me To Be

    For the final hymn in our "Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart" series I have selected a song that is a plea we all should be making to God, a plea for purity:

"Purer In Heart, O God"

(written by Fannie E C Davison, 1877)

Purer in heart, O God, help me to be;

May I devote my life wholly to Thee

Watch Thou my wayward feet;

Guide me with counsel sweet;

Purer in heart, help me to be.

Purer in heart, O God, help me to be;

Teach me to do Thy will most lovingly.

Be Thou my friend and guide;

Let me with Thee abide;

Purer in heart, help me to be.

Purer in heart, O God, help me to be;

That I Thy holy face one day may see.

Keep me from secret sin;

Reign Thou my soul within;

Purer in heart, help me to be.

    All I could find out about the writer of this song was her life span: 36 years (1851 - 1887). This song is known to have been written in 1877, when she was 26 years old.

    A sincere prayer, a plea for purity of heart.
    Seeking God and asking His help.
    Simply beautiful.

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1 John 3:1-3 NKJV)

    Do you have this hope? Are you a child of God? If so, purify yourself!

purify - it is a verb, an action - a daily action, sometimes a moment to moment action. It means to make/keep pure, to continually remove anything that pollutes or contaminates. A conscientious heart is needed to keep watch always.

    What can pollute our hearts? The all-encompassing answer - SIN. The more problem specific answer - anything that tempts you or turns your attention from God and godly behaviour. I'll list a few:

~ Lust/Pornography: It. Is. Everywhere. Let's keep it simple. If you are married, your husband is the only person you have the right to look at (or think about) in any state of undress. Period. Do not allow yourself to see (or think about) someone's nakedness in reality, in a book, OR on a screen. God has blessed you with the gift of marriage, don't disregard it or disrespect it, honour it!

If you are NOT married, there is NO ONE in this world whom you have a right to be viewing (or thinking about) in any state of undress, in reality, in a book, OR on a screen. It's just that simple. Sexual temptation is one of the strongest tools the devil has in his toolbox. Be diligent about your purity in this matter. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Ephesians 5:1-7, and consider Matthew 5:27-30 (not a command only for men).

~ Filthy Language/Swearing: If it's in your heart, it will come out of your mouth. Don't let it in. Turn off the reel/streaming/TV. Stop the conversation. If it is in your heart already, begin purifying your heart, determine daily to remove it from your thoughts (Psalm 19:14). Please read Colossians 3:1-17 and Ephesians 4:29-32.

~ Complaining: Complaining is a way of life in North America. The world allows you to believe that it shows your acute awareness of your surroundings and your supposed rights. We complain about everything. Sarcastic humour is everywhere. Did you know that when you complain you bring yourself down, you bring others down, and you disobey God? Read Philippians 4:14-15. What can you do instead of complaining? "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

~ Anger: Anger/agitation can make us spew complaints. We are to be very careful of our anger. The only rightful anger is that of defending God and His word if it is being blasphemed, but that type of anger does not lose its rational thought, it does not lose control; it is under complete control and appropriate and allows our words/behaviour to be in check (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Colossians 4:5-6). So if your anger does not fit that description, purify your heart of it. Stop and get it under control. Work daily at it. Some verse to study: Psalm 4:4-5, Ephesians 4:26-27, James 1:19-20, Colossians 3:1-17, also consider Proverbs 29:11.

~ Jealousy: Jealousy and coveting what others have/get is another problem area that spurs on complaints. Are your resentful of the work you have to do? You finish your “paying job” and you have another whole day’s worth of work waiting for you: tidying up the house/yard, making dinner, washing the dishes, doing the laundry… you see your husband and family lounging on the couch waiting for their evening meal and you start complaining how you’re the only one who does any work in the house, nobody appreciates you, etc. etc. If jealousy-based complaining is your weakness, pause in your complaining and consider ALL that you have: a functioning body and mind, a husband and/or family to love, food to serve them, amenities to make your life easier. Take the time to read and really think on James 3 and 4 this week. Read and re-read those two chapters and add in Psalm 73. Pray that God would help you overcome your compulsive complaining and develop a heart that is pure in its praise and appreciation of God's gifts and blessings!  

    Trust in God. He will give you the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 2:18). Trusting in His goodness, His rightness, and His hope He has given you will help you to keep yourself pure in heart every day. 

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:7-8,10 NKJV)

Purer in heart, O God, help me to be!

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to listen to hymn: