Let us lift a prayer for purity in our daily lives. We do this by fixing our thoughts on what is true. Our focus should be on things that are right and pure. Things that are lovely and admirable should guide our lives. Our thoughts and speech should emphasize things that are worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Reading some of God’s Word each morning and praying for the Spirit’s help to live this way leads to living a life of purity.
How can a person stay pure? By obeying the Word of God (Psalm 119:9).
What Is Purity?
Purity means freedom from contamination and immorality or without additives or pollution. We often use the word only regarding sexual purity or saving sex for marriage. This is an important part of purity because no other sin affects the body and emotions like sexual sin does (1 Corinthians 6:18). It’s a God-honoring part of purity, but purity also goes much deeper than that. Living a pure life is about living with integrity in a way that honors God. It means living in the world but not letting the world’s ways get into you. The bible says to align your will to God’s holy standards.
To live in this wholesome and moral way, you must walk away from your sinful nature. You were born willful and rebellious, always wanting your own way, apart from God. But life is much more peaceful when you step away from that rebellion and learn to walk under the gentle leading of the Lord.
We live an impure life when we go against the ten commandments. An impure life doesn’t recognize the righteousness and deity of the Creator God. It recognizes “self” as the center of your universe. A rebellious life looks for anything but God as wisdom and guidance for living life. A life lived in impurity misuses and takes for granted the name of the Lord. It even uses His holy name to curse people. This way of living resists the God-given mandate to rest. An impure life only wants to hustle, hustle, hustle. It doesn’t honor your father and mother. When taken to the extreme, an impure life justifies adultery and even murder. It says stealing is okay because those people didn’t deserve the item. It lies about another person to save itself. A sinful life is an impure life.
It’s not just a matter of not looking at or doing certain things. It’s also a matter of our heart motives. Jesus said that lust alone isn’t good because it leads to the sin of adultery. He also said that anger isn’t good because left unbridled, it can lead to the sin of murder. All sin begins in the mind. That is where it needs to be reined in. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives (Proverbs 16:2).
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Why Is Purity So Important?
The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe (Proverbs 16:17). An impure life cuts us off from God and drives us further and further into our own rebelliousness. When we continue in this way, God will let us have what we want—a life apart from Him. Life was never meant to be lived this way. It should be lived walking and communing with God every step of the way. This is how we find joy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure; those who see God in every circumstance (Matthew 5:8).
The more we follow sin’s destructive ways, the more we prove we don’t know God at all. No immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of God, because a greedy person worships everything other than God (Ephesians 5:5). Living to satisfy your own lusts and selfishness leads only to death. God cannot allow sinful people into heaven.
When we come to know God, we strive to live a pure life. When you know Christ, you are living in the light and the darkness of immoral living should make you wince. We live under God’s immense grace, mercy, and forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean that we should walk into areas where we are tempted to sin. God cares deeply about us and wants us to walk in much higher ways. Those who live to please the Spirit of God will reap everlasting life.
Believers need to test their faith often and make sure their hearts and motives are pure.
How Can Anyone Live a Pure Life?
We are to live a holy life that imitates God’s holiness, but this can seem an impossible task. There are many deceptions and temptations in this life. Our frail human bodies and minds have trouble fathoming such a pure and holy life.
We can only do this by believing that God paid a ransom to save us from this empty, sinful life. That ransom was the precious blood of His only Son, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him long before the world began, to be the hope of the world (1 Peter 1:18-20). Through Him, through Christ alone, you are cleansed of your sins. You need only to believe and obey this truth. Once you’re cleansed of your sin, you can live a pure life. God’s peace will make you holy in every way, and your whole spirit, soul, and body will remain blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Wash Me & I Will Be Clean: Repentance Is Part of Purity
Living a life of purity doesn’t mean you’re perfect. Everyone sins and makes mistakes. A life of purity recognizes those mistakes, repents, asks for forgiveness, and then goes forward intending to sin no more.
King David sinned deliberately when he lusted after Bathsheba. Both of them were married, but that didn’t matter. He wanted what he wanted. Then later, to cover up his adultery, he also added the sin of murder to his list of wrongdoings. One sin usually leads to another. Thankfully, King David repented eventually and gave us a written account of what repentance truly is in Psalm 51.
You remember God’s unfailing love is full of mercy. He will remember your sin no more when you repent. His compassion is great. He cleanses you from all guilt after repentance. You are renewed and purified.
You admit your wrongdoings and realize that your sin separates you from God. God has every right to bring harsh judgment against you. All human beings have sinned and fallen short of the grace of God. However, repentance brings purification from all sins. When God washes you, you are clean again, whiter than snow, and you rejoice because God is good. Your spirit is renewed and you can go forward with a new resolve to try not to sin again. A clean slate and a fresh start are yours again.
Yes, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us of those sins and cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9). All people have sinned, but when Christ forgives you, you are made new.
Living a Life of Purity Starts with the Word of God
Living a life of purity starts with the Word of God because we don’t know what is right and wrong unless we study God’s Word. Cry out for the Lord to teach you His ways so you can live according to His truth, with a purity of heart that honors Him (Psalm 86:11).
Psalm 119 is all about treasuring the Word of God. Living with integrity and obeying His laws will bring you much joy. How can a person stay pure? By obeying God’s Word. Memorizing some of God’s statutes will encourage you not to sin. Devotion to the Lord and His Word is the key to walking in freedom and purity.
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A Prayer for Purity in What We Do
Dear Lord, help me be holy and stay away from sexual sin so that I won’t be a slave to my passions. Help me live in the holiness that honors You. Help me not to fall into the traps of being a human with a sinful nature. Help me not to make myself impure by dabbling in idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, uncontrolled anger, greed, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, or drunkenness. For these things bring pain to myself and others. I desire to live with You, Lord, as my focus as I help the neighbors all around me as much as I can. Purity will show in my life when I live with patience, kindness, and sincere love. Then I can testify to the power of the Holy Spirit that enables me to do any good deed. Help me be an example to others in what I say and how I live and love. Help me not to focus only on my own interests, but to take much interest in others. May I always strive to walk in this purity. Amen.
A Prayer for Purity in What We Watch and Take In
Dear Lord, help me remember that what I focus on will always affect me. May I focus on You more than I look at the worthless things in this world. Give me discernment to know what is worthy to look at and what is not. My eyes are like lamps. They can let light into my heart and soul. May I take in as much of Your light and truth as possible, while looking away from dark things. The world is such a fallen place that sometimes I cannot stop myself from seeing things that corrupt me. But I can stop it at the point of seeing before it becomes a lingering issue. Amen.
A Prayer for Purity of Thoughts
Finally, Lord, help me run from the evil things in this world. Help me run from some of the innocuous things that may not be evil but consume too much of my precious time. My thoughts can become actions, so help me have pure thoughts. Help my thoughts to be of You and Your Word most of the time, so I can live a pure and godly life of faith and perseverance. I desire to fix my thoughts on things that are pure, true, honorable, right, and lovely as much as possible. For those thoughts encourage me to go forward in faith and hope. The more I think about good things, the more I will do good deeds. Amen.
Search for the Lord and continually seek Him so His strength can give you the courage and ability to walk a pure and wholesome life. Repent when you make mistakes so you can remain in that purity. And always remember that your old self has been crucified with Christ and it is no longer you that lives, but Christ lives within you so that you may live a life of purity. Galatians 2:20
Above all, I pray you will clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Then the message about Christ will fill your life with many blessings. I lift you up as an ambassador for the Lord Jesus. May what you do or say represent Him well.
Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted. Titus 1:15
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