“Who may ascend onto the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.” – Psalm 24:3-4 (AMP)

The Lord God is holy and where He dwells is marked by His holiness and nothing unclean or impure or unholy is allowed to enter therein. In the 24th Psalm, David the Psalmist explains to every reader and worshipper of God the requirement for entering into the presence of God. When you worship God, what you do is that you are in God’s presence, exalting and exalting Him. Every one who believes in the existence of God desires to worship Him but not everyone will be granted access into His presence.

One who has clean hands and a pure heart, one in whose heart there is no falsehood nor deceit, is the one who is able to access the presence of the Almighty God. How does a man’s hands become unclean? It starts from an impure heart, for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Impurity in the heart is a poison to the soul and will hinder the spirit from being conscious of God and His holiness.

Being a believer means you have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and now, by this cleansing, you are able to enter the presence of God to give acceptable worship but you must also be careful not to allow your heart to be polluted by the pollutions in this world. Your choices and decisions you make everyday say a lot about who you are.

The heart with which you come to God’s presence must align with the nature of the God you’ve come to meet. He is holy, you must also be holy and pure in your way of life and thoughts. Standing in God’s presence requires that you eschew every form or appearance of evil and sin. Never entertain the thoughts in your heart.

Practical Application: What are the presumptuous sins you allow in your heart and life which hinder you from worshipping the Lord God in spirit and in truth?

Confession: My heart is made pure and cleansed by the blood of Jesus and the Word of God washes me from every impurity. The Holy Spirit works sanctification actively in me and I am able to serve the Lord with fear and awe. I do not allow the pollution and corruption of this world to defile me nor enter into my heart.

Related Scripture: Psalm 24

Bible Reading: Psalm 15