I click on my Facebook app and start scrolling. My eyes widen as I see all the posts regarding the controversies of late. Memes along with long, wordy posts catch my attention yet quickly cause me to stop because I cannot believe some of what I’m seeing. Where are all the pictures of the cute babies and life happenings, I wonder.

I keep scrolling and more opinions blasted. It is a free world, after all, but my goodness. Comment arguments going on everywhere and I don’t want to be dragged into any of it, but I already am as I absorb the mindless chatter.

I put my phone down, pick up my mouth off the floor, and ask the Lord to create in me a clean heart because it feels so very dirty right now and not because of other’s actions or words, but my own thoughts, criticisms, assumptions and fears.

There is darkness in my heart and I long for it to be light. So, when I sense that darkness, I know I need to pray this prayer for the Lord to do what only He can do and help me with my heart.

“Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalms 51:10

David, who wrote Psalms 51, was continually bringing his heart before the Lord for cleansing. Do we do this? Do we long for clean hearts?

A heart that loves no matter one’s opinions or political stance. A heart that thinks the best not only about people but about circumstances and the future. A heart with eyes to see as Jesus does. A heart that gives grace (undeserved, unmerited favor). An undivided heart that only worships Him (not people or things), just Him. A heart clear of the many distractions (Facebook? News? Netflix?) that get in the way.

I look up the verse in my Bible and do a little more digging on what it really means to have a clean heart:

• To will God’s truth and value in all we do
• To love God above all else
• To seek the Lord
• To be free from evil
• To align with God and magnify Him
• To pursue God
• To look to Jesus to save us and sanctify us
• To be full of faith, hope, love and grace

If the aim of a clean heart is what’s listed above, how are we all doing?

During this time as we are so focused on washing our hands, I want us to remember our hearts are what need cleaning the most. I have an idea…what if, to help us remember to bring our hearts continually before the Lord for cleansing, anytime we reach for hand sanitizer, anytime we wash our hands with soap and water, we pray Psalms 51:10? What if, while we disinfect and sanitize our hands, we ask the Lord to purify and clean our hearts? I think I’m going to try this, will you join me?

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23

“Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” James 4:8

“God is the one who purifies the heart and the instrument with which He cleanses it is faith.” John Piper

Oh, Father, increase our faith. Widen our hearts as you shine Your beautiful light on sin. Expose it and change us from within, for You alone are the only One who can properly cleanse us. Holy Spirit wake us up to the ways and things we are worshipping that aren’t You. Create in us clean, pure, undivided hearts that long to know You and do Your will by loving others. Help us to draw near to you many times daily for this cleansing. Give us hearts that long to trust and obey you no matter what. God, You are powerful, mighty and in our midst. Because of You we can have hope. Sanitize our hearts, sanitize our hands, may nothing be left but You. In Jesus name, AMEN.