Day 20: Holiness, Purity, Humility, and a Heart to Serve

Welcome to Day 20 of Morning and Night: 21 Days of Praying for Your Ministry! Today, in the morning, we are praying for holiness and purity. Without those two things, both you and your ministry will eventually crash and burn. And in the evening, we are praying that the Lord would make us humble and give us a renewed heart to serve Him and others.

Beloved, having clean hands and a pure heart is essential for every believer, and it is a requirement for those in ministry.

It really is a requirement for every believer, for the Bible says that we can only approach the Lord if we have clean hands and a pure heart. Look at what Psalm 24 says about this:

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:3-5 NKJV).

But teachers receive an even stricter judgment:

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1 NKJV).

Therefore, if every believer must have clean hands and a pure heart to ascend into the hill of the Lord, then any person in leadership (ministry) in the Body of Christ must have an even more pure heart, and even cleaner hands! The standard of holiness is intense! And it should be–for perversion has no place in the Body of Christ, and leaders must continually be pointing people to Jesus and showing them what He is like by their own example.

In our flesh, this standard of holiness would not be possible.

However, we don’t live by the flesh or walk by the flesh. We walk in the Spirit, and we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That is what God’s Word commands us to do:

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 NKJV).

And when we walk in the Spirit, we will bear the fruit of the Spirit. We will walk in holiness and purity and self-control. Look at the amazing fruit that the Spirit of Jesus bears in us and through us when we follow Him:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:19-23 NKJV).

Beloved, do you want to walk in the Spirit? Do you want to be holy and pure at all times?

I hope so! I know I do. And we’re going to pray about that today, asking the Lord to help us walk in holiness and purity at all times. But first, read these Scriptures about holiness and purity to build your faith and your desire for God to help you in this, as He helps in all things:

1 Timothy 6:6-12: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:6-12 NKJV).

Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord …” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV).

Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV).

Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12 NKJV).

Psalm 24:3-6 NKJV: “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah” (Psalm 24:3-6 NKJV).

And then pray for renewed holiness and purity as follows:

• Tell the Father that you come before Him in Jesus’ name.
• Thank Him for the blood of Jesus that saves you and makes you whole.
• Thank Him for forgiving your sin because of Jesus’ blood, which was shed for you.
• Ask Him to forgive any sins you have committed (by omission or commission) for which you haven’t already been forgiven. Ask Him to cover you with the blood of Jesus; to fill you with His Holy Spirit in those places; and to change your heart and make you like Himself.
• Praise Him for His goodness and mercy toward you.
• Tell the Lord that you want to be holy, as He is holy.
• Ask Him to help you walk worthy of the divine calling to which you have been called, and to represent Him well at all times.
• Ask the Lord to help you flee from every evil thing, and to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”
• Pray that He would help you fight the good fight of faith and to lay hold on eternal life, no matter what obstacles may arise in front of you.
• Pray that He would help you to “pursue peace with all people, and holiness,” so that you can see Him with your own eyes, even before you go to Heaven.
• Ask the Lord to search you and know your heart; to try you, and to know your thoughts and anxieties; and to see if there is any wicked way in you, and to get it out if so–and to lead you in His everlasting way.
• Ask Him to give you clean hands and a pure heart.
• Pray that He would help you to not lift your soul to idols, nor to swear deceitfully.
• Ask Him to “renew a steadfast spirit” within you, and to fill you up anew and afresh with His Holy Spirit.
• Pray for a renewed baptism in His Spirit, His fire, and His power, glory, and love.
• Ask Him to restore to you the joy of your salvation, and to uphold you by His generous Spirit, so that you may serve Him with joy and gladness, and also serve others with a willing and joyful heart of love.
• Eagerly petition the Lord to help you to seek His face at all times–His face, not just His hand–and to love and obey Him like He deserves to be loved and obeyed.
• Ask the Lord to bless you, and thank Him for making you the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.
• Pray that He would use you to serve others and inspire them to holiness and purity as well.
• Thank Him, and give Him all the praise!

In the evening, we are praying for a humble heart to serve God and others.

As a minister and leader in the Body of Christ, you can’t serve other people well unless you are humble. If you are not humble–in other words, if you are prideful–then you will hurt people and build a toxic ministry. You don’t want that, and it certainly wouldn’t be pleasing to God–even if God gives fruit when you preach His Word.

