“To spend time with someone who has learned well the battle of the heart is to sit at the gate of paradise. On some few occasions I have had opportunity to meet such warriors. The peace that is theirs, the complete lack of self-consciousness are signals that you have come to a new country. Such living witnesses are the loudest proclamation of the gospel known on earth. For in their heart, God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. These are the dwelling places of the New Jerusalem and the living promises of God. Their hearts point us to the place where we should be engaging the struggle and remind us that with God all things are possible.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“We acquire purity of heart by more quiet prayer. Purity of heart requires a certain kind of effort. The effort is delicate, not like a New Year’s resolution. Purity of heart has more to do with yielding than striving. Purity is something the Lord does through us as we freely want to pray, to be prayed through. In a sense, we pray and the Lord prays through us.” (Albert S. Rossi, PhD)
“Christ reveals that our efforts to do good depend upon our submitting to Him from the heart. He alone can give us the power to do what is just and pleasing to God… The impure heart craves the good things of this life and becomes attached to material comfort, disregarding the condition of the soul…The impure heart is the greatest barrier between ourselves and God, for it separates us from Him who alone is able to restore in us the power to do good…our words and deeds – what comes out of us – reveal what truly lies within our hearts.” (Dynamis 7/24/2014, 7/3/2019)
“Jesus criticized the Pharisees and the experts in religious law harshly...They went wrong by focusing on outward appearances and ignoring the inner condition of their hearts. People do the same when their service comes from a desire to be seen rather than from a pure heart that is full of love for others.”...for someone to receive the Holy Spirit an open heart is necessary, and it is made open by faith. Just as the reception of radio waves necessarily requires an antenna, similarly for the reception of divine grace a pure heart full of faith is needed." (Life Application Study Bible, Luke 42-52, St. Luke the Surgeon of Simferopol)
“…the “skirmish line” of spiritual warfare is within our mind. Evil thoughts must be stopped there if we hope to attain the pure heart that knows Christ….Our greatest problems have spiritual roots: we disdain to lift our hands to God, worshipping and opening our hearts to His grace, which alone makes our works wholesome and worthy. Human methods alone will never solve our problems apart from a meek spirit and a pure heart (Mt 5: 5, 8). Men must repent, confess, and put “on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:24).” ((OCPM 11/23/2015, Dynamis 11/16/2019)
“The soul’s vision is in the heart. From the heart and through the heart a spiritual person views and controls his whole soul. A pure heart means sound spiritual vision. By means of a pure heart a person sees not only his soul, but even God Himself. In the words of Christ: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God…Saint Paul calls us to labor for “a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5), for these alone secure us in the renewing and refreshing love of Christ. A pure heart commands and directs the soul, dispelling any evil thoughts that enter it, so that we do not receive “[our] soul in vain” (Psalms 23:4). Such a heart will draw close to God, and the Lord will dwell within us to help our heart continue in purity (James 4:8).” (St. Nikolai Velimerovic, OCPM 11/23/2015)
“How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves…Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God.” (St. Nektarios of Aegina)
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