He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

Daily Devotional Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible. The Wisdom of God Verses for the Day: Proverbs 22:11-12 (KJV): 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. Proverbs 22:11-12 (AMP): 11 He who loves purity and the pure in heart, and who is gracious in speech, will for the grace of his lips have the king for his friend. 12 The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous. Thoughts for the Day: These verses in Proverbs tell us that those who love pureness of heart will have the king (Jesus) as their friend, and He will overthrow the words of sinners. Although, most of Proverbs is a very practical book, we find that there are also spiritual analogies throughout its pages. Verse 11 is one of those verses although it could also apply to a literal king. Those that desire and strive to have a pure will certainly have an audience with King Jesus, as we find scripture in the New Testament that tell us the same thing. When Jesus gave His sermon on the mount, here is one of the things he said: Matthew 5:8 (KJV): "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8 (AMP): "Blessed -- happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous (that is, possessing the happiness produced by experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) -- are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!" How do we keep our heart pure so that we might see God? First, we must start by asking God to come into our heart, and changing us from a sinner to one of His children. We must be "born again." We must ask Him to forgive our sins and accept what Jesus, God's Son, did for us on the cross, when He died as an innocent man to take our sins. Jesus then was buried and rose the third day and ascended to heaven, and lives eternally with the Father. Once we become His child, then we need to ask God to cleanse our heart and mind from those things that we embraced while we were a sinner. The Bible tells us that there are things in us, that we need to be delivered from. Mark 7:20-23: 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. We must come to God, in faith, and ask Him to purify our hearts and minds from the evil within. Sometimes we may need deliverance from a stronghold. When we are tempted to sin, we must choose to resist it, and call on God to empower us to flee from it and overcome it, in the name of Jesus. Each time that we overcome temptation, our heart is changed and we grow more like Jesus. When our heart is pure, the things that come out of our mouths will also be pure. If we fail to overcome, we will get another chance; however, if we keep yielding to the devil when he tempts us, it causes us to harden our hearts a little more to the things of God. If this goes on long enough, we can harden our hearts to the place that God will just leave us alone to suffer the fruit of our own sins. Hebrews 10:22-25: 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. In verse 12 of today's study, we are told that God is the one who not only preserves knowledge, but, also those who have His knowledge. In addition to that, He says He overthrows the words of a transgressor, and one who is treacherous. The knowledge that we need is found in the Bible and those who are wise will study to gain it. Those who do not have the knowledge of God, the Bible says they will be destroyed. That is because the devil will overcome them with his tactics. One reason so many Christians are not walking in victory, is their lack of knowledge of the Word of God. They do not know what the Bible teaches, so the devil is able to overcome them with his devices. Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Prayer for the Day: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for cleansing me from the impurities in my life. Lord, give me a desire to study Your Word and also give me revelation as I read it, so that I can be changed by Your Words. I know the Words of God contain life, so help me to live by them. I ask you to cleanse my heart from everything that is against Your Word. Set me free from those things that are evil and keep me from temptation. Thank You for purifying my heart, so that I may see God. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son. Amen.