I remember a preacher mentioning the above quote by Soren Kierkegaard in a sermon years ago. He opened my eyes to the truth that to be in pure in heart is deeper than simply not thinking mean or naughty thoughts, though that may be a result. (For us dudes, it usually gets reduced to pride in the fact that we didn’t fantasize about our barista this morning or some other ridiculous equivalent.)

But this idea that purity of heart is to be single-minded seems to be a much more authentic, rich, and accurate description does it not? To be centered on a single focus is purity, and it permeates all of life the more concentrated it is. You can still screw up and be pure in heart.

If the focus of your life is loving God, truly, seriously, then it will radiate out through your life and affect the way you live and love. The more and more you become motivated solely by the love of God, the more compassionate, thoughtful, patient, joyful, peaceful faithful, self-controlled person you will become. You will stumble, no doubt, but you will get back up for love of God.

Remember, a double-minded person is unstable in all their ways, James 1:8 tells us. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do as it says in the NLT. To have a split focus is horrendous and unhealthy. If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there as you meander through life not knowing what you want.

Imagine how nice it would be to know what you want and to be singularly focused on that. What if all you really deeply cared about was loving God? That nothing moved you in life more than being close to Jesus and in union with the Holy Spirit. Think of how freeing it would be. How unoffended you’d be at so much the world throws at you because you’re so lasered in on loving God and living in His unconditional love of you in every aspect of life. Perhaps this is a little glimpse into what Jesus had in mind when He proclaimed, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Because they are singly focused on seeing Him everywhere, in everything, and in every person. Crap still hits the fan, but you see God even in the midst of the crapstorm. Your eyes stay on Jesus no matter what is happening around you or to you.

Purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Which must mean that when your heart is pure, you will be single-minded. To purify your heart is to tunnel your vision down to the one thing needed–loving God via paying attention to Him at all times.

Today I rewrote my life mission statement as follows:

To be single-mindedly focused on the present moment, listening for God and what He may be offering in it.

So my old one, if anyone needs one and wants to take it, was:

To be single-mindedly focused on God and doing His will in everything, distracted by nothing.

In the Name of Jesus,
Soli Deo Gloria