Practical ways to develop holiness and purity of heart

<p>Holiness, in its essence, is "apartness" or "separateness." Purity of heart is definitely something that is different than the rest of the world, and is a primary aspect of this state of being set apart. When we are kept from disobedience, or sin, then we are in a state of apartness or being separate. Purity of heart then is a root, a foundation, of  holiness.</p><p>In the sense being discussed here, the heart is the wellspring of who you are physically and ethically.</p><p>Proverbs 4:23-27 - Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.</p><p>When the heart is right, then our speech, our focus, and our walk will be in line and keep us from disobedience. How many times can you recall saying the wrong thing, or taking your eyes off of God, or walking where you shouldn't be walking?  My own personal list would be extensive.</p><p>According to this proverb, we need to keep our heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. What is in our heart is what we express.</p><p>Luke 6:45 - The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. </p><p>What is in the abundance of your heart? You know it by the things you say. If your heart is pure, then your speech will be pure.</p><p>Additionally, the Bible tells us that the heart doesn't just need to be pure, it needs to be continually purified. This is similar to the cleansing effect of fire on precious metals, refining them until they have no contrary elements left.</p><p>Psalm 66:10 - For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.</p><p>Proverbs 25:4 - Take away the dross from the silver, and the sm