The Pure in Heart See God

By Francis Frangipane

The whole of the mystery of our existence is centered in perfecting the conditions of the heart. It certainly is possible to be successful on some human level, being fulfilled in all the horizontal relationships that surround us and flow in and out of our lives. But the divine reason we exist is so that God can get to our hearts. In earlier stages of this spiritual training, we have learned that the trembling heart, the humbled heart, the honest heart is the beginning of change.

But God is after something more. The heart is the seat of reality—the reality that God looks at. God doesn’t look at the outer appearance; He looks on the heart and sees things you think you’ve secretly hidden away where no one sees them. He says: “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” (Jer. 23:24, NIV). All things are laid bare before His eyes, and His word is “alive and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12, NIV).

Removing the Burden of Regret

By Francis Frangipane

"Why did I disobey the Lord?"

"If only I had kept my mouth shut."

"If only such and such hadn't happened, my life would be so much better."

Regret. Nothing so chains us to our past failures like regret. I know too many Christians who were running well yet at some point fell into sin. The worst thing is they knew better. They were not ignorant of Satan's devices yet they fell. The outcome of their failure was that in the very place where their joy once shone brightly now a wearisome oppression exists. This oppression looks like an aspect of repentance, but it is not. It is demonic. It is a vision-stealer forged in the fires of hell.