Get Clear

Today’s message was written by Guest Pastor, Rev. Andy Odom. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me? (Psalm 51:10)

I would like to take the next few days and talk about three practices that I’ve learned from one of my coaches. When I’m anxious, I try to do three things: get clear, keep calm, and stay connected. Each day I’m going to focus on one of those. Today is about getting clear.

When things seem to be chaotic and uncertain and confusing, one of the best things to do spiritually is to work on getting clear about who you are and where you should be. Get clear about who you are as a child of God and where you should be as a disciple of Christ. That is our primary work.

All throughout the gospel stories, again and again, Jesus was part of tense conversations. He upset people and they questioned what he was doing, and yet, he had this way of remaining clear about who he was and where he should be. He did whatever he needed to do to give time for himself to not only get clear but also to remain clear about who he was. He would go off by himself quite often to pray. Sometimes he would come back from that and they would completely change what they were doing because he had become more clear about what it should be.

So when you feel like things are crazy, that’s my thought. Step away for a little bit and work on getting clear about who you are as a child of God and where you should be as a disciple of Christ. If you can do that, you might find yourself to be a little less anxious and a little more hopeful.

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us clarity today about who we are and what you call us to do. Guide us in the steps we take and the things we are part of. Help us be a hopeful presence to others, in Christ we pray. Amen.