Pray to purify your hearts- Parish of Saint Peter

8 May 2014 by Adeline Lum CM-

 

On 4th of May, Rev David Rajiah of the Parish of Saint Peter shared how to pray to purify our heart based on Psalm 51.

 

Rev David Rajiah
Rev David Rajiah

 

Prayer

Almighty God

To whom all hearts are open

All desires known

And from whom no secrets are hidden

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

That we may perfectly love you

And worthily magnify your Holy Name. 

Through Christ the Lord

 

If we pray every day using this prayer, Rev David shared that we will grow closer to the living God, like a child to a Father in a trusting, empowering, and good relationship.

Each line carries a deeper meaning, one that Rev David expounded.

‘Almighty God’ carries three meanings, which include God’s omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience.

God is omnipotent. This means He is all-powerful and limitless in power. In other words, no power, difficulty, or hopelessness can overcome the power of God because He is above every power in this world.

 

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

(Rev 19:6)

 

Rev David Rajiah
Rev David Rajiah

 

As for His Omnipresence, Rev David shared how Jesus Christ during his ministry on earth, was limited by his body because He could only be present in one place at any given time. But when Christ is resurrected, He is present everywhere—at home, on the road, and at your workplace—in our lives. Even David acknowledged that he could not hide from God wherever he is in the world.

 

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

(Psalm 139:7-10)

 

God is also omniscient, which means He is all-knowing especially our deepest secret of pain, loneliness, and weaknesses.

 

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Cor 2:10)

 

When we say ‘to whom all hearts are open’ in prayer, that meant that we acknowledge coming to God with an open heart to receive his blessings and instructions for life. Otherwise, a hardened heart causes God to be separated from us (Eph 4:18).

 

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Eph 4:18)

 

Parish of Saint Peter
Parish of Saint Peter

 

All desires known’ signified that we acknowledge that God knows the desire of our heart. Rev David shared that although all of us use different ways to worship the Lord, whether raising our hands or kneeling on our knees, the main question God has for us is whether we desire for our God. And examining our hearts and mind, He knows where our heart lies.

 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:21)

 

 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you. (Psalm 38:9)

And from whom no secrets are hidden’ reminds us again that we cannot hide from God because He is everywhere on earth and in Heaven. We have the privilege of coming bare before Him, without fearing that He will leave us or forsake us.

 

Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord. (Jer 23:24)

 

But I will strip Esau bare;
I will uncover his hiding places,
so that he cannot conceal himself.
His armed men are destroyed,
also his allies and neighbors,
so there is no one to say (Jer 49:10)

 

The church kneeling in repentance before the Lord
The church kneeling in repentance before the Lord

 

Next, ‘cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit’ is a request to ask God to cleanse our wicked heart of—disobedience, rebellion, stubbornness, arrogance, pride, and selfishness—into a heart of submission to the Holy Spirit

 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Eze 36:26)

 

That we may perfectly love you’ meant how God’s perfect love takes away fear (1 John 4:18). Rev David shared how fear shrouded his heart when he could sense the presence of an evil spirit. But when he repeatedly tells himself, “Jesus, you love me,” the fear slowly dissipates. Likewise, we must also be reminded that God loves us regardless of our situation because perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

 

Rev David Rajiah
Rev David Rajiah

 

And worthily magnify your Holy Name’ meant how we consciously glorify God’s name through worship, communion, prayer, scripture-reading, communion, and fellowship.

Finally, ‘through Christ the Lord’ meant that if we pray in the name of Jesus according to His Will, He will bless us.

 

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in youis greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Rev David shared that we should place this prayer in every visible place, be it in the bathroom mirror, computer screen, and kitchen window, so that we can read and listen to the prayer as we proclaimed from our mouth. By praying every day, this prayer will slowly saturate into our lives and help us to be mindful of the Lord.

And if we use this prayer with a sincere purpose unto God, we will draw close to God deriving strength, joy, and also hope. Pray to purify your hearts! Pray until something happens!

 

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