(Note: The Word of God stands alone and carries its own power. Even a filthy vessel could preach Jesus and have Jesus save people as a result of it. Remember that Jesus told us that, if He is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself. This applies both to the cross and to every other kind of lifting Jesus up. However, seeing fruit when you preach doesn’t mean that you yourself are saved, whole, healthy, free, or even pleasing to God at all. Please remember that when you wonder how toxic ministries can still see people saved or touched by God.)

If you want to be healthy yourself; if you want to build a healthy ministry; and if you want to bring other people into true spiritual wholeness, freedom, and health, then you must be humble and have a genuine heart to serve others well.

We are all called to emulate Jesus, and Jesus was the most humble of all. You simply can’t serve other people well if you are prideful. (For more, as well as my personal story about repenting from pride, read my article here about Pride Goes Before Destruction (with a sample prayer of repentance for pride).

Read these powerful Scriptures to build your desire for a humble heart to serve, and ask Holy Spirit to convict you as you read:

James 4:7-10: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:7-10 NKJV).

John 17:4: “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4 NKJV).

Luke 17:7-10: “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Luke 17:7-10 NKJV, emphasis mine).

Matthew 20:25-28: “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV).

1 Peter 5:6-7: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV).

John 3:27: “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven” (John 3:27 NKJV).

So, what does humility look like?

Here are a few examples of what humility looks like:

• It looks like always attributing everything good to God, and never taking credit for the work of God in your life. You can talk about how obeying God and hard work (in obedience to Him) were required in order to get where God has brought you, but a humble heart always points to God and gives Him the credit and the glory.
• Humility looks like putting other people’s needs before yourself.
• Humility looks like serving others before you serve yourself.
• Humility looks like taking care of others willingly and without complaining.
• It looks like always acknowledging that what you do to serve others is only the normal thing in the Kingdom, because God’s Word says you should do that. Even though people will say “thank you,” humility says “It’s nothing, friend. I’m only obeying God.”
• Humility looks like making yourself the lowest of the low; the servant and slave of all.

O God, help us all! Make us humble, and help us to serve You and others with a humble heart at all times!

Friend, do you want God to make you humble?

Do you genuinely desire to serve others with a humble heart that reflects Jesus well? If so, pray through the Scriptures above about humility as follows:

• Tell the Father that you come before Him in Jesus’ name.
• Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit, and that His Spirit would pray through you and for you right now.
• Thank Him for sending His Son as an example, for Jesus showed us and taught us what humility looks like.
• Thank Him for convicting you about this topic today. Praise Him and thank Him for His guidance, correction, discipleship, and watchcare over your life and ministry.
• Confess to the Lord that you want to be humble. Ask Him to change your heart and give you a humble heart to serve Him and others.
• Ask Him to convict you of any pride in your heart. Stop a moment and listen to the Lord. If He shows you anything prideful in you, repent of it and ask the Lord to forgive you, cover you with the blood of Jesus, and to fill you with His Holy Spirit in that place.
• Ask the Lord to help you submit to Him in all things; to resist the devil; to draw near to God, and that God would draw near to you.
• Ask Him to help you humble yourself in His sight, and under His mighty hand; and that, in due time–whenever He deems it appropriate–that He will lift you up.
• Pray that you would fully complete the assignment and calling that God has for you on this earth. Ask for His help to keep your hand to the plow and not look back; that He would help you finish all the work that He has given you to do.
• Ask Him to help you to maintain the attitude always that you are an “unprofitable servant,” and that you are merely doing what is your duty to do when you obey Him.
• Ask the Lord to help you be the servant and slave of all, and to make yourself lowest and last in a healthy and God-honoring way.
• Pray that the Lord would help you maintain your perspective that He has done everything good in your life, and that good things have not come by your own strength. Pray that the Lord would help you to always remember that, no matter how successful you become in ministry–or how much fruit you bear–that success and fruit could not have come unless it had been given to you from Heaven.
• Ask Him to convict you in every moment if pride tries to rear its ugly head. Pray that He will keep you on a short leash when it comes to walking in humility, for you want to be pleasing and acceptable to Him in all things.
• Thank Him, and give Him all the praise!

Beloved, humility is one of the most important attributes of your character and ministry that you could ever develop.

It is absolutely essential, and we all need to be humble right now and in every moment. This is the quest of a lifetime, but pray today that the Lord would make you aware of the need to be humble, as Jesus was and is humble, in every moment.

Do you desire to be pure, holy, humble, and to serve God and others well? Did you pray through these Scriptures today? If so, leave a comment below!