Guarding What We Let In
Opening Prayer
Lord,
You see our hearts.
Help us keep them clean and peaceful.
Teach us to love what is good
and turn away from what harms us.
Amen.
Part One
The Heart Matters
Jesus teaches:
“Blessed are the clean of heart:
for they shall see God.”
When the Bible speaks of the heart,
it does not only mean feelings.
The heart is the centre of the person.
It is where we think,
choose,
and desire.
God cares about what happens inside us,
not only what we show on the outside.
Scripture
“Blessed are the clean of heart:
for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8)
Think and Discuss
What do you think it means to have a “clean heart”?
Can someone look good on the outside but struggle inside?
What kinds of things can fill our hearts?
Why do you think purity helps us “see God”?
Listen gently and thoughtfully.
Part Two
What We Allow In
Our hearts are shaped by what we allow into them.
What we watch.
What we listen to.
What we think about.
What we imagine.
Some things help the heart grow strong:
Truth
Beauty
Kindness
Prayer
Other things can make the heart restless:
Jealousy
Constant comparison
Cruel words
Images that disturb peace
Purity of heart means choosing carefully
what we let shape us.
It does not mean pretending we are perfect.
It means wanting what is truly good.
Guidance for Adults
Keep explanations simple and dignified.
For older children, this may include conversations about media and online content.
Focus on forming taste for what is good rather than instilling fear.
Part Three
Growing in Inner Strength
Purity grows through practice.
We can:
Turn away from what unsettles us.
Choose entertainment wisely.
Guard our thoughts.
Pray when images or ideas trouble us.
If something disturbs our peace,
we can step back.
We can say:
“Lord, help me choose what is good.”
A clean heart does not mean
we never struggle.
It means we keep returning to God
and asking Him to purify us.
God’s grace strengthens the heart
from within.
Quiet Reflection
Sit quietly for a moment.
Ask yourself:
What fills my thoughts most often?
Now say quietly:
“Lord, create a clean heart in me.”
Remain in silence together.
Practise This Week
Choose one:
• Turn off something that does not help your peace.
• Choose one beautiful or uplifting thing to read or watch.
• Pray before using your phone or computer.
• Spend five quiet minutes in silence with God.
Choose one and keep it steady.
Optional Response
Choose one:
Memory
Repeat slowly:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
(Psalm 50:12)
Say it three times carefully.
Action
Place your hand over your heart.
Take one slow breath.
Say: “Lord, keep my heart clean.”
Closing Prayer
Lord,
You see what is hidden.
Cleanse our hearts.
Help us love what is good and true.
Keep our thoughts and desires close to You.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 