A Clean And Steadfast Heart

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image…
For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…
To the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
But showing mercy to thousands,
To those who love Me and keep My commandments.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God…
In vain [as empty or nothing לַשָּׁ֑וְא],
For the Lord will not hold him guiltless…
Who takes His name in vain!

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” [1]

“Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.” [2]

“There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” “…whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated… What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” [3]

Food does not defile us, unclean spirits do. Unclean spirits seek to plant evil thoughts in us as mentioned above. We should reject those unclean thoughts just as we reject gross tasting food.

“A woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet.” [4] Jesus healed her.

Jesus casts out unclean spirits.

“Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for creating in us a clean heart, and steadfastness to love and worship You. Thank You for Your great mercy on us. Please rebuke away and shield us from unclean spirits that seek to defile us. Keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil, so that we constantly abide in You and bear good fruit for Your glory. For it is in Your Name, and for Your glory, that we pray. Amen.”

[1] Exodus 20:4-8
[2] Proverbs 4:23, 26-27
[3] Mark 7:15, 18-23
[4] Mark 7:25, 29-30