Admit/Omit/Permit
Funny how words sometimes echo through the soul longing to make their way into the depths of the heart. In a way, I suppose, it’s all linked to purity of heart. Those three words surface now again as a worthy item of prayer. After all, we purify drinking water and we purify the air we breathe. Why not pray and ask Him to purify our heart? What’s the worst that could happen in doing so? Our Father delights and sings over us (Zeph. 3:17). What could possibly happen that wouldn’t be outrageously positive?
Running wild are thoughts of things we might be asked to omit from our lives as we think He won’t permit. Can we at least admit our thoughts go in this direction? Not so painful it is when He weeds out that which needs to go in our lives. Healthy brings new growth and that’s not so bad—is it? You’ve heard the saying, “You don’t’ get something for nothing.” And that’s true in this case as well. You don’t give up to not gain something else, but you also don’t give up for the sake of gain, if that makes sense.
Purity of heart has us desiring that which His heart desires. Purity of heart gets rid of envy as we begin to desire only God’s best for others. Purity of heart helps us admit we have omitted things and onto our knees we bend as the resurrection process begins anew. It’s cyclical you know. Never once and done this side of the veil— ongoing it is. Ongoing that is, until… Until what? Until our work on earth is done and real life begins. Yet, we cling to the familiar and we cling to things that we have permitted in our lives—often unaware. We are unaware, that is, until we pray, “A pure heart is my desire, Lord. Please grant me this request.” And into the prayer journal the words are spelled big, and bold, and clear as now I admit what I’d like to omit—may He permit that which I request.
“Filter out, Lord, that which is not of You.” That’s the request. Soon, there will be room in the Inn to replace that which had been taking up space like an uninvited guest. That space was meant for something much more worthy.
What now could replace that which was taking up space? I’m not sure. Try praying about it and find out. It might simply be new knowledge of how best to love our neighbor as ourselves rather than the love of self. It could be growing compassion in order to better see how Christ sees things and not how we perceive them to be. It could be the soul needing to admit that we have omitted without permit to do as we please with ease.
Thus, we pray so as not to simply desire good things—but to desire His ways over our own. “Jesus, I trust in You,” is a powerful prayer. We need no longer omit that which can purify, but permit Him to take over. “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened (Matt. 6:33). Amen.
